Needing a win coupled with a Washington Redskins loss to qualify for the postseason, the Vikings playoff hopes were dashed by the Denver Broncos following a disappointing 22-19 defeat at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Jason Elam’s 30-yard field goal in overtime, along with a strong performance by the Redskins against the Dallas Cowboys, ended the Vikings season at 8-8.
A turnover deep in their own territory during the extra period was the backbreaker, as the Vikings were unable to complete a spirited comeback to notch their ninth win of the season. Three turnovers, including Jackson’s in overtime, were a culprit of Minnesota’s loss, as was an inability to move the ball on offense for most of the game.
After trailing 19-3 following a safety in the third quarter, the Vikings mounted a late rally and scored 16 points, including a pair of two-point conversions, to pull even. But the overtime fumble and ensuing Elam field goal finished the Vikings, and their season.
Sunday’s game in Denver was a microcosm of the team’s 2007 season – a successful beginning, followed by a period of poor play, followed by a furious comeback that came up just short in the end.
The Vikings opened up the game by forcing Denver to punt after just one first down. Minnesota, paced by running back Chester Taylor, promptly drove down to the Broncos three-yardline. Taylor rushed five times for 34 yards on the series, but on his fifth carry he reached for the front right pylon in the endzone, only to have the ball slip out of his hands and bound through the endzone. The play was originally called a touchdown, but the referees overturned the call after Mike Shanahan challenged the play, and Denver took possession on their own 20-yardline.
Minnesota’s defense remained stout, however, forcing Jay Cutler and the Broncos into a three-and-out on the ensuing drive. The Vikings once again drove through the Denver defense down to the Broncos four-yardline. Behind Taylor and rookie Adrian Peterson, the Vikings converted on three straight third-down attempts to move deep into scoring position. On the drive, Taylor had a 22-yard burst and Peterson rushed six times for 22 yards, but the offense stalled and Ryan Longwell came on to convert a 22-yard attempt to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Just as the regular season unfolded, the Vikings early success gave way to a series of negative events. Cutler and the Denver offense responded to the 3-0 deficit by driving 74 yards in just six plays to take a 7-3 lead. Three runs by Selvin Young to open the series got Denver to midfield, and then Cutler went to work. An 11-yard gain, followed by an unnecessary roughness penalty against E.J. Henderson, set up a 15-yard scoring strike from Cutler to receiver Brandon Marshall. The 6-4, 230-pound second-year wideout was as good as advertised on the day, hauling in ten receptions for 114 yards.
The teams exchanged punts on the next two drives and then Troy Williamson dropped a pass after running by the Denver secondary. He was in the clear by 20 yards and would’ve easily scored on the play had he brought in the pass. Two plays later, Taylor fumbled the ball and Denver recovered, setting up another touchdown pass from Cutler, this time to tight end Tony Scheffler, to give Denver a 14-3 lead at halftime.
A 43-yard Elam field goal was all either team could muster in the third and Denver took a 17-3 lead into the final quarter. But as boring as the first and third quarters were, the fourth was just as entertaining.
After forcing another Denver punt, the Vikings began a drive from their own two-yardline. A 16-yard completion to Bobby Wade got Minnesota out to the 18-yardline, but a false start penalty backed them up on third down. As the team tried to convert a third-down attempt, offensive lineman Ryan Cook was called for a face mask penalty in the endzone, resulting in a safety and a 19-3 Denver lead.
Down by 16 points on the road, and with the Redskins staked to a comfortable lead late in their contest, the Vikings failed to relent. Jackson rallied the squad to 16-straight points on consecutive drives to tie the game.
The first touchdown was to Wade from five yards out, following completions of 30 and 21 yards to Wade and Robert Ferguson, respectively. Each receiver had five grabs on the day, with Wade tallying 92 receiving yards and Ferguson recording 39.
The defense again forced Denver to punt, and Jackson drove the offense down for a second touchdown. A 32-yard quarterback draw by Jackson set up a 22-yard touchdown pass to Wade, and then the Vikings young quarterback dove in for his second two-point conversion score of the day.
The Vikings fortunes continue prior to the overtime, as they won the toss and the ball to open the extra period. But a fumble by Jackson on the second play set up Elam for his 30-yard game winner, and the Broncos came away with a 22-19 season-ending win.
The loss drops Minnesota’s record to 8-8 while the win improves Denver to 7-9. Washington defeated Dallas at home by a score of 27-6 to earn the NFC’s final playoff spot.
Notes:
Attendance at INVESCO Field was 70, 569.
In order to qualify for the playoffs, the Vikings needed a win paired with a loss by the Redskins. Washington defeated the Cowboys, meaning a Vikings win at Denver would not have been enough to secure them a spot in the postseason.
In the first quarter, the Vikings broke a franchise record for team rushing yards. The previous record was held by the 2002 Vikings, who amassed 2,507 rushing yards.