MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Daniel Jones made a pit stop with the Minnesota Vikings two years ago, when the eighth-year quarterback got an up-close look at the confusing and disruptive defense he's tasked this week with trying to solve.
The Vikings and their league-leading pass rush will present a significant challenge for Jones and the struggling Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon, with the crowd noise at U.S. Bank Stadium as an added inconvenience.
“I saw them in practice a little bit. It’s a little different than preparing for a game and playing in a game, so we go off of what we see on film, what they’ve done this year, and then have a plan for that,” said Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft by the New York Giants who joined the Colts last season. “But it’s a good system. There’s no question about it. They’re good with what they do. It’s different than what you see in a normal week.”
Jones, who parlayed a standout performance at Minnesota in a wild-card round win in the 2022 postseason into a new contract valued at $160 million, was cut by the Giants halfway into the first year of that hefty extension. The Vikings snagged Jones as a backup to Sam Darnold they could also evaluate as a potential future starter.
“Our experience with him was nothing but positive, and so to me he’s got a little bit more insight instead of some other guys as far as what we do,” said Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, whose blitz-driven group leads the NFL in several statistical categories including sacks per pass attempt.
“We may have to add a few wrinkles, change a few calls, that he may be privy to that some other guys aren’t.”
When the Vikings decided not to re-sign Darnold, who went on to win the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last season, the Vikings were banking on being able to bring Jones back to compete with J.J. McCarthy as the 2024 first-round draft pick debuted following knee surgery that wiped out his rookie season.
But Jones prioritized the assurance of a starting job and signed instead with the Colts, where he played well until a torn Achilles tendon in early December and a tough schedule down the stretch toppled the team's 8-2 start.
The Colts are reeling again this season at 2-4, having fired general manager Chris Ballard at the beginning of the week.
“It definitely makes you feel something," Jones said. "You understand kind of what’s at stake, so we know we’ve got to play better.”
The Vikings, meanwhile, are 5-0 and refreshed from a bye week that should allow wide receiver Jordan Addison, left tackle Christian Darrisaw, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and running back Jordan Mason to return from recent injuries.
“I feel like everybody still has the juice flowing,” wide receiver Justin Jefferson said. “We definitely haven't got that full potential yet."
Indianapolis (2-4) at Minnesota (5-0).
When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.
Latest odds: Vikings by 6½.
Against the spread: Colts 3-3; Vikings 4-1.
Last week: Colts lost to Titans 26-20; Vikings had bye, beat Saints 23-13 on Oct. 11.
Last meeting: Vikings beat Colts 21-13 on Nov. 3, 2024, in Minneapolis.
Series record: Colts lead 18-9-1.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor vs. Vikings LBs Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson. Taylor, the three-time Pro Bowl pick who led the NFL last season with 323 rushing attempts and 18 rushing touchdowns, has yet to have a 100-yard game and is averaging a career-low 4 yards per carry. Cashman and Wilson, with their combined 18 years of experience in the league, have been the heartbeat of the defense. Cashman has 10 quarterback pressures, per Sportradar, the most in the NFL among all inside linebackers.
— The Colts have lost 11 of their past 13 games, since starting last season 8-2. They've dropped seven consecutive road games.
— Jones had a season-high 269 passing yards against the Titans. He has just four touchdown passes against six interceptions this season.
— Colts safety Cam Bynum, who played for the Vikings from 2021-24, had his first interception of the season last week.
— This is the third time in five seasons the Colts visit the Vikings, twice as the extra interconference opponent under the NFL scheduling formula for a 17th game that was enacted in 2021. The Vikings used the biggest comeback in league history, down 33 points at halftime, to beat the Colts 39-36 in overtime in 2022.
— The Vikings have won 10 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. They missed the playoffs last season despite a five-game winning streak to finish 9-8.
— Aaron Jones has 97 rushing attempts for 410 yards for the Vikings, the most of his 10-year career through the first five games of a season.
— Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy had two interceptions in the most recent game against the Saints. The Vikings have a league-leading plus-six turnover margin entering Week 7.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) throws a pass as he is pressured by Tennessee Titans defensive end John Franklin-Myers (91) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) intercepts a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
CHICAGO (AP) — Round 2 went to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
Williams passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bears cooled off Drake Maye and the New England Patriots with a 30-24 victory Thursday night.
It was the second meeting between the young quarterbacks since they were part of the 2024 NFL draft. Maye, who was selected by New England at No. 3, directed the Patriots to a 19-3 victory over Williams and the Bears when the longtime friends were rookies.
But Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, leaned on Luther Burden and Colston Loveland while outlasting Maye and the Patriots in the rematch. Williams connected on 22 of 33 passes in his second game back after being sidelined by a right hamstring injury.
“These nights are awesome,” Williams said. “You play against another good team on a primetime game in a short week, these games are awesome because you get to see who you are as a team. That’s who we are. We’re a smashmouth football team, an innovative team. And when things happen and things don’t go our way and the water is rocky, we stay steady.”
Maye was 24 for 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 7-yard run for New England's first TD with 11:33 left in the first half.
But Maye also was intercepted by Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson in the end zone on a pass intended for rookie tight end Eli Raridon late in the second quarter.
“It’s those plays, I talk about it all the time,” Maye said. “You know those plays that can swing the game, can impact the game and that was definitely one of them right there. Yeah, I wish I definitely had that one back.”
New England (4-3) had won three consecutive games behind Maye, who threw 10 TD passes and one interception during the win streak.
“He gave us a chance," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. "He competed and I know he’d like to have that throw back to Eli, but I thought he really competed. Whether that was running around and scrambling or finding good places to go with the football. He gave us a chance. ... I’m glad he’s ours.”
Burden had four catches for 130 yards for Chicago (5-2), and Loveland had a 12-yard touchdown reception. Cairo Santos kicked a 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left, a career long and matching the franchise record, after he missed a 53-yard attempt earlier in the final quarter.
Williams became the first Bears quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games since Mitch Trubisky had a three-game run in 2018.
“I think he did a pretty good job throughout the night,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “I know he had a number of explosive plays. He found some of those guys at the second level that were huge for us.”
After Santos’ long field goal, Maye drove New England into range for Andy Borregales’ 47-yarder with 37 seconds to go. But Chicago recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown for the Patriots. Raridon had a 30-yard TD catch in the third quarter.
“We did some good things,” Vrabel said. “But again, didn’t do enough.”
It was Chicago’s first home game since Mike Ditka died on Oct. 9. The Bears saluted the Hall of Fame tight end and longtime coach with a pregame moment of silence, and they also handed out fake mustaches to the crowd of 60,520 at Soldier Field.
Ditka’s No. 89 jersey dotted the stands, and fans also donned Bears sweaters in a callback to what he wore on the sideline as a coach.
Chicago opened a 20-7 lead on Burden’s 24-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half. Burden got the ball on a screen on third-and-17, and Loveland, Kalif Raymond and Darnell Wright helped clear the way for his second TD reception of the season.
“The whole calvary came ... and it was like a wave carrying him through there,” Johnson said. “He saw a little crease and hit the jets.”
Set to receive the second-half kickoff, the Bears were in position to pull away. But the Patriots responded with Stevenson’s 48-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the period.
Stevenson slipped out of the backfield and Maye lobbed the ball over the head of Bears safety Cam Lewis. Stevenson ran away from Lewis and got a downfield block from DeMario Douglas before cutting past Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on his way to the end zone.
Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez played after being listed as questionable because of an illness. ... S Kevin Byard departed after he was checked out by trainers with 9:44 left in first half. He later returned. ... DT Christian Barmore departed late in the game.
Bears: CB Malik Muhammad left in the third quarter with a toe injury. ... TE Cole Kmet hurt his right knee on a reception with 5:34 left. "We’ll know more tomorrow, but I don’t think it looked very good,” Johnson said.
Patriots: At Miami on Nov. 1.
Bears: At Seattle for a Monday night game Nov. 2.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) intercepts a pass intended for New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon (82) as Cam Lewis, center, looks on during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) watches his 58-yard field goal late in the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles as during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
