THE BUFFALO BILLS turned the tables on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, producing a steely defensive performance on the road to grab a 23-6 victory in Minneapolis.
A low-scoring showdown between the Bills’ potent offence and the stingiest defence in the NFL ended with a hard-fought Buffalo victory at the US Bank Stadium.
Buffalo’s defence proved decisive in the win, restricting the Vikings to just two field goals on a miserable night for Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz.
Veteran back-up Wentz, starting in place of the injured Kyler Murray, struggled throughout, tossing two interceptions, coughing up a fumble and recording just eight completions.
The Bills’ offence dug deep to grind out victory, with running back James Cook rushing for 107 yards from 31 carries.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 234 yards with one touchdown from 21 completions.
“It’s exactly what it was – a great performance,” Allen told ESPN. “We knew that it was going to take all four quarters.
“That’s a great team that we just played. They’re extremely well coach and that defence is the best in the league for a reason.
“We kept grinding, kind of wore them down in the fourth quarter. Our defence played fantastic.”
Buffalo improved to 7-1 with the win to tighten their grip on the AFC East, ahead of the second-placed New England Patriots (5-4). The Vikings fell to 6-2 in the NFC North.
An attritional first half saw Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass open the scoring with a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter before Vikings counterpart Will Reichard levelled with a 43-yard effort in the second quarter.
Buffalo grabbed the first touchdown of the game in the final minute of the second quarter, with Allen leading an eight-play, 80-yard drive before finding Keleki Latu with a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-3.
Reichard narrowed the deficit to four points with a field goal in the final seconds of the first half, but Minnesota failed to add to their tally thereafter.
Instead, the Bills steadily built on their lead, with Bass scoring a 25-yard field goal to make it 13-6 midway through the third quarter.
Cook then struck the decisive blow in the fourth quarter, barrelling over from five yards to cap a 15-play, 84-yard drive that took 8 min 32 sec off the clock.
Bass followed that with a 52-yard field goal to put Buffalo 23-6 up and the Vikings’ fate was sealed after a final drive ended with a turnover on downs.
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