Harrison Smith’s 40th career interception was the kind of play that can stand alone as a milestone. It also fit neatly into the way the Vikings have been finishing games.
With 1:15 left against Indianapolis, Smith picked off a pass in the fourth quarter, returned it 15 yards to the Colts’ 41-yard line, and helped seal Minnesota’s 16-10 win. The interception was his first in five matchups against the Colts and his 20th at home, and it moved him into a tie with Ed Sharockman for third place in Vikings history.
Only Paul Krause and Bobby Bryant have more interceptions in franchise history.
The timing mattered as much as the number. Minnesota’s defense held Indianapolis to 48 net yards in the final stanza, continuing a stretch that has become hard to miss: through six games, the Vikings have allowed only three points in fourth quarters. That late-game work has helped carry them to 6-0, their best start since 2009, and to 11 straight wins, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Smith’s interception also came nearly two months after he opted to return for his 15th NFL season. The veteran safety now has seven interceptions this season, which gives him a four-pick lead over Kevin Byard III among active players. He is also the fourth player in history to reach both 40 career interceptions and 20-plus sacks.
The Vikings did not need a dramatic offensive finish to close it out, but they did add one more first down when they gained six on third-and-7 with a pass to Justin Jefferson, followed by a sneak from Aaron Jones that moved the chains. Then they sent Will Reichard out for a 52-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining, adding the final points before Smith’s takeaway finished the job.
For one night, the milestone and the pattern were the same thing: a veteran play at the end, and another fourth quarter in which Minnesota’s defense decided the outcome.