Another comeback win for Broncos' Tebow

MINNEAPOLIS -- Tim Tebow and the Broncos came through again with a strong, determined finish after enduring another slow start.

This time, Tebow was in a groove the entire second half -- not just in the waning minutes -- and his teammates on defense were being gobbled up. But there they were in the end, emulating Tebow's late-game touch.

Tebow threw for a season-best 202 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns Sunday to help the unflappable Broncos win their fifth consecutive game, 35-32 over the Vikings, on Matt Prater's 23-yard field goal as time expired.

"I know that I had a lot of help. Offensive line did a great job, and receivers stepped up and made me look a lot better than I really am," said Tebow, who completed 10 of 15 passes, his best percentage as an NFL starter, and posted a career-high passer rating of 149.3.

Prater kicked two field goals in the final 1:33 for the Broncos (7-5), who forged a first-place tie in the AFC West with a loss by the Raiders. Christian Ponder set Minnesota's single-game rookie record with 381 yards passing, including a pair of long touchdowns to Percy Harvin, but his sideline throw with 1:33 remaining was intercepted by Andre Goodman and returned to the Vikings' 15.

Lance Ball's first-down run made it first-and-goal at the 4 with 1:12 left, but the Vikings decided against letting Denver score right away and took their chances with a shank or a block instead. But the Broncos drained the clock for Prater's winner and raised their record to 6-1 with Tebow as the starter.

"Hard to argue,'' Ponder said. "That guy wins games."

Harvin had a career-high 156 receiving yards for the Vikings (2-10), who lost their fourth in a row. Jared Allen had a sack, a forced fumble and a safety, and Minnesota held huge edges in yards (489-336), first downs (27-13) and time of possession (37:51-22:09).

Harvin, like Tebow a former Florida star, said he was worried once Tebow got the ball late in the game.

"I was sure enough hoping we were going to get him, but I've been on his teams," Harvin said. "He's a winner. He's a leader. All of the things you hear about, you may think it's too much, but that's what he is."