For no matter reason why, the Indianapolis Colts are the only crew that all the time appears to be the Minnesota Vikings’ kryptonite. The Colts are 18-7-1 towards Minnesota and feature gained the final six matchups.
The final time the Vikings beat the Colts was once on Dec. 21, 1997, 1 / 4 century in the past. To place that during point of view, the No. 1 track at the U.S. Billboard Sizzling 100 was once “Candle within the Wind 1997” via Elton John. The track was once his tribute to Princess Diana, who gave up the ghost just about 4 months sooner than Minnesota’s most up-to-date win towards Indy.
So why do the Colts all the time appear to have Minnesota’s quantity? Are the Vikings really god-awful, or does Indianapolis simply have good fortune on their aspect? To higher perceive this, let’s read about the final six video games the Vikings performed towards the Colts.
It’s Christmas Eve within the new millennium, and the 11-4 Vikings were given their Christmas provide just a little early via clinching the NFC Central sooner than the beginning of this sport. Minnesota was once taking part in for seeding above all else. In the meantime, the 9-6 Colts have been moment within the AFC East and had but to clinch a playoff berth. This was once a must-win sport for Indianapolis.
Daunte Culpepper was once coping with a proper ankle sprain and exited the sport overdue within the first quarter after touchdown awkwardly on a sack. Bubby Brister performed the remainder of the sport and most effective finished 50% of his passes for 78 yards and a pick out. The Colts ran away with a very simple win towards Minnesota’s second-string quarterback and punched their price ticket to the playoffs.
In 2004, the 5-2 Vikings performed the 4-3 Colts on Monday Evening Soccer. This time, Culpepper was once absolutely wholesome and performed all of the sport. The similar may just no longer be mentioned for Randy Moss, regardless that, who was once dominated out sooner than the sport. As a result of this, the Colts have been favored to overcome the Vikings via seven issues.
Minnesota stored it inside one ranking for lots of the sport, however the Vikings gave Peyton Manning an excessive amount of time overdue within the fourth quarter. The Colts ended up creating a game-winning box function as time expired. The result will have been other had the refs no longer given Manning a unfastened landing close to the function line via failing to name a extend of sport. Oh neatly.
It’s Week 2, and the Vikings and the Colts are 0-1. As soon as once more, Minnesota’s protection is tasked with slowing down Manning. Even if Peyton threw for over 300 yards, the Vikings protection restricted him to at least one landing, two interceptions, and a 72.6 QB score.
Adrian Peterson additionally had an excellent efficiency operating for 160 yards, however Tarvaris Jackson and the Vikings offense struggled mightily within the purple zone. Ryan Longwell went 5/6 on box objectives, lacking his final strive from 49 yards out. This opened the door for Manning to march down the sphere and tie the sport 15-15. Minnesota’s offense remained stagnant, and the Colts made the game-winning box function as time expired. Once more.
The 12 months is 2012, and Peyton Manning is now not with the Colts. Generational rookie Andrew Luck, who wishes no creation, is beginning in his position. The Vikings actually have a younger quarterback in Christian Ponder. Even if Contemplate is remembered as a big bust, he performed strangely neatly on this sport.
Minnesota was once down 20-6 with 5 mins left within the fourth quarter, however Contemplate and the Vikings’ offense scored 14 unanswered issues to tie the sport with 31 seconds left. That proved to be an excessive amount of time for Good fortune, who was once ready to get the Colts into box function vary. Indianapolis made the game-winning box function once more. The Vikings fell to 1-1, whilst the Colts were given their first win of the season.
This was once simply Mike Zimmer’s worst sport of all of the 2016 season. The 7-6 Vikings were given whooped at U.S. Financial institution Stadium towards the 6-7 Colts. Good fortune placed on a health center towards the Vikings’ protection, and Minnesota’s offense couldn’t forestall fumbling the ball. Minnesota misplaced this sport 34-6.
Of their most up-to-date matchup towards Indy, the Vikings’ offense failed to turn up. Kirk Cousins threw 3 interceptions and was once sacked thrice, one in every of which ended in a security.
Minnesota couldn’t identify the run both, most effective gaining 80 web yards dashing at the day. The protection was once respectable within the first part, however Indianapolis wore them out. Philip Rivers and the Colts cruised to a 28-11 victory, sending the Vikings to 0-2.
The Vikings’ six-game shedding streak towards Indianapolis isn’t as unhealthy as it sort of feels. For the previous 25 years, the Colts were a aggressive franchise blessed with two Corridor of Popularity-caliber quarterbacks. Indianapolis has a blended common season document of 64-32 within the six seasons the Vikings performed them and not completed any of the ones seasons below .500.
The Colts’ document was once higher than, or equivalent to, the Vikings in 5 out of the ones six seasons, aside from for 2000, the place the Vikings had another W. Part of the ones video games (2004, 2008, 2012) have been determined via 3 issues or fewer. The sport in 2000 was once lopsided, however that’s as a result of Culpepper were given harm early within the sport, and Brister changed him.
The Vikings’ worst video games towards the Colts have been right through Zimmer’s tenure. Zimmer’s groups had a -46 level differential in two video games towards Indianapolis, the bottom level differential Minnesota has had towards the Colts since the Sixties when Norm Van Brocklin was once training a spread crew. Traditionally, the Vikings performed aggressive soccer towards some very proficient Colts groups, however recency bias has taken over as a result of the ones unpleasant losses below Zimmer.
This week’s sport is other. The 2022 Colts are objectively unhealthy on all fronts. Simply over a month in the past, they fired head trainer Frank Reich and changed him with Jeff Saturday, a person and not using a earlier training enjoy on his resumé. A 37-year-old Matt Ryan is beginning at quarterback for the Colts. This isn’t Matty Ice we’re speaking about. The model of him that carved up defenses and led the Atlanta Falcons to the Tremendous Bowl is lengthy long past. 5 years after 28-3, Atlanta despatched his zombified stays to Indianapolis this offseason.
The Colts aren’t utterly devoid of ability. Guys like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, DeForest Buckner, and Stephon Gilmore have all performed neatly this 12 months. But, their person contributions haven’t been sufficient to triumph over inconsistent quarterback play and training ineptitude to the best possible stage.
That’s why I be expecting the Vikings to damage their curse towards the Colts this Saturday. That is the primary sport in over 25 years the place the Vikings obviously stand head and shoulders above the Indianapolis.
Justin Jefferson’s first down that wasn’t were given misplaced within the chaos that was once the Minnesota Vikings’ 34-23 defeat via the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Jameson Williams scored […]
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