Broncos 34, Vikings 6: Ehlinger's 88-Yard Strike Closes the Preseason

August 28, 2026 - Denver - Justin Joly ran past the deep safety. Sam Ehlinger threw it anyway. Eighty-eight yards later the Denver Broncos led 34-6, and the preseason was over.

Bo Nix did not dress. J.J. McCarthy did not play. ESPN's recap said neither club used its starting quarterback, and Minnesota did not even play the backup after McCarthy lost the job to Kyler Murray in camp and rolled an ankle last week against Baltimore.

Denver finished 2-1. Minnesota finished 1-2.

Stidham's two drives, Ehlinger's three scores

Jarrett Stidham started and scored on both series. Wil Lutz made a field goal. Fullback Adam Prentice punched in a 1-yard run. 10-0.

Ehlinger took over. Kahlef Hailassie intercepted his first pass and set up Will Reichard for Minnesota's points. Reichard made two field goals. The Vikings never reached the end zone in three preseason games except for a fade from Wentz to Myles Price at New York, per the club's recap.

After Reichard's 28-yarder made it 13-6, Ehlinger covered 65 yards in five plays. Jaleel McLaughlin caught a 20-yard crossing route before half. 20-6.

Then the long one: a 17-play, 85-yard drive that ate nearly 10 minutes and ended with Cody Schrader's 14-yard catch on fourth-and-2. 27-6. Joly's 88-yarder finished it. Ehlinger went 15 of 20 for 233 yards, three touchdowns, and that interception. Stidham went 6 of 9 for 78.

Schrader ran for 42 and caught six for 90. Joly had two catches for 95, the 88-yarder the long. Marvin Mims Jr. left with a right-foot bruise on the opening drive. Sean Payton said he would be fine and that Denver was cautious. Corner Reese Taylor left with a concussion. Minnesota lost linebacker Jacob Roberts (left knee) and receiver Terrill Davis (right calf).

412 yards to 269

NFL's game summary listed Denver with 412 total yards and Minnesota with 269. The Broncos went 7 of 14 on third down and averaged 6.4 yards per play. The Vikings went 3 of 13. Wentz started two series. Max Brosmer finished. Pass rusher Jonathon Cooper was a Denver game captain; he faces a Monday arraignment on a felony strangulation charge that could bring an NFL suspension.

Nix had looked sharp against Green Bay a week earlier in his only preseason work. Payton split the finale between Stidham and Ehlinger. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell had hoped McCarthy would recover in time. McCarthy was limited early in the week and did not practice Wednesday.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

Ehlinger's three passing touchdowns are 18 fantasy points before yards. Joly's 88-yard catch is a receiving 6 plus receiving yards at 2.5 per 10. Schrader's receiving TD and 90 receiving yards score. McLaughlin's 20-yard score counts. Prentice's 1-yard run is a rushing 6. Ehlinger's interception is minus-2. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Nix and Murray are in September plans.

Track Nix, McCarthy, and the Broncos and Vikings on the marketplace. Minnesota hosts Green Bay on Sept. 13. Denver visits Kansas City on Sept. 14.

*Sources: ESPN recap, AP recap, Vikings.com observations, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*