Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Final score: Bills 23 Vikings 6
Records: Bills (7-1), Vikings (6-2)
Next opponent: Bills vs. Jets Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. EST
Buffalo won its fourth game in a row on Monday night, off the back of another dominant defensive performance against Minnesota. The Bills showed up the NFL's top-ranked defense with a 17-point victory, working through some slow offensive moments to come away with the win.
Game Recap
The Bills won the opening kickoff on Monday night, electing to receive as they have many times this season. WR Greg Dortch caught the kick at the six-yard line, finding a seam and galloping for 58 yards into field goal range at the Vikings 36-yard line.
A false start and a sack against Buffalo backed them up 11 yards from the starting point, forcing a punt instead of a field goal.
After forcing a three-and-out defensively, the Bills offense got a quick chance for redemption. Three third-down conversions later, an intentional grounding penalty backed the offense up from the 23-yard line to the 36.
On third and 23 from the 36, QB Josh Allen looked deep over the middle, launching a pass with pressure in his face. WR DJ Moore streaked down the field with open space before Minnesota CB Byron Murphy closed the gap on the moon ball and plucked it out of the air to save a touchdown.
The opening play of the Vikings second offensive drive looked similar to their struggles to open the night. QB Carson Wentz threw a screen pass to WR Justin Jefferson that had too much on it, ricocheting off his receiver's hands and onto the turf.
OLB Greg Rousseau pounced on the loose ball despite the officials ruling it dead, but head coach Joe Brady believed his player had just recovered a fumble. The first-year head coach threw his challenge flag, getting the call overturned and setting up his offense at the Minnesota 44-yard line.
Buffalo made its way down to the 21-yard line before the drive fizzled out. K Tyler Bass came on for a 39-yard field goal, converting and scoring the first points of the night for either squad with 1:57 to go in the first quarter.
The first quarter was all Bills, despite only holding a 3-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. The team ran 24 offensive plays and held the ball for 12:27, while the Vikings only mustered seven plays, which took up just 2:33.
After the first points were scored, both sides exchanged a pair of three-and-outs, with just two combined first downs over the next seven possessions. The defenses dominated for both sides, including a ferocious sack by Rousseau.
A solid punt return for Minnesota helped set up its first points of the contest, with K Will Reichard knocking a 43-yard FG through the uprights to tie things up at 3-3 with 4:02 remaining in the half.
Buffalo's offense didn't want to keep the game tied for long. Allen found success in the quick passing game on the following drive, getting the ball to his playmakers and watching as they picked up huge chunks of yards after the catch.
With just 44 seconds left before the break, Allen rolled to his right with great protection up front. The scramble drill allowed TE Keleki Latu to find open space down the field, catching the 25-yard strike from Allen, standing alone in the end zone for his first career touchdown.
Allen finished his night 21-of-31 passing for 234 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He added six carries for 15 yards on the ground as well.
Jefferson picked up 39 yards on the two-minute drill to end the first half for the Vikings, helping get his team into field goal range. Reichard drilled a 53-yarder before time expired, shrinking the deficit to 10-6 at the break.
Wentz looked for TE TJ Hockenson up the seam to open the second half, testing a matchup with ILB Dorian Williams. The 25-year-old linebacker won the battle in the air, high-pointing the pass and coming down with his second interception in the last three games.
Allen needed a big conversion on a third-and-eight in the ensuing possession. RB Ty Johnson flew down the left sideline on a go route, with Allen finding him in stride for a 36-yard gain.
The drive stalled just six yards from the end zone, forcing a 25-yard field goal from Bass.
Fresh off the Williams interception, Wentz again meticulously looked over the middle of the field for an open receiver. ILB Terrel Bernard lurked underneath Jefferson, jumping Wentz's pass for a pick of his own.
Buffalo's defense played its best game of the season after another great showing last week. Minnesota couldn't get anything going all night long, finishing the game 0-for-7 on third down.
The Bills forced three turnovers, while controlling the ball for 42:32 offensively, compared to 17:28 time of possession for the Vikings. Wentz finished the game just 8-of-25 passing with 81 yards and two interceptions.
The Bills offense looked to right the ship after struggling to put up points to begin the second half. Right as the fourth quarter got underway, Allen led a season-long 15-play drive down the field that took 8:32 off the clock, also a season high.
Nine of the 15 plays on the drive were runs to James Cook III, with the final one coming from five yards out. Buffalo's offensive line created a big hole up the middle, with Cook cashing in a five-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 20-6, putting the game away.
Cook was a true workhorse on Monday night on the ground, carrying the ball 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. His 31 carries were one short of a career high, with his previous mark being 32 against the Steelers in Week 13 of the 2025 season.
In the win, Allen and Cook became the first QB-RB duo in NFL history to reach 5,000 as teammates in the same season. The pair also became the fourth and fifth players in Bills history to reach 5,000 career rushing yards.
Bass added a 52-yard field goal with just under five minutes to play, capping the game with the score 23-6.
Buffalo hits the road again after the win for its second AFC East matchup of the season, taking on the New York Jets. Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is set for Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. EST.
