Bills Beat the Vikings 23-6 to Match Their Best Start Since 1993

The Buffalo Bills did not need style points in Minneapolis on Monday night. They needed patience, and they had plenty of it. Buffalo wore down the Minnesota Vikings for a 23-6 win at U.S. Bank Stadium, moving to 7-1 and keeping the best record in the AFC.

According to the Associated Press, the result matched the Bills' best eight game start since 1993. The Vikings, who began the season 6-0, fell to 6-2 with a second straight loss and a deepening offensive slump.

A Grind From the Opening Drive

The game was billed as a meeting of two strong units, and ESPN described it as a clash between the league's stingiest defense and its highest flying offense. For four quarters, the Minnesota defense held Buffalo well below its usual output, and the Bills finished with a season low in points.

Buffalo answered by controlling the ball. Coach Joe Brady leaned on quick, short throws and on running back James Cook III, who carried 31 times for 107 yards and a late touchdown. ESPN noted that it was only the second time in his career that Cook had topped 30 carries.

NBC Sports reported that the Bills gained 399 yards on 79 plays and held the ball for 42 minutes and 32 seconds, a figure that left the Vikings defense on the field for long stretches.

Allen Keeps It Steady

Josh Allen completed 21 of 31 passes for 234 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. His scoring pass came with 44 seconds left before halftime and sent Buffalo into the break with a 10-6 lead. Tight end Keleki Latu caught a 25 yard touchdown, the first of his career, and eight different players caught at least one pass.

Kicker Tyler Bass added three field goals. According to the AP, that stretched his franchise record streak to 24 successful kicks in a row.

"We stuck with it, stuck with it, and eventually we broke it," Cook said after the game, according to the AP. "We knew what type of game it was going to be."

Minnesota's Offense Stalls

With Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Carson Wentz started at quarterback for Minnesota. It was a difficult night. ESPN reported that Wentz completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards, with two interceptions and a passer rating of 8.9.

Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams made the interceptions for Buffalo, a defense that ESPN noted entered the week ranked 30th against the pass. With the Vikings down three scores late in the fourth quarter, coach Kevin O'Connell replaced Wentz with backup Max Brosmer.

The numbers told the story. NBC Sports reported that Minnesota managed 178 yards on 46 plays, with nine first downs, three turnovers and five punts. The Vikings went 0 for 8 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down, and they have not scored more than 16 points in any of their last three games.

What Comes Next

For Buffalo, the win was a reminder that a team built around a high scoring offense can still win a slow, physical game. Grinding out a road victory against one of the league's best defenses is the kind of result that tends to matter in December and January.

For Minnesota, the questions are more pressing. ESPN noted that the trade deadline arrives on Tuesday afternoon, and the quarterback position is now the main talking point around the team. The Vikings face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on a short week, then travel to Mexico City to play the San Francisco 49ers.

Why It Matters

Good teams find more than one way to win. Buffalo has spent much of the season scoring freely, but on Monday night it showed it can also win by running the ball, protecting the lead and letting its defense take advantage of mistakes.

The Bills will carry that 7-1 record into the second half of the season. The Vikings, after a perfect start, now have to rediscover their offense quickly. Follow Legend Magazine for more coverage of the athletes and teams shaping the season.