Denver just capped off their preseason slate with an absolute shellacking of the Minnesota Vikings, winning 34-6. This was a massive turnaround for the Broncos, especially after getting trounced by the Green Bay Packers just a week prior. With most of their key starters chilling on the sidelines, the backups came out and flat-out dominated.
Broncos Backups Crushed It
It wasn’t just a win; it was a total shutdown. The Broncos owned every single facet of the game. They racked up 131 more passing yards than the Vikings, outrushed them easily, topping 100 yards on the ground, and converted a solid 50 percent of their third-down plays. Plus, they played super disciplined football, getting flagged for just three penalties all night. Head Coach Sean Payton was stoked after the game, saying, “I thought there was a real good effort tonight with the groups that were playing. I thought we had good energy, I thought we won in a lot of different areas. I’m sure that tape will look good. We have a lot of decisions to make both tomorrow and Sunday and we’ll go from there.” Yeah, no kidding, coach, those tape sessions are gonna be interesting.
Schrader’s Wild Night and Joly’s Long Shot
One position group that absolutely shone was running back. Guys like Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader, and Jaleel McLaughlin carried the load with J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Jonah Coleman sitting out. While those latter guys’ spots are basically guaranteed, Schrader made a *serious* case to be RB4. The dude was on fire, averaging nearly eight yards per carry in the first half alone and showing off some dynamic receiving skills. He ended the night with 19 total touches for 132 yards and a touchdown. After the game, Schrader reflected on his wild journey, saying, “My journey has been kind of crazy. I’ve been cut seven times in two years, claimed four or five times, and just not taking anything for granted. They brought me in last year, and I didn’t get an opportunity, but they brought me back for a reason. Hopefully, I kind of showed that I can help this football team win this year.” You bet he did.
And don’t forget rookie tight end Justin Joly! A fifth-round pick, he had been quiet through training camp and the first two preseason games. But in the fourth quarter, he hauled in an 88-yard touchdown reception from Sam Ehlinger. Joly was hyped, saying, “Honestly, it was amazing. Obviously at the home field and the first touchdown of my career. It felt like the ball was in the air for 30 seconds. I was waiting for forever for an opportunity, and I got it.”
So, what’s next for Denver? With guys like Schrader and Joly making huge plays, Coach Payton and his staff have some seriously tough calls ahead to finalize that 53-man roster. This isn’t gonna be easy!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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