Josh Allen and the Bills move to
7-1 with a 23-6 win over the sputtering Vikings
[November 10, 2026]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Buffalo Bills knew they weren't bound for
many style points or likely to reach their league-leading scoring
average against Minnesota's relentlessly revved-up defense.
Josh Allen, James Cook and the rest of the group were more than
content to grind this one out.
Allen threw a touchdown pass with 44 seconds left before halftime
and Cook had 31 carries for 107 yards and a late score for the Bills
in a 23-6 victory on Monday night, sending Vikings deeper into an
unmitigated offensive slump.
“We stuck with it, stuck with it, and eventually we broke it,” Cook
said. “We knew what type of game it was going to be, a bloody game."
With Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Carson Wentz
started at quarterback for the Vikings (6-2) and didn’t finish what
became one of the worst performances of his 11-year career.
Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams had interceptions and
Tyler Bass made three field goals to stretch his franchise-record
streak to 24 straight as the Bills (7-1) matched their best
eight-game start since 1993. That season ended with the last of
their four straight Super Bowl losses.
"It’s just a mindset of going out there and not being result-driven,
going out there and being process-driven and understanding what
they’re trying to do," said Allen, who went 21 for 31 for 234 yards
and one interception. “At the end of the day, having fun playing the
game of football.”
The Vikings as usual sent blitzers at Allen from every angle
possible, racking up four sacks. Allen heaved a third-and-23 throw
into the end zone to beat the rush in the first quarter that Byron
Murphy ran down and returned 55 yards. But the Bills eked out just
enough in the first half to give themselves a lead, when Allen found
tight end Keleki Latu open in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard
touchdown as he rolled right and was hit hard by Andrew Van Ginkel.
“There was no panic early in the game when things weren’t going our
way,” coach Joe Brady said, marveling at his team's 42:32 possession
time. “Eventually you end up making it a game that they weren’t
willing to play.”
The Vikings are running out of answers on offense
Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards and three turnovers, including a
backward pass in the first quarter that was thrown too high for even
Justin Jefferson to catch it — resulting in a lost fumble near
midfield.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) escapes pressures by
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, right, during the
second half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 9,
2026. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
Wentz, who was checked out in the medical tent at
one point for an apparent lower leg injury, was replaced by Max
Brosmer midway through the fourth quarter. Wentz completed 1 of 8
passes in the second half, and the Vikings finished with just 178
total yards.
The battle between the best offense and best defense in the NFL
might well have gone to Minnesota had the offense been able to
muster a decent drive or two.
But the Vikings had four straight possessions in the first half
start beyond their 40-yard line, and the furthest they made it was
the Bills 48.
“Put tonight 100% on me. It’s not about any one particular player,"
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. "But we’ve got to improve
offensively, at a rapid pace.”
O'Connell blamed himself for not calling more running plays: Jordan
Mason and Aaron Jones combined for just 11 carries when it was clear
from the start how off-the-mark Wentz was. Jefferson finished with
three catches for 58 yards on 11 targets.
“I've always said it doesn’t really matter who’s throwing the ball,
as long as it gets there,” Jefferson said. "That’s all that matters.
It’s up to us to make those plays. It’s tough, definitely tough.”
Allen matches Manning's 10-year touchdown mark
With 322 regular-season touchdowns — 232 passing, 88 rushing and two
receiving — Allen tied Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history
over a player's first 10 years. Allen is halfway through his ninth
season.
Injury report
Bills: Starting LT Dion Dawkins (ribs) and starting LG Alec Anderson
(ankle) were inactive.
Vikings: WR Jauan Jennings (calf) and FS Theo Jackson (quadriceps)
were inactive.
Up next
Bills: At the New York Jets on Sunday.
Vikings: At Green Bay on Sunday.
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