Broncos @ Vikings
Final Score: Broncos 33, Vikings 6
Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
Look away now, Vikings fans! This one was all about the Broncos at US Bank Stadium as Mike Zimmer decided to rest more than 30 starters and backup players for the first preseason hitout. On the contrary, Denver fielded their starters for much of the first two quarters and looked head and shoulders above Minnesota. These two teams had enjoyed competitive joint practices all week but this one was far from competitive as Drew Lock threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns to put the Broncos ahead by 20 at the start of the second quarter. There were a number of reasons to get excited for Broncos fans including second-round rookie running back Javonte Williams and second-year speedster KJ Hamler.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Drew Lock: 5/7, 151 yards, 2 TD | 1 carry, 6 yards
Teddy Bridgewater: 7/8, 74 yards, TD
Brett Rypien: 2/7, 24 yards | 2 carries, -2 yards
All evidence after this game point to Drew Lock getting the nod for the Broncos to start the season. Despite playing against a third-string defense, Lock looked sharp and busy early in this one. He hit KJ Hamler and Jerry Jeudy down the middle for big gains as he established a nice pocket rhythm, something that hasn’t been evident so far in his NFL career.
.@jerryjeudy in space >>>
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/cEYwvsQVkr
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
The big play of the day came on the Broncos’ second drive of the day as Lock let loose for a huge 80-yard touchdown pass to Hamler, who escaped Cameron Dantzler in deep coverage.
LOCKed in and LAUNCHED 🚀🎯
K.J. Hamler with an 80-yard TD for the @broncos!
📺: #DENvsMIN on NFL Network (or check local listings) pic.twitter.com/hwwEzVT2TY
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 14, 2021
There was a nice ovation for Teddy Bridgewater on his return to Minnesota, the former Vikings first-round pick came out after Lock and showing much of what we know he can do. Bridgewater did have a rushing touchdown called back for a holding penalty before extending the Broncos lead after the half thanks to a nice throw to the back of the endzone to rookie Trinity Benson.
TB to TB. 🙌@teddyb_h2o finds @_TheTB for SIX!
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Jl4LnOJOjl
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
All eyes are on whether Teddy gets the start with the first-team offense in the next preseason game against the Seahawks. For now, Lock seems to hold the preference.
Running Back
Damarea Crockett: 16 carries, 59 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 11 yards
Royce Freeman: 5 carries, 33 yards | 2 targets, 2 reception, 14 yards
Javonte Williams: 5 carries, 29 yards
LeVante Bellamy: 4 carries, 2 yards
In the absence of starter Melvin Gordon, the rookie out of North Carolina, Javonte Williams, ran very well between the tackles to do enough to get Broncos fans excited about what he could bring to this offense. Williams also had a tough run into the endzone called back because of an unnecessary holding penalty.
I will continue to buy stock in #Broncos RB Javonte Williams.
Looked great in his handful of rushes today. A few first downs and a TD wiped off the board due to a WR holding.
5 Rushes, 29 Yards pic.twitter.com/t5m9Z3KDdl
— Steve Frederick (@SteveFrederick_) August 15, 2021
Williams wasn’t targeted in the passing game, instead, veteran Royce Freeman saw two targets from Lock. Williams is likely to be the first choice to spell Gordon once the season starts but Freeman is a solid if not spectacular contributor in the backfield.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
KJ Hamler: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 105 yards, TD | 1 carry, 6 yards
Trinity Benson: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 36 yards, 2 TD
Jerry Jeudy: 3 targets, 1 reception, 33 yards
Eric Saubert: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards
Seth Williams: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards
Kendall Hinton: 1 target
Tyrie Cleveland: 1 target | 1 carry, 6 yards
Shaun Beyer: 1 target
Branden Mack: 2 targets
The Broncos decided not to risk star receiver Courtland Sutton, who has returned to practice this preseason after an ACL injury, but starters Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler both looked ready for the season in limited yet impactful touches.
The other standout was East Central University’s 2019 undrafted free agent Trinity Benson. Trying to make the team as a kick return specialist after two seasons on the practice squad, Benson flashed plus route-running skills to go with his safe hands in a two-touchdown performance. Lock found him at the back of the endzone for his first score of the day.
Drew Lock is dealing.
151 yards & 2 TDs on just five completions.
📺: #DENvsMIN on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/3NquKzXV50 pic.twitter.com/3R60ZixBD1— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Jake Browning: 5/10, 31 yards, INT, sack
Kellen Mond: 6/16, 53 yards | 5 carries, 25 yards
An ugly afternoon for the Vikings was only compounded by the lack of quality on show from the quarterback position. Jake Browning started this one and nearly threw an interception off a tipped ball from his first throw of the game. He wasn’t so lucky on his next series – a poorly thrown ball towards rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette was easily picked by Broncos first-round pick Patrick Surtain II for a pick-6.
PATRICK SURTAIN II PICK-6! @PatSurtainll
📺: #DENvsMIN on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/3NquKzXV50 pic.twitter.com/YWIJDXFwOZ— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
Rookie third-round pick Kellen Mond looked much better and suffered from a number of drops from the young Vikings receiving corps, including one in the endzone from Smith-Marsette. He also offered something that the Vikings have lacked for some time – the ability to move the chains with his legs. He remains the favorite to back up rested starter Kirk Cousins come week one of the season.
This cut by @TheKellenMond 😯
📺: #DENvsMIN on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/3NquKzXV50 pic.twitter.com/ACtioh84oZ— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
Running Back
Ameer Abdullah: 5 carries, 29 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
AJ Rose Jr.: 25 carries, 100 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 18 yards
Jake Bargas: 2 targets, 2 reception, 11 yards
If you had never heard of undrafted free agent running back AJ Rose Jr. well you have now. Benefitting from a game script of running the ball despite the score, the former Kentucky back was the lone bright spot in an otherwise timid Vikings offense. Rose Jr showed extreme toughness between the tackles and always fought for extra yards. He also looked handy in open space when targetted out of the backfield.
Kellen Mond’s first completion is for 18 yards to AJ Rose Jr 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/hfy9pupe7z
— Tim England (@tengland_150) August 14, 2021
Keep an eye on him as an outside shot to earn a roster spot behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, both of whom were not involved today.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
KJ Osborn: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Brandon Dillon: 4 targets, 1 reception, 13 yards
Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards | 1 carry, 2 yards
Myron Mitchell: 1 target, 1 reception, 3 yards
Dan Chisena: 2 targets
Whop Philyor: 2 targets
Zach Davidson: 2 targets
Let’s not, shall we. This Vikings receiving corps was at best abysmal and littered the field with drops. The quarterbacks should have both had a touchdown but Zach Davidson couldn’t haul in a juggled pass from Browning early in the game and Smith-Marsette also failed to complete a catch from Mond in the endzone under pressure. None of these receivers did anything positive to speak of.
It is hard to pass up Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Irv Smith Jr. for fantasy purposes in Minnesota this year.
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)