Josh Allen threw a 25-yard touchdown strike with 44 seconds left before halftime and James Cook carried the ball 31 times for 107 yards as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 on 9 November 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The game brought together two teams sharing a 6-1 record entering Week 9, matching the league’s highest-scoring offense against Minnesota’s defense, according to ESPN. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores deployed an aggressive blitz package that pressured Allen with reckless abandon.
Justin Jefferson encouraging Carson Wentz on the sidelines đ pic.twitter.com/W2Ry4xBbhh
The Bills generated a superior pressure rate of 42.3% compared to Minnesota’s 37.1% on Josh Allen, despite sending extra rushers on just 11.5% of Carson Wentzâ dropbacks against their own philosophy.
Scrambling to his right while absorbing a heavy blow from Andrew Van Ginkel, Allen kept the play alive for 6.07 seconds according to Next Gen Stats. He launched a 25-yard scoring pass to an uncovered Keleki Latu for the tight end’s initial look and touchdown of his professional career.
First NFL TD for Keleki Latu! BUFvsMIN on ESPNâ°Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/U3vDqUzhVC
The Bills secured victory by grinding down the exhausted Minnesota unit throughout a punishing evening, dominating possession 42:32 to 17:28.
Allen finished 21 of 31 passing for 234 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He matched Peyton Manning for the most regular-season touchdowns in NFL history over a player’s first 10 seasons with 322 total touchdowns â 232 passing, 88 rushing and two receiving â as Allen sits halfway through his ninth season.
Terrel Bernard's turn to get an INT! BUFvsMIN on ESPNâ°Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uFYeV8aTc9
Boos echoed loud and long in Minnesota in the second half. The Vikings offense converted zero of eight third-down attempts, went 0-for-2 on fourth down, and generated just 178 total yards on 46 plays.
During a disastrous third period, Wentz completed none of his four attempts and threw a pair of interceptions. He nearly added a third when Terrel Bernard failed to secure a pass that struck him squarely in the chest.
Wentz was checked out in the medical tent at one point for an apparent lower leg injury during one of the worst veteran quarterback displays of the season.
Stepping in at quarterback later on, Max Brosmer completed 6 of 7 passes for 58 yards prior to Minnesota failing to convert on fourth down at the Buffalo 13 during their final possession.
Buffalo gained 399 yards on 79 plays, wearing down the Vikingsâ defense by possessing the ball for 42:32 compared to Minnesota’s 17:28, marking the highest time of possession for the Bills since 1989 and the lowest for the Vikings since 1993, ESPN reported.
James Cook ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, while eight players caught at least one pass, including tight end Keleki Latu.
Tyler Bass was perfect again, making kicks from 39, 25, and 52 yards and running his franchise-record streak to 24 in a row.
The Vikings played without wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) and free safety Theo Jackson (quadriceps), who were inactive for the contest.
The Vikings dropped their second consecutive game to fall to 6-2 ahead of a matchup on 16 November against the Green Bay Packers.
Earlier coverage: Buffalo Bills Claim Top NFL Spot While San Francisco Leads NFC
