Key player
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz was their entire offense for 59 minutes, but on their last drive, Courtland Sutton made the big plays. He drew an Ivan Pace Jr. pass interference while also making a one-handed catch on fourth and 3, then leaped for the game-winning score with just over a minute left. The Broncos were 2 of 12 on third down (0 for their first 7) and scored just one TD in five trips to the red zone on the night, but that one was the only one that mattered. It was Sutton's eighth red-zone touchdowns this season.
Key play(s)
The Vikings' penultimate fourth-quarter drive
After Joejuan Williams broke up a pass to Jerry Jeudy in the end zone in the fourth quarter, forcing the Broncos to kick another field goal to pull within 17-15, the Vikings embarked on a drive that could have put Denver away.
And it looked like the Vikings were going for the kill. Taking the ball with 10:37 left, they gained 31 yards on Ty Chandler run on a fake punt on fourth and 4 from the their own 31, and converted a fourth and 1 after gaining 19 yards on third and 20 (again by Chandler).
But they gained no yards after reaching the Denver 12, with two unsuccessful runs and an incomplete pass with Dobbs under heavy pressure. The Vikings ate up seven minutes of clock but had only a five-point lead instead of potentially a nine-point one with 3:17 left.
Key number
12
This works two ways. The Broncos scored 12 points in the fourth quarter; the Vikings scored 3. But 12 is also the number of takeaways the Denver defense has in its last three games, all wins. The Broncos entered Sunday with nine takeaways in their last two games, and got three more from the Vikings, whose ball security problems returned. The Vikings lost the turnover battle 3-0, and lost the game, the same formula that sent them to a 1-4 start.