The Denver Broncos pulled off a stunning comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, scoring a touchdown with 17 seconds left to win 27-26. The Broncos improved to 5-5 on the season, while the Vikings fell to 6-4.
The Broncos trailed 26-20 with 2:12 remaining in the game, after the Vikings kicked a field goal to extend their lead. The Broncos started their final drive from their own 25-yard line, with quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm. Wilson, who was traded to the Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason, showed his clutch ability and leadership as he marched the Broncos down the field. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 75 yards, including a 23-yard strike to tight end Noah Fant on fourth-and-10. He also scrambled for 11 yards on third-and-8 to keep the drive alive. With 17 seconds left, Wilson found wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, tying the game at 26-26. Kicker Brandon McManus made the extra point to give the Broncos the lead.
Defense forces four takeaways
The Broncos’ defense was instrumental in the win, as they forced four turnovers from the Vikings’ offense. The Broncos intercepted Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins twice, and recovered two fumbles by running back Dalvin Cook. The Broncos converted the turnovers into 17 points, including a 34-yard touchdown run by Melvin Gordon in the second quarter. The Broncos also sacked Cousins four times, and held the Vikings to 5 of 14 on third down conversions. The Broncos’ defense ranks second in the NFL in takeaways, with 23 on the season.
Vikings waste strong performance by Cook
The Vikings wasted a strong performance by their star running back, Dalvin Cook, who rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Cook also caught four passes for 32 yards, and scored the Vikings’ first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge in the first quarter. Cook leads the NFL in rushing yards, with 1,074, and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns, with 11. However, Cook also lost two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson in the third quarter. Cook’s second fumble came with 3:42 left in the game, and gave the Broncos a chance to mount their game-winning drive.