Minnesota’s league-best defense turned Buffalo’s high-powered attack into a pedestrian outfit for four quarters, but the Bills still found a way to survive the matchup of NFL heavyweights.
Josh Allen and Buffalo outlasted the Vikings 23-6 on “Monday Night Football,” improving to 7-1 and keeping the AFC’s best record despite a frustrating night in which Minnesota held the Bills to a season-low point total and limited them to 2 yards per play below their league-leading average. The Vikings fell to 6-2 with their second straight loss, undone largely by an offense that never found rhythm—a performance crystallized by Carson Wentz’s 8.9 passer rating.
With Minnesota trailing by three scores late in the fourth quarter, coach Kevin O’Connell pulled Wentz for backup Max Brosmer, a move that drew near-universal approval from a restless home crowd.
Buffalo came into the game ranked 30th in passing defense but feasted on an overmatched Wentz, intercepting him twice, sacking him once and holding him to fewer than one-third of his pass attempts completed. Vikings fans booed Wentz after nearly every throw as the game wore on, growing especially impatient in the fourth quarter as his accuracy worsened.
On offense, Bills coach Joe Brady leaned on quick outlet throws and a heavy dose of James Cook III. Cook carried 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown—only the second time in his career he has topped 30 carries. The other instance came in a game when Buffalo was missing multiple starting offensive linemen.
Allen finished with 234 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.