NFL fans rip refs for not calling pass interference on final play of Vikings-Broncos

No call here?

Nobody, it seems, knows that a catch is in the NFL. Now, it seems, we have no idea what pass interference is any more.

And by “we” I mean NFL refs, who continued to struggle Sunday as it looked like the crew working the Broncos-Vikings game in Minnesota missed what could have been three pass interference calls on the final three plays of the game, including one on that last play in the end zone that ended up being an incomplete pass that gave the Vikings a 27-23 win.

On third-and-goal from the 4 yard line, Broncos QB Brandon Allen threw a pass to Noah Fant that the WR couldn’t handle:

While both players had some contact on that play, a closer look shows that Jayron Kearse had a nice hold of Fant’s jersey:

Fans were not impressed with the refs:

 

Irish in the NFL: Rudolph Puts Vikings in Front

Make that five times now in his last five games.

Last week we discussed how Kyle Rudolph had turned a corner after he pulled down a pair of one-yard touchdowns in Minnesota’s victory Sunday night at Dallas.

Despite a slow start that saw him fail to get in the end zone through six games, Rudolph managed to find pay-dirt four times in the four games since.

Well.

Make that five times in his last five games.

The Vikings got off to an incredibly slow start Sunday against the underdog Broncos, falling behind 20-0 on their home field by halftime.

The Vikings came marching back in the second half before Rudolph put them in front for the first time all day.

Tight End U at it again as the Vikings held on to win, 27-23.

Vikings will look to slow down Broncos’ 1-2 punch at RB

The Vikings have the test of going up against the Broncos, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings have been pretty solid against the run this season, ranking seventh in yards allowed to go with just two rushing touchdowns, a mark that ranks second in the league.

They will have the test of going up against the Broncos, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Lindsay kind of can do it all,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Friday when comparing the two running backs. “He’s a little bit more of a scat guy, bounces. He’s got great speed and acceleration, really tough. They’re both tough, hard runners. The other guy (Royce Freeman) might be a little bit more in the tackles, but he does a nice job on screens and getting the ball to the perimeter as well. He’s a good back.”

Lindsay, who is in his second season, has 585 rushing yards to go with five touchdowns. He also has 25 receptions for 160 yards. Freeman, also in his second season, has 374 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go with 27 catches for 181 yards.

Both players are averaging more than four yards per carry.

They might not be the biggest names the Vikings have faced this season, but they are certainly dangerous, and without Linval Joseph, chances are the Vikings are plenty aware of that.

Nearly all experts have Vikings beating Broncos

The 7-3 Vikings host the 3-6 Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 10.

The 7-3 Vikings host the 3-6 Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 10.

The Vikings are double-digit favorites in the game, and per NFLPickWatch.com, 99 percent of experts have the Vikings beating the Broncos.

While the Vikings should win this game, it’s worth noting that the team will be without Adam Thielen, Linval Joseph, Anthony Harris and Josh Kline.

The Vikings are 7-7 all-time against the Broncos, and have lost the last three games, most recently in 2015.

To round out the NFC North, the Packers are on bye, 97 percent have the Lions losing to the Cowboys at home, and 86 percent have the Bears losing on the road against the Rams.

Vikings activate WR Josh Doctson to 53-man roster

The Vikings have finally activated wide receiver Josh Doctson (hamstring) from the injured reserve.

The Vikings have finally activated wide receiver Josh Doctson (hamstring) from the injured reserve.

He’s now eligible to play in Week 11 against the Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

This move isn’t a huge surprise with the Vikings releasing wide receiver Davion Davis (who later signed on the practice squad) to make room for Doctson.

The team signed Doctson prior to the season after he was released by the Redskins.

Doctson was the 22nd-overall pick by the Redskins in the 2016 NFL Draft, just a spot ahead of Laquon Treadwell, who is now his teammate.

In his three seasons with Washington, Doctson had 81 receptions for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. He played the 2016 and 2017 seasons with Kirk Cousins at the helm of Washington’s offense.

If active on Sunday, he’ll join Stefon Diggs, Bisi Johnson and Treadwell as healthy receivers on the roster. Adam Thielen (hamstring) has already been listed as out.

An incomplete pass has Von Miller convinced that Drew Lock is a ‘star in the making’

Sounds about right.

It’s been a rough few years with Denver quarterbacks ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. In those three years, the Broncos have trotted out the likes of Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen while unsurprisingly yielding dreadful results from that position.

So, we’ll have to give Von Miller a pass here for getting super excited about rookie quarterback Drew Lock.

The second-round pick from Missouri made his return to practice off injured reserve this week, and he wowed his Broncos teammate. Lock didn’t even need to complete a pass to have Miller comparing the rookie to Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo.

Miller said:

“I just want to be here when he gets famous. He’s gonna kill it. He’s gonna kill it. He’s got everything you need. The other day, he ran out and did a little bootleg, and he threw it — it was an incomplete pass. But I’ve seen a lot of good ones play, and that was probably the best incomplete pass that I’ve seen thrown. He has a little flip up. He’s just a star in the making.”

Considering the number of incomplete passes Broncos quarterbacks have accumulated over the past three years, that’s pretty high praise from Miller. Who knows? Maybe he’ll complete a few passes eventually.

Though Lock made his return to practice on Monday, the Broncos haven’t announced any plans for Lock’s potential debut at quarterback. Flacco was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending herniated disk in his neck.

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Dalvin Cook remains 2nd in RB rankings

Cook is on pace for 1,585 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 64 catches for 678 receiving yards.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts on Sunday night against the Cowboys.

In NFL.com’s Week 11 running back rankings, Cook remained second, behind only Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey.

Per Pro Football Focus, Cook grades as the league’s fifth-best running back with a grade of 85.3. Only Josh Jacobs, McCaffrey, Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler rank ahead of him.

On the season, Cook has a league-leading 991 rushing yards to go with 10 rushing touchdowns. He also has 40 receptions for 424 yards.

He’s on pace for 1,585 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with 64 catches for 678 receiving yards.

Cook will have his next chance to have a big game on Sunday against the Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Broncos are allowing 107 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranks 17th in the league.

Thielen, Joseph miss Wednesday’s Vikings practice

Both Adam Thielen and Linval Joseph missed last week’s game with a hamstring and knee injury, respectively.

The Vikings were without nose tackle Linval Joseph (knee), wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring), guard Josh Kline (concussion) and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen at Wednesday’s practice as the team prepares to take on the Broncos in Week 11.

Joseph and Thielen missed last week’s game against the Cowboys, while Kline and Stephen suffered injuries in that game.

It feels unlikely that Joseph or Thielen will play in Week 11 against the Broncos considering the Vikings have a bye in Week 12. Why not give the players an extra week off before preparing for the final five games of the season?

We’ll update you on the status of these players throughout the week.

Vikings NT Linval Joseph could be back sooner rather than later

It’s probably fair to wonder if Joseph could play in Week 13 when the Vikings travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks.

Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph missed Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys after undergoing knee surgery last week, the Star Tribune reported.

When will we see Joseph? Could it possibly be in Week 11 against the Broncos?

“I don’t know yet,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Could be back this week. We’ll see.” 

It seems very unlikely that Joseph would be back so quickly, but considering the team has a bye in Week 12, it’s probably fair to wonder if Joseph could play in Week 13 when the Vikings travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks.

Per Pro Football Focus, Joseph has a player grade of 74.9, a mark that ranks 35th out of 121 interior defenders.

If Joseph can’t play in Week 11, we’ll see a few players fill his spot with Jaleel Johnson likely starting.

Will Broncos QB Brandon Allen continue a trend vs. Vikings?

The Vikings have already had Chase Daniel and Matt Moore beat them this season. They are hoping Allen isn’t added to this list. 

With Joe Flacco out for the rest of the season with a neck injury, Brandon Allen finds himself as the starting quarterback of the 3-6 Denver Broncos.

Allen, a 2016 sixth-round pick out of Arkansas, started his first-career game in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns and finished with 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He attempted just 20 passes.

The Browns defense isn’t exactly the Vikings defense and there’s a good chance Allen will have to throw the ball if the Broncos want to steal one at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings have been solid against the run, allowing just 91 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranks seventh in the NFL. The pass defense, however, has been exposed. Minnesota is allowing 241 passing yards per game, a mark that ranks 18th in the NFL. That will be Denver’s opportunity.

The Vikings have already had Chase Daniel and Matt Moore beat them this season. If Allen is added to this list, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer might just lose it.