Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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VIKINGS-BRONCOS CONNNECTIONS
Vikings P Britton Colquitt played for the Broncos from 2010-15.
Minnesota Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Advisor Gary Kubiak played quarterback for the Broncos from 1983-90. Kubiak then joined Denver’s coaching staff from 1995-2005 before returning for two seasons (2015-16) as the team’s head coach.
Dennison played for Denver from 1982-90 and coached for the Broncos from 1995-2008 and again in 2015.
Vikings tight ends coach Brian Pariani coached in Denver from 1995-2004 and again from 2015-16.
Klint Kubiak served as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at Denver from 2016-18.
Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson held the same position in Denver from 2005-06.
Denver tight ends coach Wade Harman entered the NFL as a coaching assistant with Minnesota in 1997 and again was with the Vikings in 1998.
Broncos assistant strength and conditioning coach Cedric Smith was a fifth-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1990.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Vikings WR Bisi Johnson is a native of Lakewood, Colorado, and spent his collegiate career at Colorado State.
Minnesota offensive line coach/run game coordinator Rick Dennison and quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak also played at Colorado State.
Vikings personnel consultant and former WR Jerry Reichow and Broncos LB Josey Jewell both hail from Decorah, Iowa, and attended Decorah High School. They are the only two players from Decorah to reach the NFL.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf spent 2007-09 on the Ravens coaching staff with Broncos Head Coach Vic Fangio.
Minnesota linebackers coach Adam Zimmer served on the Chiefs coaching staff with Broncos Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon in 2012.
PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS
Maalouf was on Miami’s coaching staff while Denver T Ja’Wuan James was on the roster from 2014-18.
Gary Kubiak (2006-13), Dennison (2010-13) and Pariani (2006-13) were on the Texas staff while Broncos DB Kareem Jackson was on the squad (2010-19).
Vikings G Dakota Dozier and Dennison were at the New York Jets with Broncos LB Jeremiah Attaochu in 2018.
Vikings T Rashod Hill with Denver QB Brandon Allen in Denver in 2016.
Minnesota QB Sean Mannion (2015-18) also played with Allen (2017-18) and Broncos CB Coty Sensabaugh (2016) with the Rams.
Vikings C Brett Jones was on the Giants roster with Sensabaugh in 2016.
Minnesota K Dan Bailey played with Denver G Ron Leary in Dallas from 2012-16.
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
Vikings DT Armon Watts and Allen at Arkansas
Minnesota RB Alexander Mattison and Denver QB Brett Rypien at Boise State
Vikings RB Ameer Abdullah and Broncos FB Andy Janovich at Nebraska
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook and Denver S Trey Marshall and DE DeMarcus Walker at Florida State
Minnesota DT Jaleel Johnson and T Riley Reiff at Iowa with Broncos LS Casey Kreiter, Jewell and TE Noah Fant
Minnesota DE Ifeadi Odenigbo and Denver LB Joseph Jones at Northwestern
Vikings WR Bisi Johnson and Broncos LB Josh Watson at Colorado State
Minnesota G Pat Elflein and DT Jalyn Holmes with Denver TE Jeff Heuerman and Dre’Mont Jones at Ohio State
Vikings CB Kris Boyd and CB Holton Hill with Broncos T Calvin Anderson and FB/TE Andrew Beck at Texas
VIKINGS TOP PERFORMERS VS. BRONCOS
Stefon Diggs: 1 game (did not start), 6 receptions, 87 yards
Adam Thielen: 1 game (did not start), 6 receptions, 70 yards
Anthony Barr: 1 game (1 start), 6 tackles (league stats), INT
Eric Kendricks: 1 game (1 start), 4 tackles (league stats), 1.0 sack, 1 TFL
Harrison Smith: 1 games (1 start), 3 tackles (league stats), INT
VIKINGS BIG DAYS VS. BRONCOS
Kirk Cousins (with Washington): 19-of-37 passing for 299 yards with 3 TD (94.3 passer rating) in Washington on Dec. 24, 2017
Kyle Rudolph: 19-yard touchdown reception (second score of career) in Minnesota on Dec. 4, 2011
Stefon Diggs: 6 catches for 87 yards in making professional debut at Denver on Oct. 4, 2015
Anthony Barr: first career interception at Denver on Oct. 4, 2015
Harrison Smith: 11th career interception at Denver on Oct. 4, 2015
Eric Kendricks: made first career start and recorded first career sack on Oct. 4, 2015
VIKINGS-BRONCOS SERIES NOTES
1. Sunday’s game will be the 15th meeting between Denver and Minnesota in the regular season. The series has been remarkably close over the decades. Each team has seven victories. The Vikings have scored 305 points, and the Broncos have scored 316. Nine contests have been decided by four or fewer points, including the past three in a row that have all been three-point wins by Denver.
2. The franchises began play in 1960 (Broncos) and 1961 (Vikings), but the teams didn’t meet for the first time until Oct. 15, 1972. Minnesota recorded a 23-20 comeback win at Mile High Stadium thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Fran Tarkenton to Gene Washington.
3. Minnesota is seeking its first win in the series since Oct. 19, 2003, a day highlighted by Randy Moss’ catch and over-the-head lateral to Moe Williams for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. Lance Johnstone returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown, and Corey Chavous and Brian Russell also intercepted Steve Beuerlein.
Longest Vikings winning streak in series: 2 games (three times, most recently was Oct. 31, 1999 through Oct. 19, 2003)
Longest Vikings losing streak in series: 3 games (Dec. 30, 2007 through Oct. 4, 2015)