Vikings Beat Broncos on Nelson Runs

Darrin Nelson’s runs of 72 and 16 yards set up two of D.J. Dozier’s three touchdowns Monday night, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos in the teams’ first game since the National Football League strike ended.

The Vikings, who are 3-0 with their regular players but 3-3 overall, won even though Wade Wilson was intercepted five times.

Denver, 1-1-1 with its regular players, is 3-2-1.

A crowd of 51,011--there were 7,716 no-shows--watched the game that was moved back a day so the Minnesota Twins could play host to the St. Louis Cardinals in Sunday’s Game 7 of the World Series.

Denver quarterback John Elway didn’t look the least bit rusty early, completing his first 6 passes and going 14 for 19 for 153 yards in the first half. But, in the second half, he completed only 8 of 20 for 92 yards.

Elway’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Vance Johnson and his 1-yard scoring plunge had helped Denver to a 17-14 halftime lead.

But on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Nelson shot through a hole and raced down the right sideline to the three-yard line. On the next play, Dozier went untouched into the end zone for a 20-17 Minnesota lead.

Later in the quarter, Nelson’s 16-yard run put Dozier in position for a five-yard touchdown run, making it 27-17. In all, Nelson rushed for 98 yards in 11 carries.

Wilson, who finished 13 of 23 for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns, then hit Leo Lewis with a 5-yard touchdown pass 2:45 into the fourth quarter.

The Broncos pulled within seven as Elway threw a four-yard pass to Gene Lang with 5:29 left and then, after Wilson’s fifth interception, Rich Karlis kicked a 51-yard field goal with 3:13 to play.

Dozier’s other touchdown came on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, which was followed by Karlis’ 43-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the half.

There was one serious injury in the game. X-rays revealed that Denver running back Gerald Willhite fractured his right leg when he was collared by Joey Browner just short of the end zone at the end.