Indianapolis Colts lead the Minnesota Vikings in first half, 7-0

The Indianapolis Colts traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings after a tumultuous week. The Colts sent shockwaves through the NFL after they benched their starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, in favor of veteran Joe Flacco. Speculation quickly ran rampant that head coach Shane Steichen had lost the locker room, as numerous players told the media they were not informed about the decision as it happened, and instead, found out through social media or reporters.

Amidst this off-field drama, the 4-4 Colts were looking to upset the 5-2 Vikings in a game that could put them in contention to lead the AFC South -- particularly after the Houston Texans suffered a humiliating loss to the New York Jets.

Flacco started the game with a good pass to Kylen Granson for 21 yards, making the offense appear to be off to a good start. Unfortunately, that was almost immediately followed up by a fumbled hand-off between Flacco and Jonathan Taylor, which was recovered by the Vikings. What looked like a promising drive for the Vikings, however, ended when Zaire Franklin intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Unfortunately, the opportunity Franklin handed them was squandered when Flacco botched a pass to Taylor on third down, and the Colts were forced to punt. This trend continued throughout the first quarter, with neither team getting any points on the board. Flacco finished the quarter with three completions out of four attempts, for 38 yards.

The Vikings started the second quarter with the ball, but a forced fumble from Grover Stewart was recovered by Kenny Moore II, who ran it in for a touchdown. The referees didn't call a penalty, which quickly became controversial after some said they should have thrown a flag after Vikings QB Sam Darnold took a hit to the head.

After that touchdown, the Vikings drove down the field and got within field goal range... only for their kicker, Will Reichard, to miss. Interestingly, the Colts echoed that drive almost exactly, right down to a missed 53-yard field goal from Matt Gay.

The Vikings, with less than two minutes to go in the half, hustled their way down the field. By the time they got to the end zone, it looked as if they were primed to score, only for Darnold to be sacked by DeForest Buckner. The Vikings were at 4th and 12, so they sent Reichard back on the field to try for a 31-yard field goal... which he missed again.

At the half, the Vikings had over double the number of yards the Colts did, with 194 to the Colts 92. The Vikings also had twice as much time of possession, with 20:01 compared to the Colts' 9:59.

Flacco was 6/10 for 62 yards.