Broncos vs. Vikings: Week 11 Bold Predictions & Picks
After starting the season 1-5 amid a historically bad defensive showing, the Denver Broncos have battled back to a 4-5 standing. Three wins in a row have given the Broncos renewed confidence and swagger, with two of those victories coming against quality Conference opponents and elite-level AFC quarterbacks.
But it's the NFL. There's no rest for the weary, and the Broncos' schedule, unfortunately, doesn't get any easier. A look at the opponents that remain on the schedule only reinforces how important it was for Denver to capitalize on its relatively soft slate of games in the first quarter of this campaign.
Alas, the Broncos weren't ready, and that 'soft' stretch of the schedule to open things up was squandered. Now, if Sean Payton and company are truly going to push for the playoffs, the margin of error is exceedingly narrow.
The Broncos will now host a red-hot Minnesota Vikings squad on Sunday Night Football. It'll be Denver's third straight primetime game.
How will Week 11 shake out? Let's go around the Mile High Huddle table to see how our staff foresees this one unfolding on primetime.
James Campbell (@JamesC_MHH) 4-5: This should be an interesting close game in prime-time, with Denver at home coming off a short week. Minnesota has a ferocious defense but is a little banged up on offense, but Kevin O'Connell is among the best head coaches in the league, and Joshua Dobbs looks to be a capable operator of his offense. Finally, Denver has its recipe, which sees this one come down to the fourth quarter. Ultimately, Minnesota makes just enough timely plays to grind out a hard-fought win.
Pick: Vikings 24, Broncos 21
Keith Cummings (@KeithC_NFL) 5-4: Winning the turnover battle provides the key to victory in this one. Primetime is beginning to suit the rejuvenated Broncos, who grab three picks off Dobbs to hit .500 this season. Javonte Williams rushes for 125 yards and a key touchdown to settle matters.
Pick: Broncos 31, Vikings 21
Carl Dumler (@CarlDumlerMHH) 4-5: Who would have thought this would be the game with the two hottest teams in football? Dobbs has a bad game with a couple of bad interceptions, and Williams has his best game of the season, going over 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The Broncos win this one close, as the Vikings get a late score to make it interesting.
Pick: Broncos 27, Vikings 24
Mike Evans (@MHHEvans) 5-4: The Broncos' offensive line will need to transform into a brick wall to stop the Vikings' heavy blitz tactics while their defense tries to turn Dobbs' NFL fairy tale into a nightmare of third-and-longs. Expect a game with more sacks than a grocery store, and at the final whistle, one team's playoff hopes might just get bagged and tagged.
Pick: Broncos 24, Vikings 17
Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) 5-4: The Broncos are believing they can win for the first time in a very long time. This Sunday, Denver can beat the Vikings and thrust itself into the playoff picture in front of the home crowd. All three phases will click, and we'll all have no choice but to start believing in the team again.
Pick: Broncos 31, Vikings 20
Chad Jensen (@ChadNJensen) 5-4: This Vikings' defense is no joke. It'll test Denver's newfound ground-and-pound attack, but the difference-maker is Payton and Wilson finally injecting a few big vertical plays off play-action, preventing the Vikings from constantly loading the box and making them think twice about blitzing. After a 'sack-less' game in Buffalo, the Broncos' defense notches five on Dobbs and throws a wet blanket on the Vikings' heretofore incendiary momentum.
Pick: Broncos 26, Vikings 20
Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) 3-6: I'm back on the Broncos bandwagon after two straight games of (admittedly) being proven wrong. Returning to the friendly confines of Empower Field, the suddenly rejuvenated Denver defense will put the clamps on Dobbs' storybook campaign while the Broncos' three-headed rushing attack keeps Minnesota's blitz-heavy defensive unit at bay. It might not be pretty — it rarely is for the Broncos — but another win's another win. It's time to start talking playoff possibilities in the Mile High City!
Pick: Broncos 22, Vikings 18
Nick Kendell (@NickKendellMHH) 4-5: The Broncos are HOT. Having taken the ball away nine times in two games, the highest rate by a team since 1998, the Broncos' defense has turned things around after a horrific start. Denver is vulnerable vs. the run, but fortunately, Minnesota's rushing attack is anemic. Denver should play light and focus on stopping the pass vs. the Dobbs aberration. The game will be won or lost based on how Payton and Wilson match up vs. blitz-happy Vikings' DC Brian Flores. Wilson holds the third-worst EPA-per-pass (-0.318) vs. the blitz this season. If Denver can successfully attack the blitz while also protecting the ball, it can make it four wins in a row.
Pick: Broncos 23, Vikings 20
Bob Morris (@BobMorrisSports) 3-6: The Broncos have won three in a row thanks to their defense, with the offense doing just enough to win. The Vikings have won a couple of games with Dobbs at QB, but are winning mostly because of defense and the presence of T.J. Hockenson. The Broncos D should be able to do enough, but the question is whether the offense takes advantage. Here's hoping the offense does so.
Pick: Broncos 20, Vikings 17
Luke Patterson (@LukePattersonLP) 4-5: The goal this week is pretty simple for the Broncos. Win at home and get back to .500. Only then can Denver get in the hunt for postseason contention. Dobbs comes back to earth and turns the ball over to the Broncos' defense via a fumble and interception, which wins the game for the good guys.
Pick: Broncos 24, Vikings 21
Lance Sanderson (@SandersonMHH) 4-5: When it comes to late-season football, the team with the better running game on both sides of the ball typically comes away with the victory. Denver has truly unleashed its full identity the past few weeks with an efficient and rambunctious rushing attack, and with Wilson making timely plays as a passer, it has as good of a chance as anybody to win. Minnesota is struggling to run the ball consistently, and I don't believe the 'Passtronaut' to continue his level of play. Give me the good guys ending the Vikings' five-game winning streak.
Pick: Broncos 24, Vikings 20
Erick Trickel (@ErickTrickel) 3-6: The Broncos' offense needs to find a way to play better and more consistently. Totaling just six points off of four turnovers is inexcusable. The offense also needs to figure out how to work against blitzes that it has struggled with all season, as the Vikings blitz 49% of the time, and Wilson and the Broncos have been terrible against it. If Pro Bowl wideout Justin Jefferson plays, he will have his wins, but if the defense plays as it has the past two weeks, especially with the takeaways, Denver should walk away with the win here.
Pick: Broncos 23, Vikings 17
Dylan Von Arx (@arx_d) 4-5: The Broncos have taken away the ball nine times over the past two games, and that trend will continue against Dobbs and the Vikings. The key for a Denver victory is to pound the rock and get the ball out quickly against a Minnesota defense that loves to blitz. The Broncos will stack another win to get to .500.
Pick: Broncos 30, Vikings 16
Ron White (@RonWhiteNFL) 4-5: The Broncos have now earned playoff relevance after three straight wins. Under the Sunday night lights vs. the Vikings, the Broncos' defense will limit the Dobbs magic and make impact plays — Justin Simmons with an interception and Ja'Quan McMillian with a forced fumble — while Williams will go north of 100 yards rushing and Wilson will continue to ad-lib when needed. The Broncos come away with a win to sustain momentum.
Pick: Broncos 27, Vikings 17
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