Buffalo beats Minnesota 23-6 as Wentz struggles; Bills move to 7-1
The Buffalo Bills beat hosts Minnesota 23-6 on Monday night in an NFL game, improving to 7-1. Carson Wentz, starting for the injured Kyler Murray, committed three turnovers and did not finish the game.
The victory matched Buffalo’s best eight-game start since 1993. That 1993 season ended with their last of four straight Super Bowl losses. Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams recorded interceptions during the game.
Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass with 44 seconds left before half-time. Allen found tight end Keleki Latu open in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown as he rolled right and was hit hard by Andrew Van Ginkel. The score gave the Bills just enough first-half cushion.
James Cook rushed 31 times for 107 yards and scored a late touchdown. Tyler Bass converted four field goals to stretch his franchise-record streak to 25 straight. The Bills’ ground game provided the bulk of Buffalo’s scoring output.
The matchup pitted Buffalo’s highest-scoring offense in the league against the NFL’s leading scoring defense. Minnesota had four straight possessions to begin the first half that did not cross into Buffalo territory beyond their 40-yard line, with the furthest advance ending at the Bills’ 48. The Vikings sent heavy pressure at Allen, recording four sacks and forcing an interception on a heave into the end zone that Byron Murphy ran down and returned 55 yards.
With Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Carson Wentz started at quarterback for the Vikings and didn’t finish. Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards and committed three turnovers, including a backwards pass in the first quarter that was thrown too high for even Justin Jefferson to catch and resulted in a lost fumble near midfield. He was checked in the medical tent for an apparent lower leg injury and was replaced by Max Brosmer midway through the fourth quarter after completing 1 of 8 passes in the second half.
With 322 regular-season touchdowns – 232 passing, 88 rushing and two receiving – Allen tied Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history over a player’s first 10 years. Allen is halfway through his ninth season.
The Bills improved to 7-1 after eight games, while the Vikings dropped to 6-2.