Fifteen Quarterbacks Later Colts Vs Vikings
Sunday Night Colts Vs Vikings
The Christmas NFL action began on Sunday night with a matchup of archaeological old vs. new Joe Flaccos and (muted) Sam Darnolds: the (most recent) duel of Joe Flaccos and (most recent) duel of Sam Darnolds. The Vikings offense came alive in the second half, turning it from a defensive struggle to a shootout.
Defensive Duel
All defense for the first half. Then the two punting and causing turnovers: the Colts Secondary making its plays to slow down the Vikes offense and the Vikings defense making the Colts run.
Vikings Offense
The other half was a whole different ball game. Sam Darnold, who had been inconsistent throughout the season, started finding a rhythm and making all the throws. He connected with Justin Jefferson multiple times, with Jefferson displaying his ability to create separation as well as making contested catches. The Vikings offense had been efficient, and the Colts were feeling the heat.
Colts Offense
On the other hand, the Colts offense was floundering. The veteran Joe Flacco, but couldn’t produce enough splash plays to keep them in the game. Vikings defense was becoming a problem, O line inept at holding up pockets for Flacco, run game getting shut down.
Close Call
Both teams also managed to put points on the board in the 4th quarter, leading to a dramatic finish down to the final minutes of the game. However, Vikings D stood tall and Colts never got a proper reply going. The Vikings picked up the win and find themselves in excellent shape to earn a playoff spot.
Game Notes
- Darnold proves he can be franchise QB: Sam Darnold’s Big Game He was slinging it, running around keeping plays alive and hitting his guys.
- Colts Defense: The Colts defense even though they lost played well primarily in the first half. They created turnovers and they did not give up big plays.
- Colts Offense: It was tough for the colts to get drives together and put points on the board. Flacco was limited and the o-line was uneven.
This is a quarterback league and this game is case in point. The difference was a combination of Joe Flacco’s experience and, but more than that, Sam Darnold’s youth and playmaking ability. Whether the Colts can fix their offense and challenge for a playoff spot as the season progresses remains to be seen.
