Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Broncos get big plays from defense, upend Vikings
DENVER — Baron Browning’s 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown after fellow defensive end Mctelvin Agim’s strip-sack of Sean Mannion highlighted Denver’s 23-13 preseason win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Both teams rested their starters in the final tune-up for the season.
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Browning, whom the Broncos (2-1) moved from inside linebacker this year, stunted up the middle and nearly pried the ball from Mannion’s grasp himself as he swept past him.
Agim was there to slap the ball out as he wrapped up Mannion from behind for a 10-yard sack. Browning reached back, grabbed the ball with his right hand and zipped into the end zone to put Denver up 17-7 with less than a minute left in the first half.
Mannion got the Vikings (0-3) to midfield for Greg Joseph’s 46-yard field goal as time expired, cutting Minnesota’s deficit to 17-10 at halftime.
Joseph’s 58-yarder five seconds into the fourth quarter made it 17-13, and the Vikings were driving again when rookie safety Dalarrin Turner-yell returned from a concussion check to sack Kellen Mond on fourth-and-goal from the Denver 5.
Brandon Mcmanus capped the scoring with two field goals.
With Kirk Cousins sitting out again, Mannion was 9 of 16 passing for 121 yards, and Mond went 10 of 17 for 102 yards in the second half.
Like Cousins, Russell Wilson didn’t play at all in the preseason. Brett Rypien was 14 of 21 for 137 yards in the first half, and Josh Johnson threw for 107 yards on 11for-14 passing.
None of the four QBS had a touchdown pass.
Wilson dressed out in full pads and even put on his eye black to watch the action from the sideline with Denver’s other resting starters, who were in street clothes.
Rypien drove the Broncos to the Minnesota 8 on Denver’s opening possession, but his throw over the middle to wide receiver K.J. Hamler on first-and-goal was tipped by safety Myles Dorn and intercepted by linebacker Luiji Vilain.
Johnson drove Denver on two drives that ended in field goals. Mcmanus’ 40-yarder made it 20-13.
That’s when the Broncos’ defense, which totaled five sacks, showed up again.
Rookie linebacker Nik Bonitto recorded sacks of Mond on two straight plays, Agim batted down his fourth-and-27 pass with 2:07 to go, and Denver took over at the Vikings’ 8. Mcmanus added a 31-yard field goal in the waning seconds.