3 Colts to blame after blowing largest lead in NFL history

The Indianapolis Colts hold the distinction of blowing the largest lead in NFL history after losing 39-36 to the Minnesota Vikings. Hare three members of the team most to blame.

The Indianapolis Colts had the chance to pull off a huge upset in Week 15, hoping to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a win over the Minnesota Vikings, who were looking to win the NFC North championship on Saturday.

Indianapolis was in good shape, carrying a 33-0 lead into halftime. Surely, nothing, absolutely nothing could go wrong for the Colts. Right? Right?

The Colts managed to officially blow the largest lead in NFL history, as the Vikings outscored them 36-3 in the second half, forced overtime, and picked up the 39-36 victory. It was quite the rollercoaster of emotions. The Colts fanbase went from potentially celebrating perhaps their biggest win of the season, to looking at mock drafts to see how well they’ll be positioned for a quarterback in the NFL Draft.

There are three Colts to blame for this loss of epic proportions.

3 Colts to blame after blowing the largest lead in NFL history

No. 3: Matt Ryan, Quarterback

Matt Ryan is no stranger to being a part of the biggest collapse in Super Bowl history. Of course, he was the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons team that blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51.

Now, he is the starting quarterback for a Colts team that blew the largest lead in NFL history. Not ideal for the former NFL MVP.

Ryan’s stint with the Colts has been far from ideal, as he looked like a shell of his former self. It certainly doesn’t help that the offensive line has drastically underperformed as compared to recent years, star running back Jonathan Taylor had his fair share of injuries, and the pass-catching options behind Michael Pittman aren’t the greatest.

But there was no excuse for him not being able to help the offense hold onto a 33-point lead on Saturday. The Vikings were dead to water at halftime, and they came back to life, thanks in part to Indianapolis’ offense being lifeless in the second half.

In this game, Ryan completed 19 passes for just 182 yards and a touchdown on 33 attempts.

While Atlanta sports fans will remember the success he brought the Falcons during his 14 years, fans of other teams will always associate him with him being the quarterback of teams who failed to secure leads against the Patriots in Super Bowl 51, and against the Vikings in Week 15 of the 2022 season.