Wilson finds Sutton in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown reception
Situation: First-and-10 from the Minnesota 15, 1:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, Minnesota leading 20-15
Breakdown: After converting on fourth down, Wilson completed four passes to running back Samaje Perine to advance the Broncos into the red zone. But with a five-point deficit and just over a minute left in regulation, settling for a field goal wasn’t an option for the Denver offense. Wilson read the Vikings’ defense and checked to another part of the Broncos’ original play call, then stayed poised in the pocket when Minnesota sent a six-man blitz. With NFC sack leader Danielle Hunter lunging at him, Wilson fired a pass to the end zone while moving forward and gave Sutton a chance to make another incredible catch on a jump ball. Sutton timed his jump perfectly and beat Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to the football for a 15-yard, go-ahead touchdown. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Sutton’s reception had a 26.5 percent completion probability, the fourth-lowest of any Week 11 completion, and increased the Broncos’ win probability by 22.9 percentage points. The play gave Sutton his eighth touchdown reception of the season and Denver is the lead for the first time since the beginning of the second quarter. After Sutton’s touchdown and the scoring failed two-point conversion, the Broncos held a 63.9 percent win probability.
They Said It: “Once I saw it coming, I knew I was like, ‘I can’t wait for this to come down.’ I knew there were defenders around us, so I had to go and make a play. It was up in the air and you never know, you can run your route and you never know where the ball will go because we have great weapons on offense and you never know where the ball is going to go, who it is going to find. I looked up and saw the ball finding me. It was nice.” -Sutton
