- NFL fans are talking about Colts quarterback Matt Ryan after his team lost to the Vikings Saturday.
- The Vikings overcame a 33-0 deficit to win 39-36 in overtime, making it the largest comeback in NFL history.
NFL fans are talking about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan on social media after his team lost to the Minnesota Vikings 39-36 Saturday. Minnesota's win is the largest comeback in league history, according to ESPN.
The Colts entered halftime with a 33-0 lead thanks to several errors from the Vikings, including a fumble from running back Dalvin Cook and a pick-six thrown by Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Indianapolis was still up 36-7 with less than five minutes in the third quarter before the Vikings scored 32 unanswered points to take the match-up to overtime. The Vikings clinched the game — and the NFC North division title — with a final field goal as time expired.
The defeat marked the second time Ryan was on the losing end of a record-breaking game: The quarterback was with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 when they bungled a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady's New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The championship contest marked the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Social media users seared Ryan with memes and jokes
Fans and viewers took to social media over the weekend to discuss Ryan's performance, with some joking about the quarterback's bad luck.
"Matt Ryan came into today with the biggest blown lead in Super Bowl history and left with the biggest blown lead in NFL history… gotta be cursed," one Twitter user wrote.
—Blaiden Kirk (@blaiden) December 17, 2022
"Matt Ryan is just bad luck at this point wow," another tweet read.
—Arial | Rusty (@ItzEffects) December 17, 2022
"The Read" podcast host and writer Crissle West wrote on Twitter that "whoever got a curse on matt ryan is one powerful bitch."
—king crissle (@crissles) December 18, 2022
Some social media users even quipped that Ryan would win tight games if they were capped at three quarters, sharing an image of LeBron James with his numerous awards to demonstrate what could have been.
Others joked that Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday, who NBC Sports reports is the first NFL head coach without any college or professional coaching experience in 61 years, is happy Ryan took the brunt of the blame.
—CantBanMe (@NumeroUnoNegro) December 17, 2022
World Cup viewers also joked about Ryan's misfortune
As Argentina took a 2-0 lead over France in the World Cup final on Sunday, soccer fans also urged Ryan to stay away from the international event.
"Keep Matt Ryan as far away from Argentina as possible," one person shared on Twitter.
—Cole Hodges (@colehodges) December 18, 2022
—Mike Sielski (@MikeSielski) December 18, 2022
"OK, is there anyone on Argentina's roster named 'Matt Ryan?' Just checking," Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Mike Sielski tweeted.