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Broncos at Vikings Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 11
The Denver Broncos aren't often double-digit underdogs. It's only happened a handful of times over the last 25 years.
But going into Minnesota to take on the Vikings, the Broncos are 10.5-point dogs. It's quite the seemingly insurmountable deficit.
As Phillip Lindsay said earlier this week, though, "I’m not going to sit here and say they are the greatest on earth. They are beatable like everybody else.”
The Vikings will be without a few starters on both sides of the ball, while the Broncos will be without starting right tackle Ja'Wuan James once again. Two-plus weeks of time off were not enough, apparently, to get the $51 million tackle back out on the field.
And so the Broncos will face the likes of Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen with Garett Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson. Good thing Brandon Allen has some mobility, eh?
Join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsMIN here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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Inactives
Analysis: The Broncos know that Gary Kubiak and the Vikings first plan of attack will be with RB Dalvin Cook on the ground, so DeMarcus Walker sits. In Walker's place will be Adam Gotsis, whom the team ostensibly believes gives the Broncos a better chance at stopping the run.
First Quarter
Broncos to receive.
15:00: Courtland Sutton beats his man deep but Brandon Allen's pass is off-target, way too long. Play would have been nullified anyway, with an illegal formation foul called.
13:35: Allen connects with Noah Fant down the right seam for 31 yards on second down.
11:32: Broncos stall on a shuffle pass to Fant on third down, tackled just short of the sticks. Brandon McManus sails through the 47-yard field goal attempt.
Broncos strike first, lead 3-0.
10:40: Broncos stuff the Vikings on third down, forcing the punt. Starting NT Mike Purcell being looked at on the sidelines by the training staff. Vikings to punt.
9:12: Following a first-down penalty, the Broncos quickly go three-and-out on their second offensive possession. Punt.
NT Mike Purcell questionable to return.
7:36: Miller gets the stop/tackle on Dalvin Cook on third down. Vikings go three-and-out on consecutive possessions. Fangio's defense came to play.
6:09: Allen goes deep to Sutton, connects for 48 yards. Sutton makes insane contested catch in traffic, exploits Xavier Rhodes. Broncos in plus-territory again.
4:43: Allen connects with TE Troy Fumagalli on a three-yard touchdown! Broncos are rolling! Excellent way to cap off a six-play, 90-yard drive.
Broncos 10, Vikings 0.
3:12: Von Miller sacks Cousins on 3rd-&-14. Vikings punt.
2:27: On the fake reverse, Sutton throws deep to Tim Patrick, who catches it in double coverage. 38-yard completion! Broncos almost in the red zone again.
:18: Phillip Lindsay picks up eight yards on a toss right on second down. Will bring up 3rd-&-2.
End of quarter. Broncos 10, Vikings 0
Second Quarter
15:00: Broncos will get a 3rd-&-2 from the Vikings 8-yard line. Royce Freeman can only get one yard. Brings up fourth down on the 7-yard line.
14:13: Broncos call timeout. But they're going for it. The jet-sweep hand-off goes to Sutton, he's met at the sticks. It's going to come down to the measurement. Officials give it to him. 1st-&-Goal!
13:30: On 2nd-&-Goal, Freeman is bottled up. Dalton Risner is banged up on the play. Bleeding from his face apparently.
12:51: Andy Janovich gets the call on the 1-yard line, is stopped initially, but a second and third effort sees the fullback break the plane! Touchdown Broncos! Review is confirmed.
Broncos 17, Vikings 0
Broncos have 185 net yards to Vikings' 21. This is pure domination.
12:21: Mike Purcell's ribs are okay apparently. He's back out on the field and stuffs a first-down run.
10:48: Purcell with another run stuff, this time on Dalvin Cook.
10:08: Cousins hits a streaking open Stefon Diggs for a 30-plus yard gain but it's negated by a Riley Reiff holding foul. Broncos catch a break.
9:02: Nothing doing for the Vikings on third down, as the Broncos defense continues to smother Dalvin Cook. Punt.
7:03: Garett Bolles called for holding. Offset by a Xavier Rhodes defensive hold. But negates a first down picked up by Linsday.
3:17: Broncos' drive stalls with a deflected Allen pass on 3rd-&-9. Punt. Vikings will get an opportunity to put some points on the board before the half.
2:40: Shelby Harris sacks Cousins from the blindside, forces fumble, recovered by Alexander Johnson. Broncos in business at the Vikings 17-yard line.
2:00: Janovich hauls in the outlet pass but injures his arm on the play. Jano is done.
1:14: Allen sails the pass out he back of the end zone on third down, settling for a field goal. McManus' kick is good. But the Vikings flagged on the play, giving the Broncos a first down. Illegal formation. 1st-&-Goal Broncos.
Officials pick up the flag after all. Field goal counts.
Broncos 20, Vikings 0
1:10: Will Parks forces a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Broncos in business again on Vikings' 16-yard line.
1:00: Allen picked off by Sendejo, targeting Fant. Vikings dodge a bullet.
:10: Shelby Harris gets his second sack of the day, the third for the Broncos on the day.
Third Quarter
Vikings receive.
14:37: Vikings move the chains with Dalvin Cook 2-yard gain on 2nd-&-1.
13:36: Cook stuffed on 3rd-&-1 by Derek Wolfe and Alexander Johnson. Vikings go for it on fourth down with the Cousins dive. Moves the chains.
12:45: Cousins goes deep, hits Stefon Diggs for 44-yard gain, burning Davontae Harris n coverage. Vikings have 1st-&-Goal.
11:34: Davontae Harris burned again, this time by TE Irv Smith for a Vikings touchdown. Extra point is good.
Broncos 20, Vikings 7
11:00: Allen sacked by Everson Griffen. Noah Fant exploited on the snap.
10:20: Allen throws short of the sticks on 3rd-&-8, connecting with Sutton for five yards. Broncos bailed out when Vikings encroach on fourth down punt attempt. First down Broncos.
8:35: RT Elijah Wilkson jumps early on 2nd-&-5, negating Allen's five-yard scramble on the previous play. Brings up 2nd-&-10.
7:20: Allen threads the needle to Sutton on 3rd-&-3 in double coverage, moving the chains.
5:58: Allen connects with Tim Patrick for 29-yard gain.
4:27: Drive stalls on third down. McManus pounds through a 47-yard field goal to extend Broncos' lead.
Broncos 23, Vikings 7
3:02: On 4th-&-1, Vikings move the chains with a Cook 2-yard gain.
2:16: Cousins sacked by rookie DE Dre'Mont Jones for 9-yard loss. First of Jones' career.
1:16: Duke Dawson flagged for pass interference on 2nd-&-10. Pass incomplete but moves the chains.
:20: Cook picks up five yards, before getting drilled by Alexander Johnson.
End of quarter.
Fourth Quarter
15:00: Vikings set up with a 3rd-&-5 from the Broncos' 27-yard line.
13:30: Cook's speed gets him to the corner, crossing the pylon. Touchdown Vikings. Minnesota goes for two on the ensuing play. Jet sweep to Cook. Derek Wolfe stuffs him.
Broncos 23, Vikings 13
11:56: 3rd-&-1. Fant gets another carry and unsurprisingly, he's stopped for a 5-yard loss.
10:29: Cousins fakes the sweep, while Stefon Diggs runs by Chris Harris, Jr.. 54-yard touchdown. Vikings narrow the margin.
Broncos 23, Vikings 20
10:17: Allen hits Sutton for a 43-yard gain, quieting the Minnesota faithful. Broncos in business in plus-territory and Sutton goes over the century mark receiving.
8:56: Rich Scangarello calls a 'give up' play on third down, with Devontae Booker getting the ball off right tackle.
8:19: Brandon McManus misses the 43-yard field goal attempt, proving to Scangarello that you can't call a 'give up' play on third down just because you think you're in field goal range. Broncos are officially in trouble now.
7:15: Shelby Harris gets his third sack of the day on second down.
6:10: Broncos allow Vikings to go 67 yards on five plays. Cousins hits Kyle Rudolph for a 32-yard touchdown.
Vikings 27, Broncos 23
5:42: Allen sacked on second down.
3:27: Allen hits Noah Fant for an 11-yard gain on 4th-&-6, moving the chains.
2:00: Allen's pass to Troy Fumagalli incomplete, bringing up 3rd-&-6 from the Vikings 30-yard line.
Two-minute warning.
:02: Broncos drive down and get three shots at a touchdown with 10 seconds to go. All three incomplete. The last one to Noah Fant falls to the turf.
The Broncos are the first team in the last 99 to blow a 20-0 halftime lead.
Vikings 27, Broncos 23
Broncos fall to 3-7
