DENVER (AP) -- A year ago at this time, they both were 7-0 and headed toward a possible Super Bowl showdown as clearly the best teams in their respective conferences.

The Minnesota Vikings didn't quite make it, stumbling in the NFC championship game to Atlanta, while the Denver Broncos went on to their second straight Super Bowl title.

It will require a dramatic turnaround and some good fortune if either team hopes to make it that far this season. Minnesota is 3-4 and in last place in the NFC Central, while Denver is 2-5, in the cellar of the AFC West and already spewing doomsday rhetoric.

"Obviously with the way the Vikings played against San Francisco (last week), their backs are up against the wall, just like our backs are up against the wall," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

When the Vikings visit Mile High Stadium on Sunday, neither team has much margin for error.

Emphasizing that early-season results don't always determine finishes, Shanahan noted that San Diego started 0-4 in 1992 and still managed to make the playoffs, while Washington started 7-1 in 1996 and didn't qualify for the postseason. He also told his team that Jacksonville began the 1996 season at 4-7 before winning its last five games, making the playoffs and knocking off the favored Broncos en route to the AFC championship game.

"It really doesn't matter right now," he said. "I just know that we have to win some football games and play extremely well in all phases to give us a chance to get there. We have to take advantage of the opportunities like we passed up against New England. We can't let that happen again. If you do, you're digging yourself a bigger hole."

The Broncos -- their talent level depleted by the retirement of John Elway and major injuries to running back Terrell Davis, tight end Shannon Sharpe and linebacker John Mobley -- began the year 0-4 behind second-year quarterback Brian Griese.

Near panic, Shanahan announced he was switching to veteran Bubby Brister, who promptly strained an oblique muscle, leaving Griese as the starter. Somehow, even as Davis' replacement Derek Loville went down with a hamstring injury, the Broncos regrouped and posted two straight impressive wins over Oakland and Green Bay.

They squandered scoring chances and suffered defensive lapses last week, however, losing to New England 24-23.

Griese played well for the third straight game, completing 25-of-38 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Olandis Gary has started the last three games and rushed for 278 yards and a TD.

Denver's momentum may have been disrupted by the loss to New England, but the Vikings appear to be on a roll under quarterback Jeff George.

George replaced an ineffective Randall Cunningham at halftime two weeks ago and completed 10-of-12 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 25-23 loss to Detroit.

Last week, George started and completed 15-of-28 passes for 250 yards, three TDs and an interception in a 40-16 romp over San Francisco.

Leroy Hoard, replacing the injured Robert Smith, ran for 105 yards and a score as the Vikings looked more like the explosive team of 1998.

"I don't think you get back on track in one game," coach Dennis Green said. "I don't think it was just one guy. If you don't get turnovers and you don't run the ball, you're going to have difficulty winning football games.

"I think too much of the responsibility had fallen on Randall Cunningham. We lost two games in the last two seconds after we had driven for touchdowns, and that had nothing to do with Randall."

George has produced 63 points in six quarters, and the Viking defense hasn't given up a touchdown in nine quarters. Still, the Vikings rank 26th in the NFL in total defense, yielding 347 yards per game.

By contrast, Denver ranks ninth, giving up 284 per game.

Green blames the Vikings' slow start partly on turnovers. Last year, his team ranked second in the NFL in turnover ratio at plus-14. This year, they are minus-9 and have seen opponents return three interceptions and two fumbles into touchdowns.

MINNESOTA Season schedule and results

DENVER Season schedule and results

September 12 @Atlanta W 17-14 September 19 Oakland L 17-22 September 26 @Green Bay L 20-23 October 3 Tampa Bay W 21-14 October 10 Chicago L 22-24 October 17 @Detroit L 23-25 October 24 San Francisco W 40-16 October 31 @Denver 4:15pm ET November 8 Dallas 9:00pm ET November 14 @Chicago 1:00pm ET November 28 San Diego 1:00pm ET December 6 @Tampa Bay 9:00pm ET December 12 @Kansas City 8:20pm ET December 20 Green Bay 9:00pm ET December 26 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET January 2 Detroit 1:00pm ET

September 13 Miami L 21-38 September 19 @Kansas City L 10-26 September 26 @Tampa Bay L 10-13 October 3 NY Jets L 13-21 October 10 @Oakland W 16-13 October 17 Green Bay W 31-10 October 24 @New England L 23-24 October 31 Minnesota 4:15pm ET November 7 @San Diego 4:15pm ET November 14 @Seattle 8:20pm ET November 22 Oakland 9:00pm ET December 5 Kansas City 4:15pm ET December 13 @Jacksonville 9:00pm ET December 19 Seattle 4:15pm ET December 25 @Detroit 4:15pm ET January 2 San Diego 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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