The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, with the former looking to gain momentum in an extremely competitive NFC North and the latter aiming to get closer to the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.Sam Darnold's squad had shocked the league by winning their first five games, laegely helped by their top-ranked defense; but they had fallen on harder times as of late, dropping two straight and being eclipsed by the Detroit Lions for the divisional lead.Meanwhile, Joe Flacco was making his third start of the season, but first since he was permanenly elevated in the wake of Anthony Richardson's highly contentious benching after the Week 8 loss at the Texans.Vikings-Colts box scoreTEAMS1Q2Q3Q4QTOTALCOLTS0 70613VIKINGS0 0 14721Colts Player StatsPassingPlayerCompletions/AttemptsYardsTouchdownsInterceptionsRatingJoe Flacco16/271790163.7Rushing and receivingPlayerCarriesRushing YardsTouchdownsReceptionsYardsTouchdownsJonathan Taylor134803110Ashton Dulin2170000Trey Sermon240190Joe Flacco2-10000Josh Downs0006600Alec Pierce0003410Kylen Granson0001220Adonai Mitchell0001220Michael Pittman Jr.0001140DefensePlayerTotal tacklesSolo tacklesSacksInterceptionsE.J. Speed12900Nick Cross10701Zaire Franklin8601Julian Blackmon7600Jaylon Jones7300Kenny Moore II6600DeForest Buckner6410Samuel Womack III5400Grover Stewart4220Grant Stuard3300Taven Bryan2200Kwity Paye2110Dayo Odeyingbo2000Adetomiwa Adebawore1100Tyler Goodson1100Josh Downs1100Raekwon Davis1000Laiatu Latu0000KickingPlayerField GoalsExtra pointsMatt Gay2/31/1PuntingPlayerPuntsYardsInside 20LongestRigoberto Sanchez3148054Vikings Player StatsPassingPlayerCompletions/AttemptsyardsTouchdownsInterceptionsRatingSam Darnold28/3429032107.1Justin Jefferson1/12200118.8Rushing and receivingPlayerCarriesRushing YardsRushing TouchdownsReceptionsReceiving YardsTouchdownsAaron Jones216404180Cam Akers6460270Sam Darnold41405421Jordan Addison190000Justin Jefferson00071370Josh Oliver0005581T.J. Hockenson0003270Brandon Powell000190Jalen Nailor000171Trent Sherfield Sr.000170DefensePlayerTotal TacklesSolo TacklesSacksInterceptionsIvan Pace Jr.6300Josh Metellus5400Harrison Phillips5300Camryn Bynum5200Byron Murphy Jr.4401Harrison Smith4200Jerry Tillery3200Stephon Gilmore3100Jonathan Greenard2220Jihad Ward2210Andrew Van Ginkel2100Jonathan Bullard2000Dallas Turner2000Josh Oliver1100Jalen Redmond1100Andrew DePaola1000Kamu Grugier-Hill1000Brian Asamoah II1000KickingPlayerField GoalsExtra pointsWill Reichard0/23/3PuntingPlayerPuntsYardsInside 20LongestRyan Wright283044Vikings-Colts game summaryThe Colts got off to a fast start, picking up multiple first downs thanks to Jonathan Taylor. But then Joe Flacco lost the ball deep into Vikings territory, allowing the hosts to steal possession.The Vikings' drive did not last long, however, as Zaire Franklin intercepted Sam Darnold. No scoring plays occurred in the first quarter.Justin Jefferson managed to make a highlight play when he passed deep to Aaron Jones on third down in the second quarter, but it all came to naught. Grever Stewart forced a fumble on Sam Darnold, which Kenny Moore recovered and took to the endzone for six:Then just to add to the Vikings' woes, Will Reichard missed a 53-yard field goal attempt. Matt Gay then also missed a field goal attempt from the same place at the two-minute mark sometime later.Then, with just seventeen seconds left. Reichard missed another attempt - a 31-yard chip shot.The Vikings finally reached the end zone to begin the third quarter, courtesy of Jordan Addison catching this pass:Both teams exchanged interceptions to begin the fourth quarter, before Gay made the night’s first successful field goal attempt.Josh Oliver then scored a touchdown just before the two-minute warning to seemingly seal the game. Still, the Colts continued to fight and eventually got a field goal.Justin Jefferson eventually secured the onside kick to seal the game.