By: J.J. Pavlick | October 25, 2026 |
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota Vikings extended their dominant, unblemished start to the 2026 season, stifling the Indianapolis Colts in a grit-and-grind 16-10 victory at home. The win preserves Minnesota’s perfect 6-0 record, marking the seventh time in franchise history—and the first time since 2009—that the team has opened a campaign with six consecutive victories.
With this triumph, the Vikings have now secured 11 straight regular-season victories dating back to the 2025 season, standing as the longest active winning streak in the NFL. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell also surpassed Dennis Green for the third-longest winning streak by a head coach in franchise history.
The Dominant Force: Cashman’s Historic Day Anchors Elite Defense
Blake Cashman Puts On An Analytical Masterclass
While Minnesota’s offense did just enough to secure the win, the true story of the game was the completely suffocating performance of the Vikings’ defense, led by an omnipresent outing from linebacker Blake Cashman. Cashman, thriving as the primary communicator for defensive coordinator Brian Flores, racked up 12 tackles (two for loss), a career-high 2.0 sacks, three quarterback hits, and four passes defensed while tormenting Colts quarterback Daniel Jones all afternoon. Cashman even forced a critical 11-yard sack on second-and-goal with just 20 seconds left in the first half, pushing the Colts back and forcing them to settle for a field goal rather than a touchdown.
Analytically, Cashman’s performance was unprecedented; he became the first NFL player since 2000 to record at least 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and four passes defensed in a single game. His relentless motor upfront helped ensure that the Colts’ passing attack never found a rhythm, forcing Jones into a meager 13-of-22 passing day for just 108 yards. Cashman also extended his streak of recording at least seven tackles to 17 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Suffocating Pass Defense Reaches Historical Milestones
The defensive secondary and pass rush operated in perfect harmony to limit Indianapolis. Veteran safety Harrison Smith continued his march toward Canton, recording four tackles, a 0.5 sack, an interception, and a pass defensed. Smith’s game-sealing pick of Jones at the Minnesota 44-yard line with about a minute left iced the game, marking his 40th career interception. With that milestone, Smith joined Ronde Barber and Charles Woodson as the only players in NFL history to achieve both 40+ interceptions and 20+ sacks.
Rookie pass rusher Dallas Turner also wrecked the game plan, collecting a 0.5 sack split with Smith in the second quarter and finishing with three QB hits. Turner currently ranks second in the NFL with 39 quarterback pressures on the season. As a unit, Flores’ defense held the Colts at bay, continuing a trend that has limited 2026 opponents to a combined 62.0 passer rating—the lowest league-wide through six games since the 2019 New England Patriots. Furthermore, Minnesota’s historic fourth-quarter defense held firm, having allowed a league-low 74 points through six games this season.
Offensive Efficiency: Murray Management and Reichard’s Reliable Leg
Kyler Murray Stays Unbeaten as Starter
Quarterback Kyler Murray managed the game effectively, completing 14-of-24 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a steady 90.6 passer rating. After Jonathan Taylor opened the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown run to give the Colts an early lead, the Vikings’ offense finally woke up in the second half. Following a missed 56-yard field goal by Spencer Shrader, Murray used a spectacular 35-yard scramble on third-and-eight—the longest run by a Vikings quarterback since 2011—to get in range and fire a short 5-yard scoring pass to T.J. Hockenson.
With the victory, Murray became just the fifth quarterback in franchise history to start his tenure with the team 5-0. Along the way, wide receiver Justin Jefferson hauled in four catches for 44 yards, passing Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson for the third-most receiving yards by a player in his first 100 career games (8,782 yards). However, the victory came with a cost, as running back Aaron Jones left the game in the fourth quarter after a 17-yard run, aggravating a nagging knee injury.
Reichard Rewrites the Record Books
When the offense stalled in the red zone, kicker Will Reichard proved exactly why he is an elite asset. Reichard was 3-for-3 on field goals, hitting from 28, 47, and a clutch 52-yarder with 1:39 left in regulation to extend the lead to 16-10. His first two field goals extended his consecutive field goal streak to an astonishing 36, officially bypassing Gary Anderson for the longest streak in Vikings history, before later having a 59-yard try blocked by Grover Stewart. Reichard also became the eighth player in league history and the first Viking to reach 300 career points in 36 games or fewer.
The Vikings will look to maintain their historic momentum as they head into a massive divisional showdown against the Detroit Lions next Sunday.
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