Wentz's Four Turnovers Sink Vikings as Allen, Bills Prevail
The Buffalo Bills survived a messy road test, beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 on Monday night to remain atop the AFC standings. The win owed as much to a disastrous performance from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz as it did to Josh Allen's playmaking, in a game low on highlights but high on consequence for both franchises.
Wentz, starting in place of an injured Kyler Murray, finished 8-for-25 for 81 yards with two interceptions and was pulled in garbage time for third-string quarterback Max Brosmer amid boos from the home crowd. He was also charged with a fumble on a perimeter screen pass to Justin Jefferson that was overturned to a lateral on review, and threw one interception on an underthrown seam route picked off by linebacker Dorian Williams, and another thrown directly to linebacker Terrell Bernard. Minnesota's defense, coordinated by Brian Flores, kept the game within reach for long stretches but could not overcome the turnovers and empty possessions. womens bulgarian nvl superliga odds
Allen was far from spectacular by his own standards, throwing for 234 yards and one touchdown while being intercepted once on a third-and-23 deep ball. But he again proved his value outside structured plays, extending a drive to find reserve tight end Keleki Latu for the game's opening score and later directing a 15-play touchdown drive, with running back James Cook grinding out yardage at 3.5 yards per carry, to put the game away. Buffalo's pass rush pressured Minnesota's offense on 41.2% of dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats, continuing a stretch in which the Bills have allowed just 16 points across their last two games - against Baltimore's backup quarterbacks and now Wentz.
Buffalo heads into a lighter two-week stretch before a demanding five-game run against the Chiefs, Patriots, Packers, Bears and Broncos, a stretch that will test its hold on the AFC's top seed. Minnesota, meanwhile, faces an immediate gut-check: a divisional road game at Green Bay next week followed by a matchup against the 49ers in Mexico City, with the Vikings' playoff hopes and their quarterback situation both squarely in question.
