The Minnesota Vikings have set a new NFL record after they beat the Indianapolis Colts despite trailing at one stage by 33 points.
The Vikings have two accomplishments to celebrate on Saturday night as not only have they clinched the NFC North division, they've completed the greatest comeback in NFL history. The Vikings were stunned in the first half by the Colts who led 33-0 as both teams headed to the locker rooms.
But it was a game of two halves, as the Colts were held to just a single field goal across the final two quarters, and the Vikings pounced. 36 points in the second half from the Vikings saw them tie the match in dramatic circumstances, before going on to win with a game-winning field goal in overtime.
The Colts humbled the Vikings to start off proceedings, with JoJo Domann recovering a blocked punt to run it into the endzone shortly after they scored a field goal on the opening drive. They were 17-0 up at the end of the first quarter as DeShaun Jackson piled more misery on the Vikings.
Three field goals and another turnover touchdown saw the Colts storm to a 33-0 lead, and the Vikings were booed off at half-time. But the hostility in the crowd worked, as momentum swung in the second half.
The Vikings got to work and touchdowns from Kendrick Osborn, CJ Ham, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook miraculously made it a tied game before the end of regulation. The Vikings not only flexed their offensive muscles after a defensive nightmare, but they sent a statement ahead of the play-offs. Entering today, teams that trailed by 30 or more points at half-time are 0-132 in the Super Bowl era.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished regulation with four passing touchdowns and 373 yards, and his experience showed through. Even this season he's won from losing positions when heading into the fourth quarter.
And he completed the job this time too, as the Vikings finished the turnaround in overtime. The previous comeback record in the NFL regular season was 28 points, which was completed by San Francisco 49ers in 1980 as they came from behind to beat New Orleans Saints 38-35 after overtime.
The all-time record was set by the Buffalo Bills in the play-offs, as they came back after trailing 32 points against Houston Oilers in 1993. The NFC North is now officially the Vikings, and no team has ever won a division in such a way.
