Vikings at Broncos Week 11 Rehash
The Vikings were unable to prevent one more climb by the Broncos — and then failed to threaten a winning score — Sunday night in Denver.
Minnesota’s five-game winning streak was snapped by the 21-20 decision.
Turnovers undermined an otherwise solid performance by the offense. The defense held Denver to field goals on each of its first four trips to the red zone, but allowed the only Broncos touchdown on the fifth trip.
Instead of feasting this Thanksgiving with a six-game heater, the Vikings (6-5) will look to rebound against the Bears (3-8).
Before Minnesota’s Week 12 home game against Chicago, here’s a deeper look at Week
According to Next Gen Stats, even with the Broncos driving, the Vikings still had a win probability of 68 percent after an incompletion on second-and-4 from the Minnesota 22 with 1:15 remaining.
Russell Wilson, however, connected with Samaje Perine for a gain of 7 on third-and-4, which dropped Minnesota’s win probability to 48 percent.
The touchdown happened on the next play, boosting Denver’s win probability to 74.7 percent.
NGS calculated the completion probability of Wilson’s wobbler to Courtland Sutton at 26.5 percent, which is low but not by their standards. That is now their fourth touchdown with a sub-50-percent completion probability this season.
Dobbs under pressure
The Broncos successfully applied pressure on Dobbs, who was 7-for-16 with 105 yards, a touchdown and interception on such throws. Denver was credited with causing pressure on 57.9 percent of Dobbs’ dropbacks, a season high for the QB.
Since joining the Vikings in Week 9, Dobbs has been pressured on 44.4 percent of his dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
Dobbs shook Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper to escape and throw a touchdown, but Cooper frequently caused pressure throughout the game. He generated a career-high nine pressures (33.3 percent pressure rate) on 27 pass rushes.
Blitz reduction
The Vikings under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores have been big blitzers throughout the season, but on Sunday blitzed Wilson just 24.3 percent of the time, Minnesota’s second-lowest rate in a game this season.
NGS credited the Vikings with causing pressure on 55.6 percent of their blitzes (second-highest) but only a 33.3 percent success rate when sending five or more rushers (second-lowest rate). Wilson went 7-for-8 with 77 yards and his touchdown when blitzed.
Minnesota’s five starting offensive linemen — LT Christian Darrisaw, LG Dalton Risner, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Ed Ingram and RT Brian O’Neill — and Dobbs played all 74 offensive snaps.
Receivers K.J. Osborn (71) and Jordan Addison (70) each played more thank 95 percent of Minnesota’s offensive snaps. Branton Powell (44) took the next most at the position.
T.J. Hockenson (52) led Vikings tight ends, followed by Josh Oliver (34) and Johnny Mundt (13) as Minnesota worked in heavier personnel groupings.
Alexander Mattison (48) rotated with Ty Chandler (23) at running back.
Five defensive players — cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr., and safeties Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus — played all 55 defensive snaps. Pace started in place of Jordan Hicks, who landed on Injured Reserve last week.
Rookie Mekhi Blackmon (53) and outside linebackers Danielle Hunter (52) and D.J. Wonnum (51) each played at least 93 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps.
Harrison Phillips (40) again led Vikings defensive linemen, followed by Jonathan Bullard
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