Revisiting the Broncos’ Last Three Matchups Against Minnesota

The Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings haven’t faced each other very often in recent years, but their meetings have consistently delivered plenty of drama.

The two teams are tied 8-8 in the all-time series, with Denver defeating Minnesota in two of the last three regular-season meetings. All three of those games were decided by one possession, producing three very different finishes.

The Broncos and Vikings will meet again Friday for their respective third preseason games, providing a perfect opportunity to revisit the last three chapters of this series.

2023: Russell Wilson’s Late Heroics Save Denver

The Broncos entered their Week 11 matchup against Minnesota in 2023 riding a three-game winning streak, while the Vikings had turned to Joshua Dobbs after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

Dobbs had already made an impact in Minnesota by the time he faced Denver.

The Vikings acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals just before the trade deadline, and he came off the bench in Week 9 to help Minnesota rally past the Atlanta Falcons 31-28. He then made his first start the following week in the Vikings’ 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

His matchup against the Broncos was his second start for Minnesota.

And Dobbs once again gave the Vikings a chance.

The Minnesota quarterback accounted for 242 total yards and two touchdowns, while the Vikings’ rushing attack piled up 175 yards. Minnesota’s defense also made life difficult for Russell Wilson, recording seven quarterback hits.

Denver’s offense struggled to generate much of anything for most of the contest.

The Broncos’ first nine possessions ended with five field goals and four punts, and they failed to score a touchdown through the first three quarters. Despite putting points on the board consistently, Denver couldn’t put the Vikings away.

That finally changed late in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 20-15, Wilson engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive that gave the Broncos their first touchdown of the afternoon. He capped the possession by finding Courtland Sutton for a 15-yard touchdown with just 1:03 remaining in regulation.

Wilson finished the afternoon 27-of-35 for 259 yards and a touchdown, while Sutton caught four passes for 66 yards and the game-winning score.

Minnesota still had one final opportunity.

The Vikings drove into Denver territory, but the Broncos’ defense held firm on fourth down. Minnesota faced a fourth-and-25 with just 16 seconds remaining, but the pass fell incomplete, allowing Denver to escape with a 21-20 victory.

Alex Singleton led the Broncos with 16 total tackles, including 11 solo stops, while Denver’s defense finished with 10 quarterback hits.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Broncos found a way to win.

2019: Denver Blows a 23-7 Lead

In 2019, the Broncos traveled to Minneapolis for a Week 11 matchup that appeared to be firmly in their control.

Instead, it became one of the more painful collapses of the season.

Denver dominated the first half, taking a 20-0 lead into the locker room. The Broncos added another field goal with 4:23 left in the third quarter to extend their advantage to 23-7.

At that point, the Vikings began to chip away.

Minnesota scored touchdowns on each of its next two offensive possessions, cutting Denver’s lead to 23-20.

Suddenly, a game that had appeared to be firmly in the Broncos’ control was up for grabs.

Denver had an opportunity to create some breathing room midway through the fourth quarter, but Brandon McManus missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt wide right.

Kirk Cousins then made the Broncos pay.

Cousins engineered a five-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, capping it with a 32-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph with 6:01 remaining in regulation.

Denver still had one final chance to answer.

Brandon Allen led the Broncos all the way to the Vikings’ 4-yard line, putting the Broncos in position to potentially steal the game back. But Allen’s final pass to Noah Fant fell incomplete, and the clock expired.

Denver’s collapse was complete.

Allen finished 17-of-39 for 240 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Courtland Sutton caught five passes for 113 yards.

The Broncos’ defense recorded five sacks, with Todd Davis leading the team with 12 total tackles.

But Cousins was the star of the show for Minnesota.

He completed 29 of 35 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while Stefon Diggs caught five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

After Denver had seemingly taken control, the Vikings scored three touchdowns in the second half to complete the comeback and win 27-23.

2015: The Broncos’ Defense Bails Out Peyton Manning

Denver’s 2015 meeting with Minnesota produced another one-possession thriller, but the Broncos’ defense made sure the Vikings didn’t complete the comeback.

Peyton Manning wasn’t exactly at his best that afternoon.

The future Hall of Famer completed 17 of 27 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Fortunately for Denver, Ronnie Hillman provided a much-needed spark on the ground.

Hillman rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, including a spectacular 72-yard touchdown run with 11:24 remaining in the second quarter that gave the Broncos a 10-0 lead.

Minnesota eventually fought its way back into the game.

With 9:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, Manning threw his second interception of the afternoon. The Vikings capitalized with a field goal on their ensuing possession, tying the game at 20-20.

Denver responded with a big kick of its own.

Brandon McManus drilled a 39-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining to give the Broncos a 23-20 lead.

That left Minnesota with one final opportunity.

But Denver’s defense delivered the knockout blow.

On what would be the Vikings’ final possession, T.J. Ward strip-sacked Teddy Bridgewater, and Von Miller recovered the fumble with 29 seconds remaining in regulation.

Adrian Peterson missed his blitz pickup on the play, giving Ward a clean path to Bridgewater and allowing the Broncos’ safety to deliver the game-clinching hit.

Game over.

Bridgewater finished 27-of-41 for 269 yards and a touchdown, while Peterson rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Denver’s defense recorded seven sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Ward finished with two sacks, two quarterback hits, a forced fumble and six solo tackles, while Miller added a sack, two quarterback hits, four total tackles and the game-clinching fumble recovery.

It was a fitting ending to a game in which the Broncos’ defense and running game did the heavy lifting.