The Broncos made light work of the Vikings in a 34-6 preseason win on August 29th, 2026. To be fair, neither side had been particularly consistent in their last two outings, but the result spoke volumes about tonight's effort. The Broncos came in off a heavy loss to the Packers and a comfortable victory over Atlanta. The Vikings had dropped to the Ravens before edging past the Giants.
And here's the thing about preseason — you watch who takes themselves seriously. The Broncos' attack moved with purpose from the opening drive, stringing together possessions that kept the Vikings' defence scrambling. Six points on the board by the halfway point told you everything you needed to know about the disparity in intensity.
The home side extended their unbeaten run to two games with this performance, though the context matters. Preseason results don't carry weight in the standings, but they reveal coaching priorities. The Broncos' third-string players got meaningful minutes, while the Vikings' backup quarterback looked out of his depth.
By then, the game had settled into a pattern. The Broncos' offence found space where the Vikings' secondary was disorganised, and the defensive line pressed without hesitation. Three touchdowns from the first-string unit put the result beyond doubt before the final quarter.
The Vikings' lone score came from a special teams effort — a field goal that did little to mask their struggles. Their recent form suggested they'd be competitive, but tonight they were outclassed in every phase. The Broncos, meanwhile, showed the cohesion that comes from playing together.
What this means for the preseason picture is minimal, but the coaching staff will take note of the gaps. The Broncos have now played three exhibition matches, while the Vikings have found their preparation exposed. One mistake ends a preseason game, but tonight it was a pattern of mistakes that sealed the result.
