EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings (7-3) are back at U.S. Bank Stadium for their only home game between Oct. 25 and Dec. 7.
Minnesota will host Denver (3-6) at noon (CT) Sunday. It will mark the Broncos first trip here since 2011.
The Vikings bounced back from a final-play loss at Kansas City with a 28-24 victory that was secured on the final snap at Dallas.
The Broncos are coming off their bye week and have won three of five.
In the past six games, Kirk Cousins has totaled an NFL-best passer rating of 124.4. He leads the NFL with 1,702 passing yards, is tied for the NFL lead with 10 touchdowns and ranks third with a completion percentage of 71.5 in that span.
Dalvin Cook leads the NFL with 991 rushing yards and is first with 1,415 yards from scrimmage. He needs nine more yards on the ground to become Minnesota's first 1,000-yard rusher since Adrian Peterson led the NFL with 1,485 in 2015.
Kyle Rudolph caught two 1-yard touchdown passes and a critical 2-point conversion against the Cowboys. The 14 points are tied with Jets TE Ryan Griffin for the most in a single game in 2019. The ninth-year pro has at least one touchdown in three of the past four games.
Minnesota's offense ranks eighth in yards per game (384.4), fourth in yards per play (6.12), third in rushing yards per game (153.0), 17th in passing yards per game (231.4) and ninth in points per game (26.2).
Denver's offense ranks 27th in the NFL in yards per game (311.4), 24th in yards per play (5.15), 16th in rushing yards per game (111.9), as well as 28th in passing yards per game (199.6) and points per game (16.6).
The Vikings rank fifth in the NFL in points against (18.2), 13th in yards allowed per game (333.1), seventh in rushing yards allowed per game (91.2) and 18th in passing yards allowed per game (241.9).
The Broncos are tied for sixth in the NFL in points against (18.9) and rank fourth in yards allowed per game (309.7), 17th in rushing yards allowed per game (107.6) and fourth in passing yards allowed per game (202.1).
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Broncos.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Ahmad Rashad (28) is wrapped up by the Denver Broncos defender Tom Jackson (57) after Rashad pulled in a pass from his quarterback during first half action in their game at Denver's Mile High Stadium, Nov. 2, 1981. (AP Photo)
Minnesota Vikings Ahmad Rashad (28) bobbles a Fran Tarkenton pass in second quarter action against the Denver Broncos at Bloomington, Minn., Sept. 11, 1978. Defending on the play for Denver are linebacker Tom Jackson (57) and strong safety Bill Thompson. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter (80) celebrates after a touchdonwn during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos Oct. 31, 1999, in Denver. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Bennie Fowler (16) attempts to avoid Minnesota Vikings running back Joe Banyard (23) on a 11 yard reception during fourth quarter action in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO September 27, 2015. (Eric Bakke via AP)
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson waves during warms ups before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, in Denver. Free-agent running back Adrian Peterson has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have not announced a deal, but Peterson tells ESPN in a statement that he's agreed to play in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney, File)
Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43) tackles Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) passes to Demaryius Thomas during Denver's third series of the 2nd quarter of action against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO September 27, 2015. (Eric Bakke via AP)
action against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO September 27, 2015. (Eric Bakke via AP)
Minnesota Vikings inside linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
TV BROADCAST
CBS (WCCO in Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Play-by-Play: Kevin Harlan
Analyst: Rich Gannon
Sideline Reporter: Jay Feely
LOCAL RADIO
KFAN (100.3-FM/KTLK 1130-AM in Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman & Ben Leber
Radio Pre-game Show: Mike Mussman | 10 a.m. (CT)
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the five-state Vikings Radio Network.
SATELLITE RADIO
Sirius: DEN 133 or Streaming 809; MIN 81 or Streaming 819
XM: DEN Streaming 809; MIN 225 or Streaming 819
STAT OF THE WEEK
The Vikings limited Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott to 47 rushing yards, the lowest total of his career in a game when he's had at least 20 rush attempts.
NORSEMAN NOTES
Minnesota has opened a season 7-3 for the sixth time in team history (1974, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2015 and 2019). The team has gone on to win the division in each of the five previous seasons.
Mike Zimmer is 4-2 against AFC West teams as head coach of the Vikings.
The Vikings offense has allowed only 17 sacks in 2019, which is tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.
QB Kirk Cousins has thrown 48 touchdown passes in 26 games with Minnesota. He is tied with QB Randall Cunningham for seventh-most by a Vikings QB.
Cousins has thrown for 6,735 yards since joining the Vikings. He passed Brett Favre (6,711) in Week 10 for the seventh-most by a Vikings QB.
Since Week 5, the Vikings offense has averaged 424.5 yards per game, the third-most in the NFL.
Dalvin Cook's 1,415 yards from scrimmage are the most in team history through the first 10 games of a Vikings season.
Kyle Rudolph (410 receptions) needs four catches to overtake Jake Reed (413) for fifth place on Minnesota's all-time list.
The Vikings defense has allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns in the NFL this season (two).
Danielle Hunter is 1.5 sacks from becoming the youngest player in NFL history to total 50.
According to league stats, Eric Kendricks has a career-high 11 pass breakups on the season, which is three more than any other linebacker.
Minnesota has recorded at least four sacks in five games this season, which is tied with New England for second behind Pittsburgh.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster for the 2019 season.
QB Sean Mannion
QB Sean Mannion
WR Stefon Diggs
WR Stefon Diggs
WR Laquon Treadwell
WR Laquon Treadwell
WR Alexander Hollins
WR Alexander Hollins
G Josh Kline
G Josh Kline
G Pat Elflein
G Pat Elflein
T Aviante Collins
T Aviante Collins
73 G Dru Samia
DE Stephen Weatherly
DE Eddie Yarbrough
DE Eddie Yarbrough
DT Linval Joseph
DT Linval Joseph
LB Kentrell Brothers
LB Kentrell Brothers
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Trae Waynes
CB Trae Waynes
CB Marcus Sherels
CB Marcus Sherels
CB Nate Meadors
26 CB Nate Meadors
CB Holton Hill
CB Holton Hill
S Andrew Sendejo
S Andrew Sendejo
S Jayron Kearse
S Jayron Kearse
58 LS Austin Cutting
LS Austin Cutting
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
Offense
Stefon Diggs: 1 game (did not start), 6 receptions, 87 yards
Adam Thielen: 1 game (did not start), 6 receptions, 70 yards
Defense
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)
