Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings (7-3) will return home after two weeks on the road to host the Denver Broncos (3-6) at noon (CT) Sunday.
Here are three notes on the matchup and how to watch or listen to the game.
Remarkably close over time: Sunday’s game is the 15th meeting between Denver and Minnesota in the regular season. The series that began Oct. 15, 1972, with a winning touchdown pass from Fran Tarkenton to Gene Washington, 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.
All grown up now: Eric Kendricks, who delivered a clutch pass breakup on Sunday at Dallas, made his first career start at Denver in Minnesota’s fourth game of 2015. The linebacker totaled five tackles that day, including a sack of Peyton Manning. Kendricks’ draft classmates Danielle Hunter played in his second career game, and Trae Waynes played in his fourth game. All have grown into perennial starters.
On offense, Stefon Diggs made his professional debut in the Mile High City and perplexed a secondary filled with strong defenders to the tune of six catches for 87 yards. Kyle Rudolph also had a milestone moment against Denver when he caught his second career touchdown in 2011. Rudolph, who just turned 30 and celebrated with two touchdown catches, now has 45 career touchdowns.
Vikings Offense vs. Broncos Defense: Minnesota ranks ninth in the NFL with 26.2 points for per game. Denver is tied for sixth with 18.9 points allowed per game. The Vikings led by Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski and Assistant Head Coach/Senior Offensive Advisor Gary Kubiak will have an opportunity to match wits with a Denver squad led by first-year Head Coach Vic Fangio, who is just the third head coach from a defensive background that the Vikings have prepped for at this point in the season.