Tebow wins battle of the backups

MINNEAPOLIS • Denver rookie Tim Tebow outplayed Minnesota’s Tarvaris Jackson in the backup quarterback comparison, but the Vikings forced four first-half turnovers and beat the Broncos 31-24 on Thursday night in the preseason finale for both teams.
Tebow fumbled his first snap, Erin Henderson found the ball and scooted into the end zone from 35 yards out for the Vikings. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick from Florida then threw a wobbler over the middle that Tyrell Johnson easily intercepted and returned for 41 yards to set up a 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.
Tebow, though, found a rhythm in the second quarter and — despite the turnovers and some carelessness with the ball as he scrambled around in the backfield — finished 12-for-16 for 167 yards and one touchdown. His favorite target was Matthew Willis, who caught five passes for 122 yards and a score.
Minnesota native Eric Decker also had 10 catches for 114 yards for Denver.
Tebow had 21 yards rushing on four attempts, giving the Broncos plenty to consider in their decision about whether to use him or Brady Quinn as the primary backup to Kyle Orton. Orton played two series and led Denver to a touchdown run by LenDale White, who later left the game because of an ankle injury.
The drive included soft coverage by Lito Sheppard on a first-down catch by Brandon Lloyd and a pass interference penalty on Asher Allen.
All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady saw his first action for the Broncos, a major step in his recovery from a knee injury he suffered in April, but he looked slow and was beaten badly a few times by Brian Robison on the pass rush. Starting right tackle Ryan Harris hurt his ankle and didn’t return.
Correll Buckhalter also made his preseason debut for Denver in the backfield, catching a pair of passes for 26 yards to give the Broncos another sign of progressive health following a training camp that seemed to revolve around the training room.
The Vikings, who have just one week to get ready for their Sept. 9 season opener at defending champion New Orleans, held 20 of their 22 starters out. Brett Favre watched in one of his favorite outfits — a hat, T-shirt, shorts and sneakers — and saw Jackson struggle again.
Jackson was 2-for-8 for 2 yards, against a mix of first and second team defense.