Javon Walker caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Joe Webb in the fourth quarter, helping Minnesota edge Denver, 31-24, in the preseason finale for both teams.
Brett Favre took the night off for the Vikings, leaving Tarvaris Jackson to start. He completed just 2-of-8 passes for two yards. Webb finished 5-of-9 for 100 yards for the Vikings, who begin their season with an NFC Championship Game rematch by playing the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints next Thursday at the Superdome.
Rookie Tim Tebow connected on 12-of-16 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Broncos, who open the regular season on the road at Jacksonville September 12. Tebow fumbled his first snap, resulting in a 35- yard return for a touchdown by Erin Henderson in the first quarter.
Broncos running back LenDale White suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter.
Kyle Orton started for Denver and finished 5-of-8 for 56 yards, while Brady Quinn was 14-of-21 for 149 yards and a TD.
Rookie Eric Decker, who played collegiate ball at Minnesota, had a strong homecoming by making 10 catches for 114 yards for Denver.
Walker’s TD catch extended Minnesota’s lead to 31-21 nearly five minutes into the fourth, but Matt Prater booted a 49-yard field goal with less than five minutes remaining. Quinn drove the Broncos to the Minnesota 12, but he threw three straight incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs with 50 seconds left.