Broncos 35, Vikings 32
Tim Tebow engineered his fifth second-half comeback of the season and Matt Prater kicked a 23-yard field goal on the final play of the game as the Denver Broncos moved into a first-place tie in the AFC West with a 35-32 victory over the host Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
The winning kick was set up by Andre Goodman’s interception at the Minnesota 35 with 1:25 remaining as the Broncos (7-5) won their fifth straight game.
Denver trailed by eight points three times in the second half and answered with a touchdown each time.
Demaryius Thomas had four catches for 144 yards and two second-half touchdowns of 21 and 41 yards that trimmed Minnesota’s lead to one point each time.
Willis McGahee rushed for 111 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown scamper with 8:52 remaining. Tebow followed with a two-point conversion run to make it 29-29.
After Ryan Longwell’s 39-yard field goal with 3:05 left gave the Vikings a 32-29 lead, Prater answered with a 46-yarder prior to Goodman’s pick.
Tebow finished 10 of 15 for 202 yards and improved to 6-1 as a starter this season with his fourth final-quarter comeback.
Christian Ponder threw for a Vikings rookie record 381 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Percy Harvin had a career-high 156 yards receiving and two touchdowns for the Vikings (2-10).
The defenses were responsible for the game’s first nine points.
Minnesota’s Jared Allen tackled McGahee in the end zone for a safety, one play after Chris Kluwe’s punt spun down at the 1.
Denver’s Mario Haggan, starting for the injured Von Miller, intercepted Ponder’s pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-2 with 5:42 left in the first quarter.
Miller missed the game with torn ligaments in his thumb. He entered Week 13 fourth in the NFL with 10.5 sacks, and first among rookies.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.