Vikings-Colts: Minnesota overcomes 3 turnovers from Sam Darnold to outlast Indianapolis 21-13
The aspect of the Indianapolis Colts benching Anthony Richardson that probably wasn’t analyzed enough was what happened if Joe Flacco was terrible replacing him.
The Colts might need to ask that question this week. Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Flacco is the team’s quarterback moving forward, but the first game after that proclamation wasn’t pretty. The Colts got almost nothing going on offense. Flacco didn’t pass it well and the Colts didn’t have Richardson’s running ability as a counterpunch. They were just inept in Sunday night’s 21-13 defeat at the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings broke a two-game losing streak with the victory. Sam Darnold had three turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and the Colts still couldn’t win. That’s concerning. It also will bring up questions over the Colts’ decision to bench Richardson for Flacco, and then watched Flacco pass with all of the struggles Richardson had without any of the extra playmaking ability the much younger Richardson brings to the offense.
The Colts are 4-5, which isn’t out of the AFC wild-card race. They have to make another determination over which quarterback will help keep them in that race.
Vikings’ offense has a terrible 1st half
The first half was bad for the Vikings, a continuation of issues that caused them to fall into a two-game losing streak.
Darnold has had issues with turnovers throughout his career, and that cropped up Sunday night. He threw an interception deep in Colts territory, moving left and then forcing a pass to the end zone that had little chance of being completed to any Viking.
Darnold’s next turnover was even more damaging. He was sacked and fumbled, and it was scooped up by cornerback Kenny Moore II and returned 38 yards for a touchdown. That ended up being the only score of the first half. The Colts’ offense didn’t get a point in the first half. It didn’t score in the third quarter either.
The first half was troubling for the Vikings. The Colts’ defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone this season. Minnesota couldn’t score a point before halftime. It didn’t help that kicker Will Reichard missed two field goals, including one from 31 yards out.
The Vikings started the season 5-0, but they didn’t look like that team in the first half. Luckily for them, the Colts weren’t doing anything with their opportunities.
Vikings take 3rd quarter lead
The Vikings’ offense showed life in the third quarter. Darnold completed some nice passes, including a pair of touchdowns. That gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead.
The Colts weren’t out of the game at that point but Flacco wasn’t playing like he could do much with the chance. Flacco threw an awful interception early in the fourth quarter. Fortunately for him and the Colts, Darnold returned the favor with an equally terrible INT of his own. Flacco and the Colts couldn’t pick up a first down after that and they settled for a field goal.
The Colts’ defense played a pretty good game and it didn’t matter. The offense was too poor to win.
The Colts had a shot to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. But after getting into Vikings territory Flacco threw incomplete on third down and again on fourth, each pass seemingly a beat late which allowed a Vikings defensive back to make a hit and jar it loose. The Vikings picked up some first downs after that to bleed most of the rest of the clock, and with 2:05 left Darnold hit Josh Oliver for a touchdown. That put the game away.
Richardson wasn’t completing passes at a high enough rate to keep his starting job. But Flacco wasn’t much better Sunday night. It doesn’t seem like the Colts could turn back to Richardson right away. They might be stuck.
