The Minnesota Vikings are 6-2 after a 21-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, but Jordan Addison’s dad was not happy with at least one of Sam Darnold’s throws. Addison had five catches for 42 yards and a touchdown, but could’ve been a target on one of Darnold’s three turnovers. Early in the fourth quarter, Darnold tried to force a throw to Justin Jefferson into double coverage. It was picked off by Nick Cross. Addison appeared to break open across the middle of the field for what could've been an explosive play, but Darnold went to Jefferson. Addison’s dad noticed.
"Even Stevie Wonder could see Jordan Addison is open on Sam Darnold’s interception!!!" Rolando Addison Sr. posted to Twitter.
Stevie Wonder is blind. Was Darnold’s throw ill-advised? Probably. Should Addison’s dad be questioning Darnold’s decision-making publicly? Probably not.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell won’t let Sunday night’s turnovers change his confidence in his quarterback, nor will Addison’s dad’s opinion. Darnold finished 28-of-34 for 290 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble.
But when O’Connell needed Darnold most, he made plays.
"My trust in Sam is something that I think is going to be a winning edge for our football team," O’Connell said. "I’m going to stay aggressive with him."
The Vikings' Defense
A stout defensive showing and a few flashy receptions lifted the Minnesota Vikings to a 21-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The victory snapped Minnesota’s two-game losing streak that followed five consecutive Vikings wins.
The Colts Offense
[The Vikings’ defense managed to contain the Colts offense.](https://www.colts.com/video/highlight-zaire-franklin-intercepts-the-sam-darnold-pass-in-the-endzone) While Colts quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 247 yards, the Vikings’ defense forced two interceptions and held the Colts to just 13 points. [One of the interceptions, which was thrown by Sam Darnold, was returned for a touchdown by Kenny Moore II, giving the Vikings a crucial 21-13 lead.](https://www.colts.com/video/highlight-kenny-moore-with-a-spectacular-defensive-touchdown-vs-minnesota-vikings)
The Key Takeaways
The Vikings’ win was a testament to their defensive prowess and the ability of their offense to make just enough plays. The Vikings’ defense was the key to the victory. It’s a good thing for the Vikings that they have a strong defense, as they will need it to weather some of the storms that their young quarterback, Sam Darnold, will likely encounter. The Vikings are a team that can contend in the NFC, but they will need their defense to continue to play at a high level.
Can the Vikings Survive the Drama?
[The Vikings are a young team with a lot of potential, but they also have a lot of drama.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/colts-vs-vikings-live-score-updates-nfl-snf-result/gEq8l3qWluY9/3ZxGN1tdcpyM/) That drama, most of it coming from the media and the fans' perception of Sam Darnold, will likely not go away. That drama may become a source of distractions for the Vikings. The Vikings need to be able to block out the noise and focus on what’s important, which is winning football games. It’s a challenge, but the Vikings are going to need to find a way to do it.
