Matt Prater kicks in the game's winning field goal against the Vikings. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

By Jim Lyles

BRONCOS RUSH OFFENSE: 

The Broncos had trouble getting their rushing game going on Sunday. The first play from scrimmage for the Broncos’ offense ended in a safety when Broncos running back Willis McGahee was tackled in the end zone.

The Broncos rushing attack didn’t click until the offense took the first possession of the second half and marched 78-yards to the end zone. However, the ground game wasn’t responsible for the scoring play, but it did set the tone for the team’s offensive revival.

McGahee rushed for a game high 111 yards on 20 attempts and seemed hell-bent on atoning for the safety, and a fumble. Tim Tebow, Lance Ball, and Spencer Larson combined to gain 39-yards on 12 carries – not prolific numbers but enough to keep the Vikings at bay.

The offensive line played a rather unproductive first half of football. The second half was an entirely different story as the Broncos run blocking blew open huge holes in the Vikings defensive front.

Grade: C+
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These Denver Broncos are a team in every sense of the word. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Thoughts on the thrilling win over the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field (In no particular order):

• One of my favorite things to do after the Broncos win is read thoughts on the game from the players themselves. Interacting with NFL players is one of the most attractive features of Twitter and is why I’m an avid user. After the win yesterday, offensive lineman Zane Beadles tweeted the following:

Another W!!! Can’t say enough about our defense!! Turned it on in the second half on O! #newresolve #Broncos #lovethisteam

• In my mind, that is pretty much all that needs to be read in order to understand why Denver’s winning ways continue even in the face of doubt by a majority of the national media. This is a TEAM in every sense of the word. We all know that the defense forced 3 turnovers yesterday that were absolutely pivotal, but for the most part they had a rough day. It was the offense who picked up the defense this weekend rather than the other way around. Yet, here is an offensive player who gives the initial credit to the defense. Not only that, but he openly states that he loves this team. This is exactly what you wish for as a fan. All you want to see is that the players on the field care about the outcome as much as you do. You want to see them play together and win games. You hope for a time when everything seems to come together and your team goes on a magical run that you simply have to see to believe. In a sense, this is what sports are all about, and it has been a long time since a Denver Broncos team has made the game this much fun for their fans. What a great time to be a member of Broncos Country!

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Mario Haggan celebrates his pick-6 and the Broncos first points on the board. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Charles Dickens couldn’t have written a better ending. It was a Tale of Two Halves for the Denver Broncos as they beat the Minnesota Vikings 35-32 on a field goal by Matt Prater with 2 seconds remaining.

This was a total team effort. The defense bailed the offense out in the first half, and the offense bailed the defense out in the second half. Special teams came through with big punts, huge returns, stout coverage, and who can forget clutch field goals?

Willis McGahee had his sixth 100+ yard game of the season and he brought the Broncos to within two points with less than 9 minutes to go in the game. Go for it, go for it, go for it in the Gopher State. The Broncos went for it and Tim Tebow ran the two point conversion in himself to tie the ball game up at 29 apiece. A pair of field goals by each team put the game at 32 each with 1:33 left in the game.

The Cardic Kids come through again.

It looked like Vikings’ QB Christian Ponder would get his chance. He set a rookie team record with 381 passing yards, but he also made the most critical error of the game. His interception right into the hands of Andre Goodman gave the ball back to the Broncos in prime field position with just over a minute remaining. All the Broncos had to do was not turn it over. With that, Prater kicked in the 23-yard field goal as the clock hit 0:00. It’s in the books. The Broncos win their fifth straight, their sixth in seven weeks, and they are now tied for first in the AFC West with a 7-5 record.
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