|
 Orton ended his third game as the Bills' starting quarterback
with a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sammy Watkins with one
second remaining, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive that began with
3:07 left on the clock.
The winning drive included a 24-yard completion to tight end Scott
Chandler on fourth-and-20, an 18-yard pass to Watkins on
third-and-12, and a 28-yard connection with wide receiver Chris
Hogan on second-and-20 on the play before the touchdown.
"Kyle did a great job keeping us under control," Hogan said. "His
poise was pretty unbelievable in a high pressure situation like
that."
The Bills (4-3) won despite turning the ball over four times and
allowing six sacks, just the second time in history they have
accomplished that feat.
"It doesn't matter how you win it," Orton said. "You never apologize
for winning a game in this league. It's too hard."
Orton was 31-of-43 passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He
threw one interception and lost a fumble. Watkins caught nine passes
for 122 yards and both touchdowns.
Defensive end Everson Griffen had three sacks and a forced fumble,
rookie linebacker Anthony Barr recovered two fumbles and safety
Robert Blanton had an interception and a fumble recovery for
Minnesota (2-5).
"We played great up until the fourth quarter," Griffen said. "We
just have to finish."
Rookie running back Jerick McKinnon rushed for 103 yards against the
Bills' top-ranked rushing defense and rookie quarterback Teddy
Bridgewater was 15-of-26 passing for 157 yards, one touchdown and
two interceptions.
"By no means were we perfect today, but I do feel like this football
team improved today," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "We didn't
improve enough to win, but I felt like we improved. We just have to
keep going."
Blair Walsh kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Vikings to make it
16-10 with 11:45 left in the fourth quarter.
Walsh made a 55-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 13-10 lead just
before halftime. Blanton intercepted Orton at the Vikings 40 with
1:24 left in the half.
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Buffalo's top two running backs were carted off the field in the
first half. Fred Jackson injured his groin on the final play of the
first quarter and C.J. Spiller injured his left collarbone at the
end of a 53-yard run in the second quarter.
Spiller's long gain on his only carry of the game set up Dan
Carpenter's 31-yard field goal that tied the game 10-10 with 4:05
left in the first half.
Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson scored a 4-yard touchdown on a
screen pass from Bridgewater to give the Vikings a 10-7 lead at 6:17
of the second quarter. A 38-yard pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings
put the Vikings in scoring range.
Orton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Watkins one play after
cornerback Leodis McKelvin made his second interception of game to
put the Bills ahead 7-3 at 9:23 of the second quarter.
Walsh made a 40-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead late
in the first quarter. Minnesota started its drive at the Buffalo 27
after safety Harrison Smith forced a fumble by Bills wide receiver
Robert Woods that was recovered by linebacker Anthony Barr. It was
Buffalo's second lost fumble by a wide receiver in the first
quarter.
NOTES: Vikings LB Chad Greenway returned to the lineup after missing
three games with broken ribs. Greenway forced a fumble in the first
quarter. ... The Bills had three first-half turnovers for the second
straight game. ... CB Leodis McKelvin has four interceptions on the
season, a career high. ... The Bills inducted broadcaster Van Miller
onto the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium during a halftime
ceremony. Miller, the Bills' radio play-by-play announcer from
1960-70 and 1978-2003, was driven out to the midfield in a silver
1976 Cadillac El Dorado convertible.
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