Vikings beat Colts 16-10 to stay unbeaten as Harrison Smith seals it with his 40th career interception

Final: Vikings 16, Colts 10. The Minnesota Vikings are still perfect. Their defense smothered Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts, and safety Harrison Smith sealed a 16-10 win with an interception in the final minute on Sunday, Oct. 25, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Minnesota improved to 6-0, while Indianapolis dropped to 2-5. As The Associated Press put it, the Vikings “overcame another sluggish start” and won again despite modest production from quarterback Kyler Murray and the offense.

Vikings score by quarter

Jonathan Taylor gave the Colts an early lead with a 38-yard touchdown run on their opening drive. Will Reichard answered with field goals of 28 and 47 yards in the second quarter, and Spencer Shrader’s 43-yarder at the end of the half put Indianapolis up 10-6.

The Colts held that lead into the fourth quarter. The turning point came when Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen sent Shrader out for a 56-yard try on fourth-and-2. Shrader missed wide left under pressure from former Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, and the Vikings took over. Murray’s 35-yard run set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota’s only touchdown, for a 13-10 lead.

Reichard later had a 59-yard attempt blocked by Grover Stewart but came back to hit a 52-yarder with 1:39 left to make it 16-10.

Harrison Smith’s 40th career interception

With the Colts trying one last drive, Smith jumped a Jones pass near midfield with about a minute to go. It was the 40th interception of his career, which came in his 15th NFL season after he decided shortly before the regular season to return, according to AP and the Vikings’ team site. Fans at U.S. Bank Stadium chanted “HAR-RY! HAR-RY!” afterward, the team reported.

Blake Cashman and the Vikings pass rush

Linebacker Blake Cashman led the way with 12 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed and three quarterback hits, AP reported. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores kept sending blitzers, and Jones finished 13 of 22 for 108 yards with one interception while losing 44 yards on four sacks.

Key numbers from the box score:

• Kyler Murray (MIN): 14 of 24, 150 yards, 1 TD
• Jordan Mason (MIN): 15 carries, 68 yards
• Justin Jefferson (MIN): 4 catches, 44 yards
• Jonathan Taylor (IND): 18 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD
• Daniel Jones (IND): 13 of 22, 108 yards, 1 INT

Kicking streaks end for Reichard and Shrader

Two of the league’s most reliable kickers had rough moments. Reichard set a franchise record with 35 straight made field goals in the second quarter before the block ended the streak, AP reported. Shrader, the NFL’s leading scorer this season with 70 points, missed two second-half field goals, ending his run of 22 straight makes and seven straight from 50-plus yards.

Injuries

• Colts: Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) was inactive, and cornerbacks Justin Walley (knee) and Cam Taylor-Britt (groin) left in the second half. Tight end Tyler Warren (groin) missed a second straight game.
• Vikings: Running back Aaron Jones aggravated a knee injury in the fourth quarter and did not return. Returner Myles Price was evaluated for a concussion in the first quarter but did not miss time.

Vikings schedule: what’s next

The Vikings visit the Detroit Lions next Sunday. The Colts travel to Jacksonville.

FAQ