Bills Beat Vikings 23-6 as James Cook Wears Down Minnesota After Wentz's Rough Night

The Buffalo Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium. Josh Allen hit Keleki Latu for a 25-yard touchdown just before halftime, James Cook III ran 31 times for 107 yards and a fourth-quarter score, and Tyler Bass made all three of his field goals as Buffalo pulled away in a defensive slog.

Buffalo moved to 7-1, won its fourth straight and improved to 4-0 on the road. Minnesota fell to 6-2, its second straight loss after a 6-0 start.

Takeaways, but no early touchdowns

The Vikings' defense set the tone immediately. Dallas Turner sacked Allen on Buffalo's opening series, and the Bills punted. Minnesota went three-and-out as well, and the first scoring chance went the other way: Allen threw deep over the middle for DJ Moore, and Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted it in the end zone and returned it 54 yards to the Minnesota 47.

The Vikings couldn't cash it in. On the next snap, a throw that was initially ruled incomplete was reversed after a Buffalo challenge to a backward pass and a fumble, with Greg Rousseau recovering at the Minnesota 44. Bass hit from 39 yards with 1:57 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.

Minnesota's best chance at a turnover of its own came in the second quarter, when Andrew Van Ginkel sacked Allen at the Buffalo 2 and appeared to recover a fumble at the 1. A replay review ruled Allen down by contact, wiping out the recovery, and the Bills punted from their own end. Will Reichard tied it at 3 with a 43-yard field goal at 4:02 of the second.

Latu's first NFL touchdown

Buffalo finally broke through on an 8-play, 80-yard drive. Allen found Latu down the right sideline for a 25-yard touchdown with 44 seconds left in the half, Bass's extra point making it 10-3. It was Latu's first NFL touchdown.

Carson Wentz, starting in place of Kyler Murray, answered quickly enough to keep Minnesota in it. Reichard drilled a 53-yarder as the half expired, and the Vikings went into the locker room down 10-6.

Cook and Bass finish it

The second half belonged to Buffalo's defense and a long, grinding running game. On Minnesota's first possession of the third quarter, Wentz threw deep for T.J. Hockenson and Dorian Williams intercepted it at the Buffalo 11. The Bills drove 83 yards in 14 plays but stalled at the 6, and Bass kicked a 25-yarder at 6:03 of the third for a 13-6 lead.

Wentz's second interception came two minutes later, Terrel Bernard jumping a throw intended for Justin Jefferson and returning it 5 yards to the Buffalo 39. The Bills could not immediately cash that one in — false starts wiped out a field-goal try and forced a punt — but they took over again early in the fourth and went 84 yards in 15 plays, chewing up 8:32. Cook finished it from 5 yards out with 6:17 left, and it was 20-6.

Minnesota turned it over on downs after Wentz threw three straight incompletions, and Bass added a 52-yarder with 4:40 remaining to make it 23-6. Kevin O'Connell then benched Wentz for Max Brosmer, a move ESPN's Nick Suss and Kevin Seifert wrote was met with approval from the home crowd. Brosmer moved the Vikings 52 yards to the Buffalo 15, but Javon Solomon sacked him on third-and-3 and a fourth-and-9 completion to Hockenson came up a yard short at the 13.

The numbers

Allen was 21 of 31 for 234 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he was sacked four times for 29 yards. He added 15 rushing yards on six carries. Cook ran 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown, and Buffalo finished with 44 carries for 134 yards. Khalil Shakir led the Bills with four catches for 58 yards. Latu had the one catch, the 25-yard score. Bass was 3 of 3 on field goals, from 39, 25 and 52 yards, and 2 of 2 on extra points.

Wentz was 8 of 25 for 81 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble. He was sacked once. Brosmer was 6 of 7 for 58 yards and was sacked once. Jefferson had three catches for 58 yards on 11 targets. Hockenson caught four passes for 33 yards. Jordan Mason ran six times for 35 yards, and Aaron Jones Sr. had five carries for 16. Reichard made both of his field goals, from 43 and 53 yards.

Buffalo outgained Minnesota 339-178, went 7 of 18 on third down to the Vikings' 0 of 8, and held the ball for 42:32 to Minnesota's 17:28. The Bills were 1 of 3 in the red zone; the Vikings were 0 of 1 and never scored a touchdown. Minnesota finished with three turnovers to Buffalo's one. The Vikings sacked Allen four times, from Turner, Van Ginkel, Ivan Pace Jr. and a split sack by Jalen Redmond and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Blake Cashman led Minnesota with 12 tackles.

Injuries

Murray was out with a hamstring injury, as expected. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy left and returned during the game and was listed as questionable with a calf injury. Buffalo was already without starting left tackle Dion Dawkins (ribs) and left guard Alec Anderson (ankle).

What's next

The Bills visit the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 15 (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The Vikings visit the Green Bay Packers at the same time (Fox).