Broncos vs. Eagles Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest NFL Preseason Odds for Friday, August 28th
The Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos close Friday's 10-game preseason schedule at Empower Field at Mile High. Neither side intends to lean on its regular-season starters, but Minnesota enters with significant uncertainty behind Kyler Murray while Denver has a pair of veteran backups battling for position behind Bo Nix.
Peter Alexis - August 28, 2026, 6:50 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadVikings vs. Broncos Prediction: Can Broncos Control Home Field Against Uncertain Minnesota Quarterbacks?
Minnesota and Denver kick off at 9:00 PM ET, with the Broncos favored by 3.5 points and the total at 37.5. Both teams are 1-1 this preseason, but their reserve quarterback situations are trending in very different directions.
Minnesota went 9-8 in 2025 and narrowly missed the postseason during an injury-filled season at quarterback. Denver finished 14-3, beat Buffalo 33-30 in overtime in the Divisional Round and came within three points of the Super Bowl before losing 10-7 to New England in the AFC Championship Game.
Kyler Murray will sit Friday along with Minnesota's regular starters. J.J. McCarthy would normally be a major part of the preseason finale, but he suffered a deltoid ankle injury during last week's 13-3 loss to Baltimore and missed Wednesday's practice.
Vikings vs. Broncos Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, August 28th, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: NFL Network
Vikings vs. Broncos Odds
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Vikings vs. Broncos Prediction
McCarthy completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards before leaving that game, while Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer handled the remainder. Brosmer played the entire second half and finished 11 of 17 for 98 yards with an interception as Minnesota failed to score a touchdown.
Denver is also expected to sit Nix, but its backup situation is considerably more stable. Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger are competing behind him, giving Sean Payton two experienced NFL quarterbacks to evaluate throughout the finale.
Stidham was excellent in Denver's preseason opener, completing 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown while building a 24-0 halftime lead in a 27-7 victory over Atlanta. His performance dipped against Green Bay last week, but that simply gives him more reason to finish the preseason strongly with Ehlinger pushing for the same job.
Minnesota's defense has been respectable and should prevent Denver from running away immediately. The problem is generating enough offense to keep pace if McCarthy is unavailable or severely limited. The Vikings produced only three points against Baltimore and now travel to altitude while sitting essentially every offensive player that matters for Week 1.
Vikings vs. Broncos Pick
- Pick: Broncos -3.5 (-110) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
A 3.5-point preseason spread carries more risk than laying a field goal, but Denver has the clearer quarterback rotation and the better offensive depth profile. With Stidham and Ehlinger both playing for something meaningful and Minnesota potentially relying heavily on Brosmer, the Broncos have the advantage over four quarters.
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