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Vikings vs. Colts Game Observations: Another 4th Quarter Lockdown

MINNEAPOLIS — "HAR-RY! HAR-RY!"

The chant rang out across U.S. Bank Stadium as Minnesota's offense lined up in victory formation.

Harrison Smith had just nabbed his 40th career interception, tying Ed Sharockman for the third most in franchise history, and returned the football 15 yards to the Indianapolis 41-yard line.

The crowd went wild as Minnesota took two kneel-downs to polish off a 16-10 victory, improving the Vikings to 6-0 on the season — the first such start to a campaign by the Purple since 2009.

The game seemed to have a few out-of-character moments, but the one thing that is becoming "Enter Sandman" reliable is the closing job by the Vikings defense in fourth quarters.

The group has only allowed three points across six fourth quarters this season.

Sunday's continuation of dominance included a complete shutout in the second half as Minnesota limited Indy to 48 net yards in the final stanza.

Daniel Jones went 2-for-5 with 22 yards, a long of 13, and the INT to his former teammate for a passer rating of 14.2 in the period.

Minnesota also bottled up the run game, limiting the Colts to 26 yards on eight rush attempts.

Jones was not sacked in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota wore on him throughout the day.

Blake Cashman led the way with an incredible stat line — 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks, three QB hits, two TFLs and four passes defensed — and enjoyed continued help along the way.

Jones finished 13-of-22 passing with 108 yards and a passer rating of 52.8.

Indianapolis totaled 64 net passing yards.

The Vikings have won 11 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

View game action photos from the Vikings Week 7 game against the Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Here are four more observations.

1. Kyler Murray with legs then arm

Both passing games seemed to struggle, but Kyler Murray's use of his legs on a 35-yard scramble to the Indy 5-yard line converted third-and-8 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

He followed that with a 5-yard TD pass to T.J. Hockenson.

Murray finished 14 of 24 passing with 150 yards and a passer rating of 90.6.

Hockenson recorded Minnesota's longest reception of the day for a 22-yard connection to total four receptions for 35 yards.

Justin Jefferson led Minnesota with 44 yards on four catches, moving past the 600-catch threshold in his career.

2. Run game welcomes back Jordan Mason, but Aaron Jones, Sr., injured

The Vikings were excited to welcome back Jordan Mason to the backfield for the first time in Week 1 because of the potential 1A-1B punch he provides with Aaron Jones, Sr.

Mason didn't start but finished with team highs for carries (15) and yards (68), including five for 25 in the fourth quarter.

Jones was bottled up by the Colts for much of the day. He sprang free on an option play that gained 17 in the fourth quarter but left the game with a knee injury at the end of the play.

The grinding runs by Mason and Jones, and the 35-yard scamper by Murray, helped Minnesota finish with 136 rushing yards on 29 carries.

View pregame photos ahead of the Vikings vs. Colts Week 7 game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

3. First misses of the season

Reichard entered the game having made all 15 field goals attempted in 2026 and on a streak of 34 consecutive makes. He netted his first two field goals Sunday to pass Gary Anderson (35) for the longest streak in Vikings history.

His third attempt, however, was blocked by Grover Stewart, who raised his arm sideways to deny the 59-yard offering from Reichard with 832 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings showed no hesitation later in the fourth in sending Reichard out for a 52-yarder that provided the day's final points with 1:39 remaining.

"Voice of the Vikings" Paul Allen, who was calling his 500th Vikings game, said "start a streak anew" after the ball split the uprights.

Colts kicker Spencer Shrader entered the game having made all 18 of his field goals. He added a 19th for the 10-6 lead at the half by misfired wide left on a 56-yard attempt that would have made it 13-6 Colts with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

Shrader also missed, this time wide right, on a 48-yarder that would have tied the game at 13 with 4:22 left in the contest.

4. Differences on third downs steer first half

The Colts went 5-for-8 on third downs in the first half. Indianapolis went 2-for-2 on its opening possession, converting third-and-11 with a 13-yard pass to Keenan Allen and a third-and-4 with a 5-yard pass to Josh Downs.

Taylor strutted his way to the end zone on the next snap. His 38-yard stroll was his longest of the season.

Indianapolis also converted a fourth-and-1 on its final possession of the first half before also converting a third-and-6 with a 10-yard pass to Allen and a third-and-11 with a 12-yarder to former Minnesota first-round pick Laquon Treadwell. That completion occurred with 1:48 remaining in the first half and allowed the Colts to milk the clock before adding a 43-yard field goal on the way to the locker room.

The Vikings struggled on third downs, going just 2-for-7 in the first half.

Minnesota rushed for no gain on third-and-1 (and lost a yard on fourth-and-1 to end its first possession). The Vikings gained 6 on third-and-7 with a pass to Jefferson (Murray followed with a sneak to gain just enough for a fresh set of downs. He later completed a pass to Jefferson for a gain of 7 to move the sticks on third-and-5 from the 19 to the 12, but the drive stalled with an incompletion on third-and-8 that was nearly intercepted.

Minnesota settled for a 28-yard field goal by Will Reichard.

The other conversion by Minnesota in the first half also resulted in three points. Murray completed a 10-yard pass to Jefferson on a third-and-7, advancing the ball to the Indy 30.

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