The Colts declared an onside kick, which you have to do now under new rules, and Justin Jefferson recovered it to seal the win.

Vikings beat the Colts 21-13.

A Colts drive that started with back-to-back sacks on quarterback Joe Flacco ended in a quick field goal. The Vikings hold a one-score lead, 21-13, with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was flagged 26 yards for defensive pass interference, pushing the Colts into Vikings territory for the 54-yard field goal. 

The Vikings offense set out to drain the clock when they likely sealed the win with a score.

Running back Aaron Jones took six handoffs, the Vikings forced the Colts to burn two timeouts while holding onto the ball for 3 minutes and 15 seconds, and quarterback Sam Darnold threw a 14-yard touchdown to tight end Josh Oliver for a 21-10 lead with 2:05 remaining in regulation. The Colts have just one timeout left.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith helped break up passes on consecutive plays, on third-and-2 and fourth-and-2 from the Minnesota 40, as the Colts turned it over on downs with 5:20 left in the game. 

The Colts pulled within 14-10 with a 42-yard field goal by Matt Gay. Their offense gained only 2 yards after Nick Cross' interception. 

The Vikings squelched a Colts drive with a Byron Murphy Jr. interception, but on the very next play Sam Darnold threw his second interception of the game. This one was nabbed by safety Nick Cross and returned to the Vikings 25. 

Bottle whatever the Vikings offense drank at halftime, because they heated up in the third quarter.

Quarterback Sam Darnold and company converted both possessions into touchdowns, leaving their 7-0 halftime deficit behind by taking a 14-7 lead. Darnold completed 10 of 11 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter, adding an 11-yard run. One of the keys lies in the whistle: just twice officials threw flags on the Vikings’ two scoring drives, and both penalties were against the Colts defense. 

The only question is whether the Vikings defense can continue to keep wily veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, in his 17th season, at bay. He threw for two first downs on a drive marching into Vikings territory.

Deep shots to receiver Justin Jefferson are rarely a bad idea.

And the Vikings have made hay throwing his way against the Colts.

Quarterback Sam Darnold found Jefferson for another big gain, this one a game-long, 41-yard toss, down the sideline to the Colts’ 1-yard line. That set up receiver Jalen Nailor for a 7-yard touchdown catch following two negative plays directed to running back Aaron Jones, who lost yardage on a run and an attempted sweep. The Vikings lead 14-7 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

Jefferson has catches for 20, 22, 24 and 41-yard gains so far.

The Vikings came out of halftime needing a spark, and quarterback Sam Darnold targeted three different playmakers to create one. 

Darnold hit receiver Justin Jefferson for a 21-yard gain, tight end T.J. Hockenson for a 19-yard gain, and finally receiver Jordan Addison for a 4-yard touchdown to knot the score at 7-7 with 10:23 left in the third quarter.

Darnold and Addison haven’t had the best connection this season, but the pairing kept that drive alive with a 10-yard connection on third down to set up the touchdown toss. When he’s not taking sacks or turning the ball over, Darnold has been efficient on Sunday night completing 21 of 25 passes for 193 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble.