Ryan tried to plunge forward on a sneak attempt, but Hicks and fellow linebacker Eric Kendricks came up with the defensive stand to give Minnesota the ball with 2:28 left.
One play later, Cook found the end zone and the game was tied.
The two sides traded punts to end regulation before the Vikings punted on their first drive in overtime.
Indianapolis tried to answer, but Minnesota was able to force the Colts to punt before Joseph’s kick completed the comeback.
O’Connell said although the defense was put in an extremely challenging situation, he was proud of how they made the necessary adjustments to allow the offense to rally.
“I’m really proud of our defense. You don’t come back in a game like this, hold a team to three points. We had to be aggressive with some decision making early on. Gave them short fields,” O’Connell said. “Even though we didn’t help them, those guys never flinched, never looked to the other phases of our offense or special teams. Shoot, I thought [Defensive Coordinator] Ed [Donatell] in the second half [had] really timely pressures, losing Pat P. for some stretches there, guys tightening it up. A lot of people had a hand in this one. Our defense, we don’t get it done without those guys.”
As for where this game ranks in his career, Peterson said it can’t be beat (for now).
“Number one, by far,” Peterson said. “[The win at] Buffalo was number one prior to this one. But this is number one by far.”
Hicks added it’s a special feeling being a part of this team.
“I’ve never been around anything like it,” Hicks said. “We talk about it quite a bit that this is going to be a year we remember for the rest of our lives. We’re going to remember these moments, but we’re going to remember the relationships and the conversations we had, how we went from a brand new staff and a brand new team and were able to accomplish things together that no other team has done.”
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