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

Well at least we have a something positive to end the season with! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fox just showed the end of the game YEAH!! It’s a nice way to end the season….
Happy New Year everyone~
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!!
yah we win….the first round doesnt really mean anything anyways…its the later rounds…..i just hope we can either get Glen Dorsey from LSU or Graves from Auburn….both would start and help right away…graves reminds me of a demeco ryans and a patrick willis
Mason, just FYI, you have a broken boldface tag at the end of this post that’s bolding everything below it…
yahoo!!!! see ya next year
I like bold.
i wish the Broncos had been bolder this year…
thanks for a great season of blogging, Andrew.
First of thank god we won its a good way to go into the offseason. Second of lets get back Larry Coyer, or anyone rather than Bates. This man has bad schemes and for some reason hates to BLITZ! Third Lance Briggs is on the market pick him up, he is a run stopper. Gold is not meant to be a strongside linebacker he is to little and is lazy!
With the imminent anniversary of DWill’s passing I thought the wearing of his jersey by Nick Ferguson was a salient reminder of what really matters.
It also gives us the opportunity to remember DWill and his family in our prayers and remind all the Broncos’ family, players, coaches, staff, fans and all their families, to stay safe over the New Year.
God Bless you all.
Thanks Andrew! Your work is tremendous. I’ll look forward to the blogs all offseason! Hopefully you’ll get a break now and then too.
Thanks Andrew!!!
May you find major deals on all major Seinfeld memorabilia this offseason!!! Just a thought or two to ponder, do we bid farewell to Travis this offseason and welcome Selvin as our featured RB? Or is it adios to Javon and kinda cut some salary to pave way for Mr Briggs to fill the middle…. Anyone getting a little excited…. Unfortunately I am for the wrong reason….Free Agency and the Draft and not the Super Bowl…
Patriots 27 Packers 28
Andrew Mason: outstanding job this year. I’m glad Denver pulled it out in OT. HOWEVER, as soon as Bates gets back from Shreveport (because I know he caught a flight from Denver to help coach the Buffs defense tonight) he needs to be shown the door. His scheme does not work with the players that he had this year and giving up a 16 point lead in the 4th quarter is inexcusable.
Well, at least they made it interesting!! I would like to thank the Miami Dolphins for letting us pick up Marshall from their practice squad… Stupid Fox announcers, maybe they should make sure they know what they are talking about before they speak.
Just curious if anyone actually explained to the Defense (and his infinite genius, mr. bates) that in the NFL the game consists of FOUR (4) quarters of FIFTEEN (15) minutes each. AND that it is customary for a team to actually play the entire game before going home.
I would like to see him add that to his resume: Number of 16+ point leads blown in 4th quarter _____.
And, please, please let him have need of that resume before the end of the week. The man is a menace and wholly incapable of fielding a decent defense.
And last, THANK YOU, JASON!
Happy New Year Bronco Fans. May this coming season be better than the last.
Wanagi, bly has his own fire/rescue unit that follows him around, just to put out the flames.
lol…..that’s what i thought..they followed him through out his whole career….lol….