Oct 4, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith (22) is congratulated for his interception by middle linebacker Gerald Hodges (50) and defensive end Brian Robison (96) and outside linebacker Chad Greenway (52) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Vikings 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.
The VikingsTerritory collective staff prediction for Vikings at Broncos is ready.
Minnesota won in Week 10 at home over the New Orleans Saints, 27-19. Quarterback Josh Dobbs fired up a commendable second act, with help from tight end T.J. Hockenson and an opportunistic defense.
The Broncos toppled the Buffalo Bills on the road, a season-saving triumph that upped Denver’s record to 4-5. Buffalo gifted Denver the rock four times via turnover, and the Broncos missed a game-winning field goal that was negated by a Bills penalty. Minutes later, kicker Will Lutz drilled the game-winner that mattered.
The writers at VikingsTerritory predict the Vikings will win their seventh game of the season.
Most writers chose the Vikings, probably because of the five-game win-streak momentum. Minnesota’s defense is suddenly the real deal, Dobbs is mobile and electric, and the Vikings are hot.
Here’s how the panel sees the score for Week 11:
Dustin Baker: Broncos Win, 27-24
Sean Borman: Broncos Win, 17-16
Janik Eckardt: Vikings Win, 24-20
Josh Frey: Vikings Win, 24-20
Will Goodwin: Vikings Win, 26-22
Wes Johnson: Vikings Win, 27-23
Kyle Joudry: Vikings Win, 23-9
Adam New: Broncos Win, 21-20
Nate Powalie: Vikings Win, 22-13
Ted Schwerzler: Vikings Win, 24-21
Ali Siddiqui: Vikings Win, 27-17
Cole Smith: Vikings Win, 27-23
Mathematically en masse, we predict the Vikings will top the Broncos by a score of 24-19.
And 2023 season standings for our writers’ predictions:
Nate Powalie: 7-3
Ted Schwerzler: 7-3
Cole Smith: 7-3
Dustin Baker: 6-4
Janik Eckardt: 6-4
Josh Frey: 6-4
Will Goodwin: 6-4
Adam New: 6-4
Wes Johnson: 6-4
Sean Borman: 5-5
Ali Siddiqui: 5-5
Kyle Joudry: 4-6
Last week, Ted Schwerzler and Ali Siddiqui most accurately predicted the Vikings outcome. They picked the Vikings to win by 7 and 9, respectively, and the Vikings won by 8.
The Broncos are favored to prevail by 2.5 points, as oddsmakers are skittish about Josh Dobbs’ consistency and evidently impressed by Denver’s recent reversal. The Vikings also have a plethora of injuries.
Sporting News picked the Vikings to defeat the Broncos, and SN’s Bill Bender explained with a 24-23 prediction, “The Joshua Dobbs story is incredible to this point, and the key is the veteran quarterback does not turn the ball over. Denver still has the worst statistical defense in the league, and they struggle most against the run. Will these teams keep winning with role players such as Ty Chandler and T.J. Hockenson? Why not?”
In the last 25 years, the Vikings are 4-9 (.308) in road games against AFC West opponents.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.