The Vikings snapped their two-game losing streak with a 21-13 win on “Sunday Night Football” against the Colts.
Here are five takeaways from Sunday’s nightcap.
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson belongs in MVP race
The Vikings wide receiver had another monster game, leading all players with seven receptions for 137 yards. He was Minnesota’s best player, helping set up the Vikings’ second touchdown with a 41-yard reception on a third-and-2 in the third quarter.
This season, Jefferson has 48 receptions, 783 yards and five touchdowns. He’s the focal point of Minnesota’s offense but hasn’t been slowed down with the increased attention. While quarterbacks dominate MVP voting, Jefferson is vital to the Vikings’ success. Any list of potential 2024 MVPs that doesn’t include Jefferson is incomplete.
Anthony Richardson wasn’t the problem
This wasn’t the best game for Flacco to have his Colts introduction to a wide audience. Minnesota has one of the league’s best defenses, so the 17-year veteran’s chances of struggling were already reasonably high.
While Flacco was more accurate than former starter Anthony Richardson, that’s a minor consolation.
Flacco threw an awful interception to Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. inside Vikings territory early in the fourth quarter, then failed to convert a fourth down after forcing the ball to wide receiver Ashton Dulin.
Flacco also fumbled a snap at the Minnesota 26-yard line on Indianapolis’ first drive.
When head coach Shane Steichen announced Flacco’s move into the starting lineup, he said, “I feel like Joe gives us the best chance to win right now.”
While he’ll have easier matchups in future weeks, Flacco’s biggest mistakes were self-inflicted.
Ghosts still haunt Sam Darnold
Darnold completed 28 of his 34 pass attempts but also had his first two-interception game since Week 18 of the 2022 season.
Both were bad decisions from Darnold.
His first came in the Colts’ red zone on a throw on the run directly to linebacker Zaire Franklin.
He forced his second to Jefferson, who was blanketed in coverage, and Colts safety Nick Cross intercepted it one play after Flacco threw an interception.
Darnold overcame his mistakes to have a solid game, but it probably wouldn’t hurt him to always carry sage.
The Purge: Sam Darnold’s Facemask
In “The Purge” movie franchise, there’s one 12-hour period each year when all crime is legal. We’re reminded of that watching Darnold the past two weeks because, apparently, anyone can get away with should-be facemask penalties against him.
After referees missed an egregious facemask in Minnesota’s 30-20 Week 8 loss to the Rams, they failed to flag another hit to Darnold’s faceguard against the Colts.
Indianapolis defensive lineman Grover Stewart hit Darnold high on his second-quarter fumble that defensive back Kenny Moore returned for a touchdown.
It’s weird to see two blatant penalties missed on one player in consecutive weeks. It’s even more bizarre considering how much the NFL usually protects quarterbacks.
Kevin O’Connell should be the Coach of the Year front-runner
While Commanders head coach Dan Quinn recently took the lead in the race, O’Connell reasserted his position as the Coach of the Year through Week 9 after Minnesota’s win.
O’Connell has done a magnificent job this season, and Sunday was no different.
The Vikings were disciplined, only being flagged three times. They also held a significant statistical advantage over the Colts, finishing with a 29-13 edge in first downs and outgaining Indianapolis 415-227.
O’Connell called an excellent play to ice the game.
Minnesota was in a position on second down and 2:10 left to run twice, kick a field goal for a 17-10 lead and ask its defense to win the game with a stop.
Instead, O’Connell called a play-action pass, and Darnold rolled to his left, connecting with tight end Josh Oliver for a touchdown to take a two-possession lead.
O’Connell does an outstanding job of preparing the Vikings week to week. He has them executing at a high level and in solid playoff positioning as they enter the back half of their schedule.
If Minnesota’s last nine games go as well as its first eight, O’Connell should earn his first Coach of the Year Award at the end of the season.
