Buffalo at the goal line before James Cook’s fourth-quarter touchdown, Nov. 9, 2026. Still from NFL video on X, resized.42 minutes, 32 seconds: how the Bills ground down the Vikings’ defense, step by step
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Nov. 3, 2026. Image: Minnesota Vikings video, resized.Best offense, best defense
Buffalo arrived at U.S. Bank Stadium averaging 33.3 points a game, the most in the league. Minnesota had allowed 13.3 a game, the fewest, and no opponent had scored more than 22.
The Vikings’ defense did its part again for long stretches. It sacked Josh Allen four times and intercepted him once. The Bills still scored 23, the most Minnesota has allowed this season.
Points allowed by the Vikings, game by game
The Vikings’ defense lines up for a Bills third-and-14 in the second quarter, Nov. 9, 2026. Still from NFL video on X, resized.Good field position, nothing to show
On a third-and-23 in the first quarter, Allen threw into the end zone and Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted it, returning it 54 yards. On the next snap, Wentz’s throw to Justin Jefferson was ruled a backward pass, and Buffalo recovered.
Minnesota started four straight first-half drives beyond its own 40-yard line and never got past the Buffalo 48 on any of them. The Bills, pinned at their own 1 and 13, punted three times in a row before a 25-yard touchdown pass to Keleki Latu with 44 seconds left in the half.
- Tyler Bass 39-yard field goal: Bills 3-0.
- Will Reichard 43-yard field goal after a Vikings drive from the Buffalo 34: 3-3.
- Allen 25-yard touchdown pass to Latu, finishing an 80-yard drive: 10-3.
- Reichard 53-yard field goal: 10-6 at halftime. Minnesota does not score again.
Buffalo begins its 14-play third-quarter drive at its own 11, Nov. 9, 2026. Still from NFL video on X, resized.The two long drives
In the second half, Buffalo put together drives of 14 plays and 83 yards, taking 7:08 for a field goal, and 15 plays and 84 yards, taking 8:32 for James Cook’s 5-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. Those two drives took 15:40, nearly as long as Minnesota had the ball all night.
Cook carried 31 times for 107 yards. Bass added a 52-yard field goal, his third of the night, for the 23-6 final, extending his franchise-record streak to 24 straight makes.
Time of possession
“We stuck with it, stuck with it, and eventually we broke it. We knew what type of game it was going to be, a bloody game.”— James Cook, Bills running back
Carson Wentz after the loss to Buffalo, Nov. 9, 2026. Image: Minnesota Vikings video, resized.Eight for 25
With Kyler Murray out with a hamstring injury, Wentz made the start. He completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards, threw interceptions to linebackers Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard on consecutive third-quarter series and lost the backward-pass fumble.
He was 1 of 8 after halftime, and Max Brosmer took over on the last Minnesota drive, going 6 of 7 for 58 yards. The Vikings finished 0 for 8 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down, with 178 total yards.
Total yards
“As the guy pulling the trigger tonight, I feel terrible. Feel a pit in my stomach that I let those guys down.”— Carson Wentz, Vikings quarterback
Kevin O’Connell speaks to reporters on Nov. 2, 2026. Image: Minnesota Vikings video, resized.Four games, 52 points
Minnesota opened 6-0 by winning low-scoring games. The offense has now scored 15, 16, 15 and 6 points in its last four games, 13.0 a game, and the Vikings have lost two straight.
Jefferson caught 3 of the 11 passes thrown his way for 58 yards. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones carried a combined 11 times, and Kevin O’Connell said afterward he should have run the ball more.
Vikings points, game by game
“Put tonight 100% on me. It’s not about any one particular player. But we’ve got to improve offensively, at a rapid pace.”— Kevin O’Connell, Vikings head coach
Josh Allen on Nov. 1, 2026. Image: Buffalo Bills video, resized.7-1, and the Jets next
The Bills are 7-1 and 4-0 on the road, matching their best start through eight games since 1993. Allen went 21 of 31 for 234 yards, and his 322 regular-season touchdowns, 232 passing, 88 rushing and two receiving, tie Peyton Manning for the most by any player in his first 10 seasons. Allen is halfway through his ninth.
Minnesota is 6-2. The trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, 11 p.m. Cairo time. On Sunday, the Bills play at the New York Jets and the Vikings play at Green Bay.
- Vikings 6-0, allowing 74 points in six games.
- Lost 19-15 at Detroit.
- Lost 23-6 to Buffalo with Wentz starting for the injured Murray.
- Trade deadline, 4 p.m. ET.
- Vikings at Packers; Bills at Jets.
Six points, 17:28 with the ball and no touchdowns. Minnesota’s defense held the league’s best offense to its lowest total of the season and still lost by 17, because the Bills kept the ball for almost three-quarters of the game.
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