Sunday Night Football: Defensive TD has Colts ahead of Vikings 7-0 at halftime
Minnesota has missed two field goals while Indianapolis missed one in the first half.
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The Vikings have outgained the Colts by over 100 yards and have eight more first downs.
But Minnesota does not have a point entering halftime, as Indianapolis has a 7-0 lead over the home team on Sunday Night Football.
The Colts and Vikings traded turnovers early on in the contest, with a botched handoff between Joe Flacco and Jonathan Taylor ending Indianapolis’ first drive. Then Sam Darnold threw a bad interception in the red zone, firing a pass intended for T.J. Hockenson that was picked off by linebacker Zaire Franklin.
After neither giveaway led to points and a few punts, the Colts did get on the board with a defensive touchdown.
Indianapolis defensive tackle Grover Stewart strip-sacked Sam Darnold with cornerback Kenny Moore picking up the loose ball and returning it for a 38-yard touchdown. Replay, however, showed that Stewart hit Darnold in the head, which should have been a roughing the passer penalty. While officials initially threw a flag, they picked it up. It’s unclear what the flag would have been for.
The Vikings and Colts each missed a 53-yard field goal in the second quarter, with Minnesota’s offense waking up after Matt Gay’s kick went wide left late in the period.
Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson for a 22-yard pass over the middle to put Minnesota on Indianapolis territory. Then Jefferson caught a 24-yard pass to put the Vikings in the red zone.
But the drive stalled from there and Will Reichard sent his 31-yard field goal off the right upright to keep the score at 7-0.
Reichard had not missed a field goal or extra point in his first seven games entering Sunday’s contest.
Darnold finished the first half 16-of-19 for 138 yards with an interception and a lost fumble. Jefferson leads with four catches for 74 yards. Returning from his knee injury, tight end T.J. Hockenson has two catches for 8 yards.
Starting after Anthony Richardson was benched this week, Flacco has completed 6-of-10 passes for 62 yards. Taylor has eight carries for 31 yards.
The Vikings will receive the second-half kickoff.
