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.
Tags: Minnesota Vikings
mason thanks for all the good blog action all season long. btw the announcers just said we picked up marshall from miamis practice squad i got a good laugh from that considering we drafted him
Oh good God … that’s hysterical.
he we held them under 60 passin yards so far…to bad or run d wasn’t the same way
Mason – I’ll chime in here and also say “thanks” for all the bloggin. The game blogs are especially nice, considering that up here in Alaska, we only get about 50% of the Broncos’ games. Sportsline helps, but I find *much* better info here on this site!
All you fellow Broncomaniacs – here’s to a fantastic offseason full of solid pick-ups, as we begin our march toward the next Super Bowl!!
Happy New Year everyone!
~Rick
KoobLis, JaMarcus has warren sapp..lol
announcers..are dumb….do the research suckas…
and a big thanks to you mason…for your blogs..you helped a lot…with my move away from bronco country..very informative…plus the season we had….again thanks mason
Thanks AK-Broncomaniac … and for everyone, I hope y’all continue to be regular visitors, as I’ll keep posting throughout the offseason.
hey Andrew, any sign of Henry?
Heh, this is the most I’ve commented on any game(here and on Bronco Country) since last year against SF.
Rivers’ smart, he won’t do it until he’s been pulled out of the game, lol. Warren won’t come running from across the other sideline, even though I really hope Jamarcus pops him.
that is great to hear….they never talk about denver in this god forsaken washington state…again thanks…and my feelow broncos..don’t fret…i have a great feeling next season will be great..for some reason i knew this would be a bad season…but it still hurt…
Is the game sold out?
The game is sold out … and Henry has played but has no carries.
I couldn’t believe they say Marshall came off the ‘fins practice squad… Finally we seem to be playing well on D….. What’s wrong with Javon, there’s too much PT for Martinez.
thanks
Well JaMarcus just threw a touchdown pass to Jerry Porter, only down by 7 now so maybe that one’s not over after all. But it probably still is (Chargers driving again already). Nice throw by JMR.
As for our game, if this holds as it is, the Broncos defensive stats will be helped out and look deceptively better than they were for the season. I would’ve liked about 5 more like this, but will take it as a way to look forward to next season…
Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks for all the great info all season, Andrew. Living in Pennsylvania is tough because i rarely get to see any Bronco games on TV, so i usually rely on NFL.com for stats and your game blogs for the play by play info.
And to the Broncos and their fans, it’s been a tough season, but this is a good effort to end the season, and I’m looking forward to a great offseason and a return to the playoffs and the top of the AFC West next season!
ditto to the above Andrew, for those of us who aren’t in Denver your blog is a godsend!
Unlike Casa Bonita, which is one thing I do NOT miss about Denver…
working on the recap already???? there’s the whole 4th quater to go!
After this game, we’ve played EVERY AFC NORTH teams; we’ve been blown out every game against them except the packers; it’s good to win one of those.
Let me add a sincere Thanks to the chorus, Mr. Mason. And have fun at Casa Bonita! ( I am indescribably jealous)
Gotta write the recap during the game so it’s up shortly after the final gun … that’s what we hacks have to do … write as we’re watching … sometimes I miss a play or two because I’m pounding the keys.
I’m a big bronco fan from Miami and I’d like to say thanks to Mason for great commentary all year. This team has so much great young talent we just need a sure tackler on defense and to get Bates the hell out of town. Kenny Phillips would look great in a Bronco uniform. I’m very excited for next season.
he…. do what you have to do mason… i’m just thankful that we have you there anyways…. I always come to read your blogs whenever denver has played…. or is playing. keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!
Well Mason, that’s the last of it; Thanks from WI for the great job this year. Look forward to following you again next year.
ANDREW FOR PRESIDENT
More inspired play-calling
Appreciate the kind words … they mean the world to me; I hope y’all know that.
And just an FYI … looks like Mike Shanahan’s season-ending press conference will be on Monday, Jan. 7, time TBD … so we’ll be live-blogging that, of course.
I’m from NY and a Bronco fan…thanks for the blogs, they are great and have a happy new yr
Mason…. Just wanted to say Thank You for all you do. When my Charger friends let me have it about sitting home these playoffs, I just tell them at least we have Mason. They have no clue what Im talking about. You are truly loved by fellow Bronco fans everyhwhere. Keep up the great work and have a safe and happy new year…Martin
Andrew, thank you very much for everything… I hope that you keep up the good work about telling us whats happening in every game.
I hope to see you next season!
bly got burnt again????
this game just turned interesting if they make the 2 pt conversion
Happy New Year! Minnesota scores. Rats.
ut oh, now its a game
Ditto everyone – appreciate the blogging here all season and will definitely check in during the off season.
Hopefully we’ll still enter that with a win – guess the Vikings don’t realize their season’s over and are still trying hard.
bates’ schemes suck i hope shanahans first words in his post season presser is we are looking for a new defensive coordinator
I hope shanny calls his plays..and not try to sit on the ball
bly would make a great nickel back cuz he sucks at starting
WTF?!?! I GO TAKE A LEAK COME BACK AND IT’S A ONE SCORE GAME?!?!
Andrew, you’ve been so awesome this season… I appreciate all the blogging you’ve done. Thanks a million for all the updates and hard work you do for us fans. You are one dedicated blogger, thank you!!!
As for this last drive Denver had… either I haven’t been paying very much attention or its the lack of actually watching the game b/c where I’m at they’re not showing the game but I was wondering where in the world did we get those 2 points??? It just showed up on my computer in the middle of the drive we just had and I can’t figure out how we got 2 points. I’m glad but confused… very very confused. If you or someone else around here could answer back, I’d appreciate it.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
shanny did again…tryin to sit on the ball.
07elway, the vikings had a personal foul and it happenend in there own endzone, so if that happens its ruled a safety
We got a safety because of a facemask penalty on Dumerville in the end zone. I suppose that would be to difficult to explain on NFL.com in their play-by-play.
I think you may be right about Bly. Playcalling seems predictable. Again. Punter shows promise.
Yup, playing not to lose instead of playing to win…. 07, we got a safety due to a Vikings penalty in their end zone. Gamecast didn’t update it until midway through the ensuing Denver drive, after the free kick.
Selvin is a good change of pace back. Its getting on my nerves that we are having to throw on third down. Could be a reason why we aren’t in the Playoffs
man..shanny irritates me…we receive the two…by a penalty..in their end zone…so by rule gives us a safety
well here we go i can see it slipping away just like all season
wow, this is a great way to end the season. jackson is one of the worst qbsin football and we just made him look like Mccown i mean brady.