Vikings - Bills

Wow! That game was a bit different. 

The Minnesota Vikings stunned the Buffalo Bills in overtime. 33-30. This game was crazy. It’s one of those games that should be appreciated rather than critiqued. 

To be appreciated:

Josh Allen

Justin Jefferson

Jefferson’s ridiculous 32-yard catch 4th-and-18

Stefon Diggs

Dalvin Cook’s 81-yard touchdown burst. 

That burst ignited the Vikings come back from a 17-point late third quarter deficit. 

Patrick Peterson’s two interceptions. 

The Vikings defense kept the Bills out of the end zone in the second half and overtime. 

Peterson’s two interceptions were in the end zone. He spent more time with the ball in the end zone than any Bills players in the second half and overtime. 

The more I think about this game the crazier it feels. The end was nuts. The Vikings offense looked like it was going to pull out the game. Down 27-23 with 1:09 to play, they had a first-and-goal from the Bills three-yard line. On four attempts, they couldn’t score. It was over. Right? Wrong.

The Bills offense had the ball inside the one-yard line. They only had to fall forward and watch the final seconds tick away. A botched snap found it’s way into the hands of Eric Kendricks in the end zone. Touchdown Vikings! You can’t script that. 30-27 Vikings!

The Bills still had 41 seconds. And Josh Allen. Thanks mostly to a wrongly called 20-yard completed pass to Gabriel Davis. The play should’ve been reviewed but the quick moving Bills kept the officials from properly doing their job. Anyway, 41 seconds was more than enough time for Allen to drive his team to a game-tying field goal. We had overtime.

In overtime, the Vikings had a beautiful opportunity to win the game without giving Allen and the Bills offense an opportunity. Kirk Cousins guided the Vikings offense to a first-and-goal at the Bills two-yard line. Just like the end of regulation, they couldn’t score from so damn close to the Bills end zone. The Bills had an un-called 12 men on the field for the first down play. That wasn’t fair. Dalvin Cook was tackled for a loss. Still, the Vikings had seven goal-to-go plays in the final moments and couldn’t get in the end zone. It’s never easy with the Vikings. They had to settle for a field goal and gave the Bills an opportunity to win it.  

It looked like the Bills were cruising down the field for the win. Then Allen threw the ball into the hands of Patrick Peterson in the end zone. Game over. 

The Vikings had their eighth and biggest win of the season.

This wasn’t Kirk Cousins’ best game. Far from it. He threw a couple “what the hell!” interceptions. He also did some very good things. He had some beautiful throws and a huge run. It was a gritty game for Cousins. Maybe the Vikings needed a gritty Cousins to beat the Bills. 

Offensively, Justin Jefferson was the difference. 10 catches for 193 yards. His catch on that 4th-and-18 conversion was simply ridiculous. 

Defensively, the Vikings kept the score manageable. If they hadn’t limited the Bills offense to a couple field goals in the second half and overtime, this game is a Bills win. 

Unsung hero:

Duke Shelley was promoted from the practice squad when Cam Dantzler was placed on injured reserve. After Akayleb Evans was lost to a concussion and Andrew Booth Jr. was benched, Shelley was on the field for overtime. He broke up an Allen pass to Dawson Knox in the end zone. That breakup forced a next play. The next play was Peterson’s interception. 

The Vikings are on a seven-game win streak. It hasn’t been easy but it’s sure been fun. I’m still hoping for one of those easy, comfortable wins. My heart needs it. 

This win boosts the Vikings record to 8-1. They return to Minnesota for a three-game homestand. The Dallas Cowboys are up first.