4:23 P.M. MST: Kyle Sonneman, fellow DenverBroncos.com Internet steward, says that I should tell blog readers that Vail and Loveland Passes are closed because of blowing snow. So I’ll pass that along to you because he thought you should know.

4:23 P.M. MST: As Bob Knight once said, “Now … back to the game.”

4:24 P.M. MST: Timeout, Broncos, with 14:53 left in regulation.

4:28 P.M. MST: Outstanding punt by Sam Paulescu, whose punt rolled out of bounds at the Minnesota 2 … and the Vikings’ playoff hopes appear quite bleak now with the Redskins leading, 20-3.

4:31 P.M. MST: Vikings now face third-and-10 at their 18-yard-line … and now third-and-15 after a penalty … and now third-and-20 after another false-start penalty, this one on Jackson. The South Stands should take credit for this.

4:32 P.M. MST: Tarvaris Jackson finds Chester Taylor, but it doesn’t matter … a face-mask penalty on the Vikings in their end zone means it’s a safety … Ryan Cook was flagged for the personal-foul/face-mask infraction because he snatched Elvis Dumervil’s mask; Broncos lead 19-3.

4:34 P.M. MST: Working on the game recap as well, so posts will be a little more spotty for the next few minutes … Broncos take over off the free kick at their 27-yard-line.

4:40 P.M. MST: Broncos driving to the Minnesota 26 … but their drive stalls there … forced into fourth-and-6 after a Cutler imcompletion, Denver opts to go for it with 8:19 remaining.

4:43 P.M. MST: Denver uses its final timeout, then goes for it … but a swing pass from Cutler to Tony Scheffler loses three yards … Vikings ball at their 30 with 8:04 remaining.

4:46 P.M. MST: Vikings finally get the passing game uncorked … Now at the Denver 28 after three completions for 9, 2 and 30 yards.

4:48 P.M. MST: Minnesota now in fourth-and-8 at the Denver 26 … Little choice but to go for it here for the Vikes … Crowd rising to its feet again … Jackson’s pass to Robert Ferguson is complete; he had a cushion in front of Bly … Vikings in first-and-goal at the Denver 5.

4:49 P.M. MST: Touchdown, Vikings — five yards to Bobby Wade. Two-point conversion upcoming.

4:50 P.M. MST: Gracious … Jackson with a bit of wizardy, darting through defenders for the two-point conversion … A little nervousness overcomes the crowd here as the Vikes are very much alive — maybe not in the playoff race, but in the game, at least — with 5:18 left, trailing 19-11.

4:54 P.M. MST: Broncos take over at their 20 … and get a quick five yards from Selvin Young as they attempt to chew some clock, get a few first downs and seal the game.

4:54 P.M. MST: Two more for Young … Minnesota takes its second timeout with 4:25 left in the game.

4:56 P.M. MST: Incomplete to Marshall … Net of 38 yards on the punt … Vikings ball at their 35 with 4:12 left.

4:59 P.M. MST: Oh good gracious … Jackson into the opne field for 32 yards …. Hamza Abdullah dove at him and couldn’t make the stop … Minnesota now at the Denver 28.

5:00 P.M. MST: Six-yard run and an incomplete pass to a diving Ferguson in the end zone … I’ts now third-and-4 at the Denver 22 with 2:30 left.

5:01 P.M. MST: Dumervil nearly had Jackson in the backfield, but Jackson got enough space to veer to the left and find Bobby Wade, who reached the football over the goal line for the touchdown.

5:02 P.M. MST: Jackson keeps it himself and scores on the two-point conversion. With 2:21 left, the game is tied.

5:04 P.M. MST: Better rewrite my recap.

5:05 P.M. MST: Broncos at their 20 … Cutler finds Tony Scheffler across the middle to the Denver 34, which takes us to the two-minute warning.

5:07 P.M. MST: False start on Brandon Marshall … Now first-and-15 at the Denver 29.

5:07 P.M. MST: Selvin Young picks four of the yards back up … Second-and-11 and Cutler’s pass for Marshall is caught and then lateraled to Glenn Martinez, who finally goes down at the 40 … Marshall, who took the thunderous hit from E.J. Henderson earlier today, is limping but gamely stays in.

5:09 P.M. MST: Second-and-10 from the Minny 40 … to Marshall at the left side for five yards … Third-and-5 at the Vikings 35 … Cutler finds Martinez, but a defender is there and the pass is incomplete.

5:09 P.M. MST: Fourth-and-5 and the wind is in the Broncos’ faces, it would appear … Denver going for it … 44 seconds left … At the Minny 35 … Cutler back … goes deep for Javon Walker … broken up. Thirty-nine seconds now remaining.

5:11 P.M. MST: Jackson corralled by Josh Mallard … Vikings take timeout and are now out of stoppages.

5:13 P.M. MST: Incompletion, tackle by Peterson on Jackson, and now we’re going to overtime.

5:14 P.M. MST: Coin toss … Vikings win by calling heads. Broncos will take the wind at their back and move from south to north.

5:17 P.M. MST: Overtime is set to begin … and Matt Prater kills the football; it sails out of the end zone. You don’t see 81-yard kickoffs every day.

5:18 P.M. MST: Broncos with nine in the box … and Adrian Peterson is roped down by D.J. William, Elvis Dumervil and Nate Webster. Second-and-8 at the Minny 22.

5:19 P.M. MST: Jackson drilled in the backfield … fumble … and the place goes nuts … Broncos ball at the Minny 12 … As snow falls, Dumervil recovers the fumble, which was forced by Alvin McKinley and Jamie Winborn. No time wasted; Denver will kick … Jason Elam from 30 yards out … but first a replay review.

5:22 P.M. MST: The play is upheld … Jason Elam from 30 yards … it’s good; Broncos win, 22-19.

3:48 P.M. MST: Time for the second half … Broncos actually ended the half with a 15-yard edge in total yardage, but the Vikings still have a substantial rushing-yardage advanage — 125 yards to 57.

3:48 P.M. MST: Adrian Peterson gets 31 yards on the kickoff return to the Vikings 33 … Taylor Jacobs had a chance at the tackle but couldn’t make it happen … Winds now gusting pretty heavily.

3:50 P.M. MST: Vikings now facing third-and-6 at their 37-yard-line following a deep incompletion … Seems like a fair amount of spectators on the club level have opted not to rejoin us for the second half.

3:51 P.M. MST: Gracious, that’s two drops for Troy Williamson now … Broncos will start their first second-half drive at their 23-yard-line after Chris Kluwe’s 40-yard punt goes out of bounds.

3:54 P.M. MST: Third-and-8 at the Denver 25 … Jay Cutler rolls left and finds Selvin Young for seven yards … Young hits the ground with some force after being slammed downward by Ben Leber … And it’s an eight-yard gain as a measurement gives Denver the first down.

3:56 P.M. MST: Minnesota is challenging the spot.

3:59 P.M. MST: The ruling is upheld. First down, Broncos.

4:00 P.M. MST: Somewhat of an unusual play … Cutler’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Pat Williams, and then Cutler tried to bat down the football and missed … eventually it was incomplete.

4:01 P.M. MST: Javon Walker’s grab pulls the Broncos across midfield … The sun has slipped behind some clouds and towards the horizon, and INVESCO Field is now blanketed in chilly shadows.

4:03 P.M. MST: Broncos now with fourth-and-1 at the Minnesota 42 … They’re going for it … and Cutler finds Tony Scheffler for the first down and much more, down to the Vikings 24 … Nice call on the play, which saw Cutler roll to the right and find his rookie training-camp roommate to move the Broncos into scoring range after the 18-yard gain.

4:04 P.M. MST: Time out, Denver. There’s 8:19 left in the quarter.

4:07 P.M. MST: Coming out of the timeout, Cutler looks for Marshall in the end zone, but E.J. Henderson provides somewhat of a distracting influence for the incompletion … One play later, a shovel pass for Selvin Young loses a yard.

4:08 P.M. MST: Jason Elam’s 43-yard field-goal attempt splits the uprights … Denver leads, 17-3.

4:10 P.M. MST: Matt Prater’s kickoff is high, but five yards short of the goal line … Peterson returns it to the 30.

4:13 P.M. MST: Minneosta converts a short third-down attempt … and then goes backwards 11 yards as Tarvaris Jackson and Adrian Peterson have a little difficulty executing a toss pitch; Peterson simply dropped the football.

4:14 P.M. MST: Josh Mallard now up to 1.5 sacks today after getting to Jackson and pulling him down by the ankles.

4:15 P.M. MST: Minnesota picks up 19 but needed 24, so Chris Kluwe will punt.

4:18 P.M. MST: Brandon Marshall has catch No. 99 for the season.

4:19 P.M. MST: And there’s 100 receptions for Marshall, via an 8-yard grab. He is the fifth Bronco in franchise history and the third second-year player in NFL history to post a 100-catch season — the other two are Larry Fitzgerald and Isaac Bruce.

4:20 P.M. MST: One play later, Marshall rushes seven yards on the end-around for the first down.

4:21 P.M. MST: End of the quarter.

2:48 P.M. MST: Press box sopaipillas. I feel like I’m at Casa Bonita.

2:49 P.M. MST: A third-down stop as the quarter begins … Tarvaris Jackson rolled right and D.J. Williams was there to disrupt the play … Vikings settle for Ryan Longwell’s 22-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

2:52 P.M. MST: Broncos will start this drive at their 26.

2:55 P.M. MST: Selvin Young with a 19-yard gain up the left side to the Denver 45 … one play later, Denver is across midfield.

2:57 P.M. MST: Gracious … Glenn Martinez takes a shot while going for a pass … E.J. Henderson draws a personalf-oul penalty for hitting a defenseless receiver … Martinez eventually leaves the field under his own power.

2:59 P.M. MST: Two plays later, touchdown … Jay Cutler looks left and finds Brandon Marshall, who gained some separation from Cedric Griffin in the left side of the end zone … Broncos lead, 7-3.

3:01 P.M. MST: Matt Prater on the field for his first Mile High City kickoff … Adrian Peterson (!) back deep … low line drive, fielded at the goal line … and he plows through the kick coverage for 31 yards.

3:05 P.M. MST: Broncos force the Vikings into a third down … It will be third-and-5.

3:06 P.M. MST: Two consecutive third-down stops … Josh Mallard, who is becoming something of a sack-producing machine, got to Jackson after Elvis Dumervil collapsed the pocket … Broncos will take over at their 17 after a 50-yard punt goes out of bounds.

3:09 P.M. MST: Broncos quickly to their 36 after a Marshall reception and a 4-yard Young carry.

3:11 P.M. MST: Ben Leber ropes down Cutler; he waited back at his linebacker slot and then zoomed into the backfield unblocked … One play after the 12-yard loss, Cutler finds Tony Scheffler for a 9-yard pass, but it’s not enough and Denver will punt.

3:14 P.M. MST: Vikings begin at their 28 after Paulescu gets a net of 39 yards on his punt … Jackson goes back to pass, and has Troy Williamson all by himself in the open field, virtually with his own zip code to himself … and the football bounces through his hands and to the ground. A sure touchdown dropped.

3:15 P.M. MST: Chester Taylor gains 13 yards on the next play.

3:16 P.M. MST: Fumble … John Engelberger’s hit at the Minnesota 48 jars loose the football and Elvis Dumervil recovers.

3:17 P.M. MST: Next play, still another fumble … Brandon Marshall lost the football while being hit by Chad Greenway as he reversed is field to try and gain more yardage, but he managed to recover it.

3:18 P.M. MST: Nice run by Selvin Young up the left sideline for a 31-yard touchdown … but a Chris Kuper holding infraction brings it back. Kuper’s holding was what allowed Young to slip into the open field anyway; without it, Kevin Williams would have likely corralled Young for a 3-yard loss.

3:20 P.M. MST: A Scheffler reception gets a first down, and then Andre Hall picks up another first down on the next play … and then Cutler finds Brandon Marshall, who stops, starts and darts his way down to the 2-yard-line … Denver offense percolating.

3:21 P.M. MST: Young loses a yard on the first-and-goal play.

3:22 P.M. MST: Second-and-goal … Matt Lepsis is eligible as Ryan Harris checks in … but first, the two-minute warning.

3:23 P.M. MST: Touchdown … Cutler to Scheffler, just past the goal line … 14-3 with 1:54 left in the half.

3:25 P.M. MST: Peterson back to field the ensuing kickoff.

3:28 P.M. MST: Touchback as Peterson can’t field the football on the fly.

3:29 P.M. MST: Minnesota averaging 6.6 yards per rush and 3.4 yards per pass play so far … and a third-down pass goes nowhere as Taylor is swallowed by Jamie Winborn … Broncos call timeout with 1:20 left on the clock.

3:32 P.M. MST: An unnecessary roughness call on Domonique Foxworth for hitting a Viking out of bounds means the Broncos will start at their 19-yard-line.

3:32 P.M. MST: Young gains 8 yards on a pitchout to the right side, and the Broncos do not call timeout … next snap comes with 40 seconds left in the half, and Young gains a yard … Broncos making no attempt to stop the clock … They can let the clock run dry, and they will. Halftime — Broncos lead, 14-3.

2:03 P.M. MST: “All ready!”

Once more, we heard those words, the clarion call of the late Darrent Williams, on INVESCO Field at Mile High. Once more, we saw Darrent Williams’ jersey on the field.

About 35 minutes ago, the jersey was carried by Nick Ferguson, who brought it into the defensive backs’ huddle as they gathered for a swift, yet emotional conference on the field before proceeding into team warmups.

After holding the jersey aloft, Ferguson put it on as his teammates practiced their paces as a team while he stood nearby, consigned to injured reserve.

The Broncos’ efforts to honor Williams and Damien Nash won’t see them making it to Super Bowl XLII, their goal for this year. But for today, they will once more strap on the helmets and play on, to remember, to reflect, and to never forget.

2:13 P.M. MST: Denver wins the coin toss and will receive the kickoff.

2:16 P.M. MST: Here we go on a gorgeous winter’s afternoon … and Andre Hall is stopped at the Denver 17. Javon Walker is in the starting lineup, as is Chad Mustard as the Broncos open in a one-back set.

2:17 P.M. MST: First play … Jay Cutler to Walker … nine yards to the right sideline. Nice catch with which to begin the game.

2:17 P.M. MST: Chad Mustard lumbers up the right sideline and then offers a little shoulder shove to Chad Greenway … 14 yards and the Broncos are aon the move at their 40.

2:20 P.M. MST: The drive peters out thanks to a false-start penalty and a pair of incompletions … now we see the debut of Sam Paulescu, who has a fairly unusual crouch out of which he punts … the punt is a low line drive that hits outside the 20-yard-line and bounces to the Denver 16, from which Moore returns it to the 21. Gross of 37 yards, net of 32.

2:24 P.M. MST: Nice pursuit on the first couple of defensive plays … Vikings have third-and-6 at their 25 … Vikings go to a spread formation, shotgun with three wideouts to the near side … screen pass to Chester Taylor, and the Vikings have 10 yards and a first down.

2:27 P.M. MST: Not good … Vikings moving fairly efficiently, picking up 29 more yards on a Taylor run to first-and-10 at the Denver 15.

2:28 P.M. MST: After an incompletion, it’s Mewelde Moore for 12 yards to the left side … Minnesota’s O-line is pushing Denver’s front back several yards off the snap on this series.

2:30 P.M. MST: No one sitting in the northeast corner of the stands thought Taylor had a 3-yard toucdhown, but the officials did … Taylor swept right and appeared to be pushed out of bounds by D.J. Williams before crossing the goal line or hitting the pylon … the ball also came out of his grasp as it hit the pylon, for what it’s worth … Denver is challenging the on-field call of a Minnesota touchdown.

2:33 P.M. MST: Touchback … the play is ruled a Taylor fumble out of the end zone … Denver football at its 20 with 7:35 left in the quarter.

2:34 P.M. MST: Not a splendid start to the series … a 1-yard pass, a 7-yard loss on a botched snap that Selvin Young recoverd.

2:35 P.M. MST: Cutler is flushed, steps up and fires incomplete for Walker.

2:36 P.M. MST: Paulescu’s second punt is a low line drive, but the numbers will be impressive — a gross tally of 49 yards and a net of 46 after Moore ran it three yards to the Minnesota 40.

2:39 P.M. MST: Nice tackle by Champ Bailey to hold Minnesota to a 4-yard gain on first-and-10 … next play, second-and-6, and Adrian Peterson plows his way up the left side for five yards.

2:40 P.M. MST: Peterson for four yards and the first down.

2:41 P.M. MST: No one overpursuing on the Broncos defense … allows them to stop Peterson for no gain on first-and-10 at the Denver 47 … next play, Jackson looks for Troy Williamson and a potential interception is dropped by Hamza Abdullah … would have been a great play to procure it, but he’ll still kick himself afterwards … even more so after Chester Taylor darts up the middle on third-and-10 for 22 yards and the first down.

2:44 P.M. MST: Eight yards on a third-down pass … Vikings now 5-of-5 on third downs today.

2:45 P.M. MST: An outstanding play by Champ Bailey — an eighth man in the box — as he came in with Nate Webster and deflected a Jackson pass after the passer was forced to the right side … but he couldn’t quite get it. One play later, Peterson runs for eight yards as the quarter ends.

Inactives are in …

For the Broncos:

Fullback Mike Bell
Defensive end Larry Birdine
Defensive end Paul Carrington
Tight end Daniel Graham
Linebacker Ian Gold
Quarterback Darrell Hackney (in uniform as third QB)
Offensive lineman Isaac Snell
Wide receiver Brandon Stokley

For the Vikings, cornerback Antoine Winfield is the only starter inactive for the game. Rookie Marcus McCauley will start in his place. Defensive tackle Pat Williams will play after being listed as questionable.

Also inactive in the purple:

Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu
Safety Mike Doss
Quarterback Kelly Holcomb (in uniform as third QB)
Offensive tackle Chase Johnson
Wide receiver Sidney Rice
Fullback Naufahu Tahi
Linebacker Dontarrious Thomas