Russell Wilson's touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton cements ...

20 Nov 2023

Sports

Broncos - Figure 1
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By Jesse Sarles

Updated on: November 19, 2023 / 10:01 PM MST / CBS/AP

Quarterback Russell Wilson led the Denver offense on a 75 yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High and the Broncos emerged victorious over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. The final score was 21-20.

A 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining to wide receiver Courtland Sutton cemented the Broncos comeback victory.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos catches a 15-yard touchdown reception over Mekhi Blackmon #5 and Josh Metellus #44 of the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter of the NFL game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 19, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

The victory marked Denver's fourth consecutive win, which is the longest winning streak in the NFL. They are now 5-5 and back in the playoff picture.

Sutton outleapt cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who had his eyes on an interception of Wilson's high throw. Danielle Hunter's tackle of Javonte Williams on the 2-point try kept the Vikings within a point and needing a field goal to win it.

The Broncos' defense - which produced three more takeaways, giving Denver a dozen over its last three games - didn't allow the Vikings to get out of their own side of the field.

Broncos - Figure 2
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Denver forced Joshua Dobbs into an intentional grounding that brought up fourth-and-25 before Dobbs threw one final incompletion with from the Vikings 21 with 16 seconds left.

Dobbs threw for 221 yards and a touchdown and ran for another but lost with the Vikings for the first time since they acquired him in an emergency trade with Arizona.

Wilson went 27 of 35 for 259 yards without an interception for Denver.

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos throws a deep pass during the second quarter of the NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field At Mile High on November 19, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Dustin Bradford / Getty Images

The Broncos started their go-ahead drive from their 25 with 3:17 remaining after Greg Joseph's field goal made it 20-15. That kick capped a 7-minute, 20-second drive by the Vikings that featured a fake punt from their own 30.

Ty Chandler took the snap on fourth-and-5 and scurried 31 yards into Denver territory. He added a 19-yard catch-and-run before the drive stalled at the Broncos 12 and Joseph converted from 30 yards.

Wilson drove the Broncos 75 yards in 10 plays and 2:14, hitting Sutton for the wide receiver's eighth TD of the season. The Vikings had led since Dobbs' 3-yard TD toss to tight end Josh Oliver in the second quarter made it 7-3.

Dobbs' 10-yard scramble into the end zone made it 17-9 in the third quarter.

Denver Broncos 21, Minnesota Vikings 20 8 photos

After Josey Jewell recovered a fumble by Alexander Mattison, the Broncos again settled for a Wil Lutz field goal to make it 17-12 with 12:40 remaining.

Broncos - Figure 3
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Ja'Quan McMillian's interception of Dobbs set up the Broncos' offense just inside the Vikings' 10-yard line, but Denver went backward a yard and settled for Lutz's 28-yard field goal to get within 17-15 after Jerry Jeudy bobbled Wilson's pass in the end zone. Lutz set a career mark with 5 field goals in a game.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson returned from a two-game suspension for an illegal hit and got away with another one on the Vikings' opening drive. He led with the crown of his helmet on a third-and-1 run by Dobbs, jarring the ball loose, and Denver recovered.

No flag was thrown and McMillian recovered the loose ball at the Vikings' 30-yard line, Denver's second straight opening-drive takeaway, which the Broncos would again convert into a field goal.

Dobbs went straight to the medical tent but came right back out and didn't miss any snaps.

Jackson's hit should have resulted in a 15-yard penalty with Minnesota maintaining possession, suggested NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay.

"He lowers his head and makes forcible contact to the opponent," McAulay said on the broadcast. "You see, his head is down. This should have been a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness."

The NFL will surely scrutinize Jackson's tackle. He has already been fined $89,670 for four illegal hits in addition to losing $279,000 in wages from his suspension.

After returning to practice Wednesday, Jackson said he couldn't guarantee he'd avoid hits bordering on excessive going forward because, as an instinctive player, "I'm going to always be in those situations."

Lutz added two more field goals, including a 52-yarder as the first half expired to pull the Broncos within 10-9 at the break.

After Lutz's first field goal, from 31 yards, Dobbs drove the Vikings 65 yards in 10 plays, hitting tight end Josh Oliver with a 3-yard touchdown pass after slipping out of a potential a sack near the sideline by Jonathon Cooper.

Jesse Sarles

Jesse Sarles manages the content and operations for CBSColorado.com. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area. Meet the news team or contact CBS News Colorado.

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