It’s almost football time.
The 7-1 Vikings and 6-2 Bills are ready for action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. This is a great matchup between two of the six NFL teams with two or fewer losses this season. Both the Vikings and Bills come into this game looking to prove themselves against another top-tier team in the league.
It looks like Bills quarterback Josh Allen will start, despite a week-long mystery after he injured his elbow last Sunday. Allen and Case Keenum are the only active QBs for Buffalo. Allen ran onto the field with the offense during the second half of pregame warmups and took snaps from starting center Mitch Morse, which seems to indicate that he will start.
If that’s the case, the Vikings’ defense will face quite a challenge. Allen is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL, a double threat with exceptional size, athleticism and arm talent. In former Viking Stefon Diggs, he has an elite #1 target whom he seeks out early and often.
When the Vikings have the ball, things won’t be much easier. The Bills have an excellent defense, although they will be without starters Jordan Poyer, Greg Rousseau, Tre’Davious White and Kaiir Elam. The Bills have also been susceptible to the streak in their last two games.
Follow below for in-game updates and follow me on Twitter for additional updates, commentary and analysis from inside the stadium.
live updates
fourth trimester
2:00 — Justin Jefferson just made one of the most amazing catches I’ve ever seen on fourth down. The Vikings are alive.
Banknotes 27, Vikings 23
4:34 — The Vikings cut it to a touchdown run by CJ Ham, but Greg Joseph misses the extra point. That could be important. The Vikings also only have one timeout left.
10:27 — Once again, the Vikings have life. Patrick Peterson just intercepted Josh Allen in the end zone and ran him to the 39-yard line. Minnesota’s offense can once again turn it into a scoring game with points.
Third quarter
0:00 — Stefon Diggs just did an incredible one-handed jump to move the chains on 3rd and 15th. That could be a huge play.
Banknotes 27, Vikings 17
1:34 – That helps. Dalvin Cook just got a trade on the first play from the Vikings and rushed 81 yards home. A little life for Minnesota.
Banknotes 27, Vikings 10
1:51 — The Bills increase their lead with a field goal. He’s going to have a miraculous comeback now.
10:44 — The Vikings pull off a big save thanks to a sack of Za’Darius Smith, who is up 9.5 this season.
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12:22 – Well then. Kirk Cousins panicked and threw an interception directly at Dane Jackson. That is a deadly mistake.
Second bedroom
Banknotes 24, Vikings 10
0:28 — Josh Allen will always make you pay for missed opportunities. He makes it look so easy. The Bills rushed for 71 yards in five plays and scored on Allen’s touchdown pass to Gabe Davis.
1:53 — The Vikings faced 3rd and 1 and threw it twice in a row. Incomplete and incomplete. Bills take over. That is a huge missed opportunity.
3:28 — Great play. Akayleb Evans puts his helmet on the ball and forces a fumble from Devin Singletary, who was left standing after review. Cam Bynum picked it up and rushed 40 yards to put the Vikings in great position.
Banknotes 17, Vikings 10
7:12 — The Vikings have a decent response, pushing down and kicking a short field goal. Cousins converted two third downs in the series but was unable to connect with TJ Hockenson in the back of the end zone.
Banknotes 17, Vikings 7
12:53 — The Vikings almost had an interception on a fumble, but they can’t corner it. Still, that was a much-needed stop in the red zone to keep Buffalo at 3.
First quarter
0:00 — This has gone south for the Vikings very quickly. Kirk Cousins just threw an interception down the middle of the field on a high throw intended for KJ Osborn. The Bills are already back in the red zone.
Banknotes 14, Vikings 7
1:04 — The Bills seem to be good at football. They just marched 70 yards down the field in 10 plays and scored on another Singletary rushing touchdown. The Vikings’ defense has no answers for Josh Allen and company at this time.
6:13 — The Vikings’ second series didn’t go as well as the first. Kirk Cousins tripped Ed Ingram on the first play, and the third down ended with Dalvin Cook a yard from the line to gain.
Vikings 7, Bills 7
8:10 — The Bills respond immediately. They got a big kickoff return, a horse collar penalty and a big run from Devin Singletary to get closer to the end zone. So Singletary scored it for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
Vikings 7, Banknotes 0
10:13 — The Vikings attack first, as they always do. After stopping the Bills’ first possession, the Vikings rallied and scored. Justin Jefferson did most of the work, catching a 46-yard pass on third down and a 22-yard touchdown. He is extremely good.