After a 1-5 start, the Broncos are one a hot streak, winning three in a row. Can they keep up the momentum? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High.
Live updates
FINAL | Broncos 21, Vikings 20
Russell Wilson conjured some Sunday night magic. The Broncos quarterback dinked and dunked and scrambled. Then he lofted a pass to the back of the end zone and Courtland Sutton hauled in a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown with 63 seconds left in the game.
A failed two-point try kept the score at 21-20 and gave the Vikings a chance, but Denver’s defense came up with one more stop on Minnesota quarterback Josh Dobbs and company.
Winning streak? Alive and well. A team that started 1-5 is now back to level at 5-5, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
More Broncos coverage:
- PHOTOS: Denver Broncos come back to beat Minnesota Vikings 21-20 in NFL Week 11.
- Kiszla: Dancing on the brink and living on a prayer, Broncos beat Vikings and get back in playoff hunt.
- Winning streak has p-word is percolating in Broncos locker room despite long odds: “We have playoff aspirations”
- Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Minnesota Vikings: Courtland Sutton turns in another heroic effort.
- Ja’Quan McMillian continues turnover binge, becomes first Bronco to recover fumbles in back-to-back games since Von Miller in 2015.
- Broncos 4 downs: Courtland Sutton might want to keep his Pro Bowl week free after his catch sank the Vikings’ ship.
- Broncos report card: Perfume of takeaways and late offensive heroics provide pleasant cover for stinky underlying performance
Fourth-quarter updates
Ballgame (9:25 p.m.): The Vikings get one first down — barely — and the broncos bring the heat after that. On fourth and 25, Joshua Dobbs falls incomplete. That’s four wins in a row, folks. The first four-game win streak since 2016 — the very start of 2016. And now the Broncos are 5-5. Back to .500. Who saw this coming at 1-4?!?!? — Matt Schubert
What can Browning do for you? (9:21 p.m.): Baron Browning stopped Joshua Dobbs from reaching first down. by a matter of inches. The Vikings converted on the next play, though. — Joe Nguyen
No conversion (9:17 p.m.): And then the Broncos get absolutely stuffed out of a timeout. It’ll be on the defense to keep the Vikings from scoring.
All three timeouts and 63 seconds for Minnesota. The Broncos defense will have to earn this. — Matt Schubert
Fun fact: That was Courtland Sutton’s eighth touchdown reception of the year. His previous best? Six in 2019. — Joe Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (9:14 p.m.): Throw it up to Courtland Sutton, and good things often happen.
Russell Wilson finds the veteran receiver in the back of the end zone on a jump ball, and this place is going nutz.
RUSS TO SUTTON FOR THE LEAD.
📺: #MINvsDEN on NBC
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With the score 21-20, Broncos, they will be going for two. And Sean Payton smartly calls a timeout to talk it over. — Matt Schubert
Almost game (9:12 p.m.): Samaje Perine fumbled the ball, but it bounced out of bounds before the Vikings could recover. Denver has the ball at the Minnesota 21. — Joe Nguyen
Courtland. Sutton. (9:07 p.m.): Despite the pass interference call, Courtland Sutton and his magical hands, well hand, pulled in the fourth-down catch to keep the drive going. — Joe Nguyen
Courtland Sutton makes an incredible one-handed catch on fourth down, and after Samaje Perine takes a short pass 10 yards, the Broncos have first-and-10 at the Vikings 45 at the two-minute warning. — Matt Schubert
Field goal, Minnesota (9:03 p.m.): OK, now it’s absolutely a fact: The Broncos will need to score a touchdown to win this thing after the Vikings kicked a field goal. It’s 20-15 Vikings with 3:17 left. — Matt Schubert
Converted (8:58 p.m.): Joshua Dobbs converts with the fourth-down sneak. — Joe Nguyen
Challenge (8:55 p.m.): Third-and-20, no problem for the Vikings.
Broncos totally lost Chandler in the flat and he’s credited with 22 yards. Sean Payton is challenging the spot, though. Don’t think he got 22, but it’s really close to being a first down. — Parker Gabriel
Zach Allen injury (8:50 p.m.): Broncos defensive end Zach Allen is down on the field with an apparent injury. — Ryan McFadden
Allen walked off on his own and did not go to the medical tent. Looks like he might be OK. — Matt Schubert
Fake punt (8:48 p.m.): The Broncos defense forces a three-and-out… almost.
A gutsy fake punt direct snap to Ty Chandler has the Vikings in business in Broncos territory. — Matt Schubert
Field goal, Broncos (8:42 p.m.): ANOTHER WIL LUTZ FIELD GOAL!
OK, so maybe that one didn’t need to be all-caps. It’s 17-15 Vikings with 10:37 to go. — Matt Schubert
18-17 Broncos as time expires, crowd storms the field and carries Wil Lutz to Meow Wolf. (Which is closed.) — Sean Keeler
With one more field goal, Wil Lutz would tie the Broncos’ franchise record of six field goals in a game, set by Brandon McManus on Oct. 18, 2020 against the Patriots. — Joe Nguyen
McMillianaire (8:38 p.m.): All he does is make plays. Ja’Quan McMillian snags an interception. It’s his second takeaway of the game. It’s his fourth in the last three games. — Joe Nguyen
PICKED. The @Broncos have the ball down 5.
📺: #MINvsDEN on NBC
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ANOTHER TAKEAWAY. FROM JA’QUAN MCMILLIAN!!! AGAIN!
And the Broncos offense is moving backwards. 😔 — Matt Schubert
Field goal, Broncos (8:33 p.m.): Wil Lutz nails the 37-yard field goal. Vikings 17, Broncos 12 with 12:40 to go. — Joe Nguyen
It appears this game is going to come down to whether or not the Broncos can generate enough turnovers for Wil Lutz to kick two more field goals. — Matt Schubert
Offensive woes (8:32 p.m.): A procedural penalty from Garett Bolles takes away a Broncos first down, Russell Wilson is sacked on the next play, and it’s yet another field goal for Wil Lutz. At some point, you’d like to see the Broncos score a touchdown. — Matt Schubert
Third-quarter analysis — Vikings 17, Broncos 9
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Significant 15 minutes of football upcoming.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: An 18-17 win is still out there. Plenty of seats on that Wil Lutz Pro Bowl Train, boys and girls.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: The Broncos are living on the edge, but if the Vikings keep coughing up the ball, 5-5 just might happen. At some point, however, Denver needs to put one in the end zone.
Third-quarter updates
Defense skills (8:20 p.m.): Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. — Parker Gabriel
Fumble! Broncos come up with another takeaway
📺: #MINvsDEN on NBC
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ANOTHER Broncos takeaway! Just as the Vikings were driving to put another nail in the Broncos’ coffin, DJ Jones gets a piece of Alexander Mattison’s arm to cause a fumble and Josey Jewell jumps on the ball. We’re now at 11 takeaways for the Denver defense over the last three games. Amazing? Yes. Sustainable? I dunno. — Matt Schubert
Local sounds (8:18 p.m.): NBC just played “Supermagical” by Denver’s own Wildermiss before the commercial break on Sunday Night Football. — Joe Nguyen
Stagnant offense (8:13 p.m.): A second straight three-and-out for the Broncos, and now the Vikings have a chance to grab this game by the scruff of its neck. — Matt Schubert
Touchdown, Vikings (8:07 p.m.): A bad PI from Pat Surtain takes away an interception and proves costly after Joshua Dobbs scrambles up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown run. It’s still a one-possession game at 17-9, but yet another bad start to a third quarter for the Broncos. — Matt Schubert
No pick (8:04 p.m.): Pat Surtain II came down with an interception, but it came back due to pass interference call. — Joe Nguyen
Rarity (7:56 p.m.): One of the rare times a Broncos wide receiver screen works, this time to rookie Marvin Mims Jr., it gets called back on a Nate Adkins hold. After a three-and-out, it’s Vikings ball. — Matt Schubert
Halftime analysis — Vikings 10, Broncos 9
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos defense settled in some in the second quarter. Offense is going to have to find the end zone at some point. To open the third quarter, ideally, though that’s been a sore spot for Sean Payton’s operation all season.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Wilson began to take more shots down the field, but he got a little to eager on that attempt down the middle to Jeudy. Broncos have to do a better job on third down in the second half. They went 0-for-5 on third down conversions in the first half.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Hey, if it takes five field goals to win this bad boy 15-13, you take it. Ain’t no tiebreaker for style points in the AFC standings, kids. And those standings are mental.
Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: Another tilt that shakes down the Rocky Mountain Thunder with echoes of the Orange Crush. It ain’t pretty. But the Broncos got a fightin’ chance to get to .500 with a solid second half.
Second-quarter updates
Field goal try (7:37 p.m.): Russell Wilson couldn’t connect with Jerry Jeudy for the touchdown (it was almost picked), so Denver has to settle for a 52-yard field-goal attempt. Wil Lutz nails the kick. Vikings 10, Broncos 9 at the half. — Joe Nguyen
Jerry Jeudy just saved three points with the best pass breakup you’ll see all season. Not sure what Russell Wilson was thinking there, but the Broncos only trail 10-9. All things considered, that’s OK. — Matt Schubert
Marching (7:32 p.m.): After a Broncos defensive stop, the offense is on the march once again. Get another field goal and 10-9 at halftime doesn’t look bad. — Matt Schubert
Conversions (7:24 p.m.): Vikings have converted four of their past five third-down chances on a TD and gains of 15, 29 and 17. — Parker Gabriel
Field goal (7:17 p.m.): Wil Lutz hits the 31-yard field goal for Denver. Vikings 10, Broncos 6 with 4:08 to go in the half. — Joe Nguyen
Settling (7:16 p.m.): Three plays later, the Broncos have to settle for a field goal. — Matt Schubert
Big gains (7:14 p.m.): Finally, the Broncos decide to open things up with a pair of long strikes to Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. First and 10 at the Vikings 20. The first meaningful drive of the game for Denver. — Matt Schubert
Sack (7:08 p.m.): Broncos’ defense stands strong. Jonathon Cooper slipped through the line and sacked Joshua Dobbs, forcing Minnesota to attempt a 34-yard field goal. It’s good. Vikings 10, Broncos 3 with 8:09 to go. — Joe Nguyen
Run defense (7:05 p.m.): The Broncos run defense continues to be bad. That’s been the one constant of this entire season. — Matt Schubert
Touchdown, Vikings (6:56 p.m.): Joshua Dobbs shrugged off a sack attempt and connected with Josh Oliver for a 3-yard touchdown. Vikings 7, Broncos 3 with 14:53 to go. — Joe Nguyen
First-quarter analysis — Broncos 3, Vikings 0
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos have done nothing offensively and can’t stop the run. Oh, and the punting’s been suspect. Other than that, no reason to worry.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: If you’re the Vikes, why throw?
Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: And Kareem Jackson is not a dirty player?
First-quarter updates
Running game (6:53 p.m.): If I’m the Vikings, I will run the ball for the entire game. Denver gave up 72 rushing yards in the first quarter. — Ryan McFadden
Wide open? (6:46 p.m.): It looked like Wilson had tight end Nate Adkins wide open down the right sideline but didn’t look in that direction. — Ryan McFadden
Field goal, Broncos (6:31 p.m.): Wil Lutz nails the 31-yard field goal to give Denver the early lead. Broncos 3, Vikings 0 with 10:28 to go in the first. — Joe Nguyen
Dobbs went in the tent and is back out again. As the hit was Kareem Jackson’s, the league office probably winced a little. Still, 3-0, Broncos. — Sean Keeler
Broncos couldn’t take advantage of solid field position, as they were forced to settle for a field goal. Danielle Hunter’s sack on Russ was costly. — Ryan McFadden
Danielle Hunter racks up his 12th sack of the season
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I’m on record as saying any play that involves a tight end taking a snap probably shouldn’t happen. The Broncos benefit from the Vikings’ stupidity. I’m sure they’ll take it. — Matt Schubert
Injury update (6:29 p.m.): Joshua Dobbs is in the injury tent following the hit by Kareem Jackson. — Joe Nguyen
Turnover (6:26 p.m.): Broncos came up with another turnover. Kareem Jackson knocks the ball out of Joshua Dobbs’ hands. Denver ball on the Minnesota 30. — Joe Nguyen
The @Broncos defense continues its hot streak!
📺: #MINvsDEN on NBC
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Coin toss (6:22 p.m.): Broncos win the toss and defer to the second half. Let’s roll. — Parker Gabriel
Pre-game updates
Inactives (4:52 p.m.): Broncos rookie S JL Skinner is up for the first time this season with S P.J. Locke out.The rest of Denver’s inactives:
- OLB Ronnie Perkins
- ILB Ben Niemann
- C Alex Forsyth
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- DL Elijah Garcia
Hello from Empower Field (4:33 p.m.): The Broncos take on Minnesota tonight in prime time. Denver’s looking for its first four-game winning streak since 2016, while the Vikings are aiming for their sixth straight win. Remarkably, neither of these teams has lost in more than a month. Not only that, but if the Broncos win and get to 5-5 on the season, they’ll jump from last in the AFC West to second thanks to losses today by Las Vegas (now 5-6) against Miami and Los Angeles (4-6) at Green Bay. Big opportunity, then, for Sean Payton’s team. — Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (4 p.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Vikings in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 23, Vikings 21
Two weeks ago this matchup seemed primed to get flexed out of Sunday night. Now? Neither team has lost since Kansas City beat the Vikings on Oct. 8 and then Denver four days later. Sean Payton’s side has won three straight, has good vibes (vulnerabilities, too) and a home crowd that should be juiced for prime time. This team might just have figured out how to avoid what would be a real letdown.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 27, Vikings 24
I’m sticking with the Broncos for the second straight week because of their defense. They have managed to contain Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, so I’m confident defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will figure out how to slow down Joshua Dobbs. The Broncos will head into Thanksgiving week with a .500 record. Crazy, right?
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Vikings 24, Broncos 16
Hey, don’t get ticked at me for raining on the Orange & Blue Bandwagon. Blame that heartless dastard, Mr. Law of Averages. While the Denver D has made an amazing comeback from that 70-burger in Miami, Mr. Law of Averages tells us not to expect the Broncos to force four or five turnovers every week.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Vikings 21, Broncos 20
The Lazarus Bowl? The Risner Bowl? AFC New Money (Broncos) meets NFC New Money (Vikes) in a battle of two 0-3 teams left for dead on Columbus Day. Minnesota’s thrown only one interception in its last six games, while the Broncos have picked off eight passes over their last six. The Orange & Blue have the hottest secondary in the NFL right now, but can Denver win a game in which it doesn’t also don’t win big when it comes to the turnover margin?
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Broncos 20, Vikings 17
Minnesota doesn’t have the run game to expose the Broncos’ one glaring defensive weakness, and as solid as Joshua Dobbs has been over the past couple of weeks, there’s a reason he was available for a sixth-round pick. It’s been established over the past three games: Denver doesn’t need a good offense to win, just a competent one. As scary as this Minnesota defense is, Russell Wilson and Co. should do just enough to get to .500.
Broncos-Vikings NFL Week 11: Must-reads
How have the Broncos revamped a historically bad defense on the fly? Tough conversations, turnovers galore and the Justin Simmons effect.
A third straight win could hardly have been forecast even a month prior. Doing it on the strength of a defensive surge? Unthinkable.
How did it happen? How did a defense off to one of the worst starts in NFL history turn into a potential top-10 group? Why did it take so many weeks to make a series of moves that have panned out so well?
And does this group have the chops to take a four-game run and turn it into a real playoff chase? The next two weeks will tell a lot, but the Broncos defense has already turned its season around in a major way, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Broncos prepare for Minnesota’s blitz-heavy defense: “It’s about being on the same page”
Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey is happy to face Minnesota at home on Sunday night, because communication will be essential against the Vikings’ pass rush.
Minnesota has the highest blitz percentage in the league (49%) under first-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores. And with the various looks the Vikings present, the Broncos will have their hands full trying to protect quarterback Russell Wilson.
Head coach Sean Payton said he and the team spent 48 hours studying Minnesota’s pass rush. He thinks Minnesota forces opponents’ hands with six- and seven-man blitzes, Ryan McFadden reports. Read the full story.
Broncos sense Sean Payton Way is starting to take hold. “You’re like, Holy (crap), it’s working”
Adam Trautman has seen this movie before.
The Broncos tight end started his career in New Orleans playing for Sean Payton. His rookie year in 2020, they went 12-4 and secured the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
Payton is an intense coach by nature. Start winning, his reputation goes, and there’s no sense of a lighten up. He only gets more demanding. Like several of his core coaching principles, this one comes from the years he spent with Bill Parcells, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
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