Tebow fumbled his first snap, and Erin Henderson found the ball and scooted into the end zone from 35 yards out for the Vikings. Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick from Florida, then threw a wobbler that Tyrell Johnson easily intercepted over the middle and returned for 41 yards to set up a Minnesota field goal.
Marquez Branson and Bruce Hall lost fumbles on Denver's next two drives, and Minnesota led 17-7 at halftime despite a meager 54 yards of offense and a weak, out-of-order performance by Jackson and the second-stringers.
