ReFocused, NFL Preseason Week 1: Minnesota Vikings , Denver Broncos

PFF’s ReFocused series this season features immediate takeaways and a key to the victory from two Senior Analysts who graded the performance, watching every player, on every play of the game.
Minnesota Vikings 42, Denver Broncos 28 Analyst Takeaways Kirk Cousins looked sharp in his Vikings debut, connecting on all four of his attempts, including a big throw to beat tight coverage on Diggs down the right sideline to set up the first score of the game.
He also intercepted a Chad Kelly pass in the fourth quarter, and ended the game by breaking up a pass in the end zone.
The blemish on Tocho’s night came in the fourth quarter when Phillip Lindsay was able to put the burners on to run away from Tocho in coverage en route to a Broncos touchdown.
It was a quiet debut for new Broncos quarterback, Case Keenum.
The former Viking led the Broncos on two drives, totaling seven plays and failed to lead Denver to a first down before they called it a night for him.
He made up for it with an electric 23-yard touchdown run in the second quarter though, injecting some much-needed life into a Broncos offense that had not picked up a first down up to that point.
Darian Stewart was the standout early on for the Broncos defense, making multiple tackles near the line of scrimmage in the run game and breaking up a short throw all on the first two Vikings possessions.
Denver’s defensive line largely had their way up front, particularly once Minnesota’s starters called it a night.
Both Keenum and Lynch struggled to get anything going for the Broncos on Saturday night, trapping the Broncos in a hole that was ultimately too much to overcome.