The Denver Broncos had a short turnaround from a Monday Night Football win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 to a Sunday Night Football matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Here are the studs and duds from the Broncos’ heart-stopping 21-20 win against the Vikings.
Stud: Wil Lutz
After a very bad week against the Buffalo Bills where the special teams unit missed two extra points and a field goal that could have cost the Broncos the game, kicker Wil Lutz came out and made field goals of 28, 31 (twice), 37 and 58 yards. His 58-yarder right before halftime made it 10-9 at that point, and all of his kicks proved to be crucial in an eventual one-point win.
Dud: Broncos' offense
After two weeks where the offense looked like a well-oiled machine, the Broncos came out flat against the Vikings. After Minnesota fumbled on their first drive, Denver went as far as the Vikings’ 13, before kicking a field goal. Their resulting drives in the first half went punt-punt-field goal-field goal. Minnesota turnovers kept the offense in the game after halftime, but the offense continually stalled just outside the end zone. Even when the Broncos got the ball at the nine after a Ja’Quan McMillian interception, they had to settle for a field goal.
Stud: Turnovers
This Broncos’ defense has turned a corner in the turnover department. In the past three weeks, Denver has generated 12 turnovers: five against the Kansas City Chiefs, four against the Buffalo Bills, and three against the Vikings. The Broncos forced two fumbles and one interception on the Vikings, and they recovered both. Turnovers have kept the Broncos in every game they’ve won since the Chiefs game.
Stud: Ja'Quan McMillian
McMillian, a second-year pro, has made play after play that has justified the defensive staff inserting him into the lineup in favor of Essang Bassey. Last week, on the first play of the game, McMillian caused a fumble. This week, McMillian recovered a fumble and intercepted a Joshua Dobbs pass, making it his second career pick, three days after being named one of the top slot defenders in the NFL.
Stud: Courtland Sutton
Everyone who ever doubted wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the offseason should be eating their words. Sutton has had two circus touchdown catches in the last two weeks, and now has eight touchdowns on the season. Sutton was on the end of the only Broncos touchdown of the night. He truly has become quarterback Russell Wilson’s favorite target.
The Broncos are officially .500 for the first time in 2023. They have now won four straight going into next week’s tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This win against Minnesota vaults Denver squarely back into the playoff race, a place nobody thought they would be after the 50-point debacle in Miami.
