The Colts head to Minneapolis on Sunday needing a reset in a hurry. Indianapolis is 2-4 entering a 1 PM EST matchup with the undefeated Vikings, who sit at 5-0 and are favored by 6.5. After the earlier-week firing of longtime general manager Chris Ballard and a brutal home loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Colts are trying to stop the slide before it gets even uglier.
Minnesota has done its damage with a defense that has overwhelmed opponents. The Vikings allow just 12.8 points per game, best in the league, even though their offense ranks 22nd at 21.8 points per game. Indianapolis, meanwhile, comes in 14th in scoring at 24.0 points per game, but the defense has been giving up 27.3 points a game, the 27th-most in the NFL.
For the Colts, the path is pretty clear. They need Jonathan Taylor and the running game to get rolling, and they need Daniel Jones to play more like the quarterback who flashed in the first half of 2025 than the turnover-prone version seen at times with the New York Giants. The source also notes that Jones has looked less like the breakout player the Colts signed after his brief stint with the Vikings.
CBS will carry the game with Ian Eagle on play-by-play and Ross Tucker as analyst. The matchup will also stream on NFL+ and YouTubeTV, among other platforms.
On the radio side, fans can listen on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan and 97.1 Hank FM with Matt Taylor, Charles Arbuckle, and Larra Overton on the call. SiriusXM subscribers can find it nationally on Channel 813.
There are no weather worries for this one, since the Vikings’ roof is permanently fixed and the game will be played in a climate-controlled setting. Brad Rodgers will serve as the lead official.
Historically, Indianapolis has the edge in the series, leading Minnesota 18-9-1 all-time. But the Vikings took the most recent meeting, winning 21-13 at home on November 3, 2024.
In Other News...
Tank Dells Return Could Change More For Texans Than Just One Spot
Tank Dell is on the verge of getting back into the Texans lineup after the knee injury that sidelined him, and the timing matters beyond just one players box score. DeMeco Ryans has made clear that what Houston values most is Dells involvement, not simply how many snaps he can handle right away, which is a reminder that the receivers return could ripple through an offense still sorting out its shape.
For a Colts team watching the AFC South, Dells comeback is another development worth tracking because Houston is trying to regain a piece that changes spacing, timing and the way defenses have to prepare. Indianapolis also has its own sideline noise, from DeForest Buckner brushing off trade speculation as he stays locked in on the Vikings to the larger chatter around the division, but Dells return may end up mattering more than the conversation around it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Bigger Injury Concern Before Minnesota
The Colts roster shuffle for Sundays matchup with the Vikings added another layer to an already delicate injury situation. Indianapolis elevated linebacker Germaine Pratt and cornerback Kenneth Harris from the practice squad to the active roster, a sign the team is preparing for life without some important depth pieces as it heads into Minnesota.
Those moves come as the Colts try to navigate injuries at linebacker and corner, with rookie CJ Allen, Sauce Gardner and Justin Walley all part of the concern. Indianapolis also moved on from punter Thomas Morstead after Rigoberto Sanchezs injury designation was removed, trimming one temporary insurance plan even as the bigger question remains how stable the defense will be when the game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have A Blockbuster RB Question To Answer
Jonathan Taylors name has suddenly drifted into the trade conversation after ESPNs Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that the Packers, Seahawks and Broncos are among the teams weighing a possible deal for the Colts running back. It is a notable twist for a player who signed an extension with Indianapolis this year and has already appeared in six games this season, especially with the franchise in a moment of change after firing GM Chris Ballard.
For Denver, the question is whether it wants to turn a passing interest into something more serious if Indianapolis decides to listen on veterans. The Colts internal picture is not entirely clear, either, since owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon reportedly still sees Taylor as a key part of the organization moving forward, leaving any potential move caught between a roster reset and a player the team may still want to build around. [Read more 🡒]
