was really never that close. Minnesota outgained the Colts by nearly 200 yards, and the Vikings defense held Indianapolis to just 13 first downs. Joe Flacco looked mediocre and was kept out of the end zone while throwing an interception. Jonathan Taylor was kept in check all night, and there was never a period in which the Colts looked like a legitimate threat.

Of course, that’s a great reality when the Vikings struggled to score points early. Kevin O’Connell’s offense chugged along despite self-inflicted wounds early, and it was the defense showing up that kept Minnesota in the game. Although the sack drought didn’t end until the game was nearly over, Flacco was kept moving for much of the contest.

The Vikings Delivered on a Promise

Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.