Bills overcome stout Vikings defense in low-scoring primetime win

Running back James Cook finished with 107 yards and one touchdown on a season-high 31 carries. Josh Allen finished with 234 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 21-of-34 passing. 

Buffalo last went 7-1 to start a season back in 1993, when they ended up losing their third-straight Super Bowl.

The Vikings defense got to Allen four times, now tying them with the Houston Texans for the most sacks (29) in the league. 

But it was the league's No. 1 offense that overcame the No. 2 defense. Buffalo finished the game with 334 total yards. That is now just the third time this season the Vikings defense allowed more than 300 total yards, also now in back-to-back games. 

QB Carson Wentz finished the game 8-for-25 passing for 81 yards, two interceptions, and an abysmal 8.9 passer rating. Backup Max Brosmer came in for the final drive of the game and went 6-for-7 for 58 yards (101.2 passer rating) and one sack.

Buffalo's defense held the Vikings to just nine first downs as they went 0-for-8 on third down.

After winning their first six games, the Vikings have now lost two straight as they gear up for an NFC North rival game against the Green Bay Packers (6-3) this upcoming Sunday. 

Game recap & highlights

The first half of this game was all defense, or no offense, depending on who you ask. Minnesota had more sacks (3) and penalties (3) combined than first downs (5). They didn't put up a first down until a 14-yard pass from Wentz to TJ Hockenson. Before that, they accumulated just 18 yards of total offense. 

It wasn't much better on the Bills' side to start. 

Allen would've finished the first half with two interceptions had one not been dropped, the other being a deep bomb to the endzone that Byron Murphy Jr. picked off and ran to Minnesota's 47-yard line. 

Eight of the game's first 15 drives resulted in a punt, three resulted in a field goal, two resulted in a turnover, and one in a touchdown,

That lone touchdown came on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Keleki Latu for the first of his career. At that point, it was the longest play from scrimmage of the entire game. 

Minnesota put up their best drive of the half with 44 seconds left to go. Wentz led them 46 yards to put them in field goal range as Will Reichard hit his second of the game, this time for 53 yards, to cut the lead to 10-6.

Things just got even worse for what was a putrid Vikings offense. 

On their first drive of the second half, Bills linebacker Dorian Williams picked off Wentz on his own 11-yard line. Buffalo drove down the field, but the Vikings held them to just another field goal to keep their lead within one score (13-6). 

It was Williams' second career interception, both of which have come within two of the last three games. 

And the damage wouldn't stop. On the ensuing drive, Wentz threw his second pick of the game, this time by linebacker Terrel Bernard, his first of the season and seventh of his career. 

Bernard now has at least one interception in four straight seasons. 

The last time Wentz had three turnovers in a game was January 1, 2023, against the Cleveland Browns as a member of the Washington Commanders. 

Bernard almost had his second interception on the next drive, but dropped the pass right in his chest. Had he caught it, Wentz would've started the half 0-for-3 passing with three interceptions. 

Buffalo eventually found paydirt for the second time of the night thanks to a short touchdown from Cook. 

Ever since being held out of the endzone in Week 1, Cook has now scored at least one rushing touchdown in every game since. His eight rushing touchdowns this season are tied for third-most with Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) and Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts). 

Bills kicker Tyler Bass finished the game 3-for-3 with field goals, setting a franchise record with 24 straight. 

He hit his first from 39, then 25, and a third from 52 towards the end of the game. 

Buffalo now heads to New York to face their AFC East rival Jets on November 15th.