MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Randy Moss provided a Magic Johnson-type highlight reel in what is shaping up as a magical season for the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
Moss caught 10 passes for 151 yards, including a 44-yard reception he turned into a slick over-the-shoulder lateral to running back Moe Williams for a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the first half, as the Vikings posted a 28-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in a marquee interconference matchup.
The win was the ninth straight for Minnesota (6-0), dating to last season. The Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs (6-0), who play on Monday night, are the NFL's lone remaining unbeaten teams.
After missing two games with three broken bones in his lower back, Daunte Culpepper returned for Minnesota and completed 19-of-26 passes for 277 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to Kelly Campbell in the first quarter.
Unfortunately for the Broncos (5-2), they did not have their starting quarterback Jake Plummer, who will be sidelined for the next four weeks with a broken left foot.
Steve Beuerlein started his second straight game for Denver and his lack of mobility in the pocket was exposed by the Vikings, who sacked the 38-year-old quarterback five times. Beuerlein completed just 9-of-19 passes for 119 yards and was also intercepted three times before leaving late in the third quarter with a broken right pinkie.
"With Jake being out, we knew he (Beuerlein) would be sitting there," said Vikings defensive end Lance Johnstone, who had 1 1/2 sacks and returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown. "We wanted to get a lot of heat on him and we were able to do that pretty well in the first half."
Danny Kanell replaced Beuerlein and rallied the Broncos, completing 12-of-18 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Kanell threw a one-yard touchdown pass to running back Mike Anderson with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter to pull the Broncos within 28-20.
In the final minute, Kanell drove Denver to the Minnesota 30, but he had a fourth down pass batted down at the line of scrimmage by Johnstone.
But this game will be remembered for Moss' exquisite play which closed the first half. With the game tied at 7-7 and the Vikings at their own 41, Culpepper lofted a deep pass to Moss, who caught the ball at the Denver 10 and was pushed back by safety Nick Ferguson to the 15 before he flipped the ball over his shoulder. Williams caught the lateral and streaked into the end zone to give the Vikings a 14-7 lead.
"In practice, we work on it every week," Moss said of his dazzling assist. "I don't know if coach (Mike) Tice likes it because every time we do it (in practice) Denard Walker picks it off. I didn't really see Moe coming, I saw a jersey that happened to be the color I had on. I didn't really know who I was pitching it to, I just saw a Vikings jersey and just threw it behind my back."
That jersey happened to be Williams, who was racing downfield with the hopes of springing a block for Moss.
"Moss and I made eye contact," Williams said. "I was yelling as I went down, he knew I was there, he threw the ball and I went in. We do practice, not that particular play, but things like that, and that's why we do it."
"If Moe Williams hadn't been hustling, if Randy didn't have the awareness that he has, that play wouldn't happen," said Culpepper.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan challenged the call, but the flip was upheld as a backward lateral.
"We gave up some big plays and that was the difference," said Broncos cornerback Lenny Walls. "Giving up the deep play before the half, plays like that hurt."
Minnesota then opened the second half with a 10-play, 71-yard drive which resulted in a five-yard touchdown run by rookie Onterrio Smith with 9:24 left in the third quarter.
On Denver's ensuing possession, Johnstone intercepted a pass by Beuerlein and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, increasing Minnesota's lead to 28-7 with 7:57 remaining in the quarter.
"We've had a lot of close ones, so when I got there, and saw a lot of green, I know I was going to make it," Johnstone said. "All I had to do was beat Beuerlein and an offensive lineman. If I couldn't beat them, I probably shouldn't be out there."
It was the third interception of the game and 16th of the season for the Vikings, matching their total from 2002.
Safety Brian Russell picked off a pass for the sixth straight game, tying Paul Krause's club record streak set in 1968.
"I have to give a lot of credit to the defensive line," Russell said. "They controlled the front, stopped the inside run. That makes things a lot easier on the back end."
Jason Elam kicked a pair of 46-yard field goals - the second coming 43 seconds into the fourth quarter after Kanell replaced Beuerlein.
Kanell's touchdown pass to Anderson came after former Bronco Denard Walker was called for pass interference in the end zone.
With Aaron Ellings bothered by back spasms, the Vikings went for a first down on a 4th-and-3 play at the Denver 32, but Campbell dropped a pass down the right sideline with 3:24 left.
But the Vikings thwarted Denver's comeback in the final minute.
Afterwards, Shanahan announced Beuerlein will be sidelined for at least four weeks and Kanell will start next week when the Broncos visit Baltimore.
"He has to carry the load," Shanahan said. "We have a lot of confidence in him. I felt he did a great job in our camp."
Denver's Clinton Portis rushed for 117 yards on 25 carries, including a four-yard touchdown with 1:51 left in the half, and caught three passes for 43 yards.
"We never really got into rhythm with the turnovers," said Portis, who had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season. "Every time we drove, we turned the ball over. We have to clean that up."
