NFL
Bills vs. Vikings Monday Night Football Preview and TV Guide
Josh Allen faces the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense as Carson Wentz starts for Minnesota. Compare both teams, see the injury report and find the TV listings.
Josh Allen and the Bills are scoring an NFL-best 33.3 points per game. On Monday night in Minneapolis, they face a Vikings defense allowing a league-low 13.3. Both teams are 6–1, and Carson Wentz will start for Minnesota in place of Kyler Murray, who strained his hamstring against Detroit.
Quarterback Matchup
Wentz threw three touchdown passes in relief against Green Bay in Week 1. In his only start since, he threw for 143 yards in a 9–3 win at Chicago. He took three sacks in each game and has thrown just 39 passes this season.
Brian Flores said he used to try to keep Allen in the pocket because he was less accurate from there early in his career. “That is certainly not the case anymore,” the Vikings defensive coordinator said. Allen has also run for nine touchdowns, so Minnesota has to account for him when he escapes pressure and on designed runs.
Backfields and Receivers
Minnesota leads the league in fewest passing yards allowed but gives up 116.7 rushing yards a game, 17th in the NFL. James Cook is averaging 5.1 yards a carry. If he gets yards on first and second down, Buffalo can stay out of the situations where Flores can send extra rushers.
Buffalo’s leading receiver is tight end Dalton Kincaid, with 401 yards. Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson leads his team with 31 catches. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones, who has 15 catches, give Wentz options underneath.
Head-to-Head Team Rankings
Each team’s NFL rank appears beneath its number. Ranks are through Week 8, and T indicates a tie. Sacks, interceptions and turnovers are season totals.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison face a Buffalo defense allowing 254.7 passing yards a game, 30th in the NFL. The question is how often Wentz will have time to look downfield. Minnesota has allowed 21 sacks in seven games.
Injuries and What to Watch
Buffalo. Receiver Joshua Palmer is out with a hamstring injury. Left tackle Dion Dawkins, guard Alec Anderson, receiver Tyrell Shavers, defensive lineman Greg Gaines and defensive back Jordan Hancock are questionable. Buffalo identified Tylan Grable as the likely replacement if Dawkins sits.
Minnesota. Murray, receiver Jauan Jennings and running back Demond Claiborne are out. Safeties Theo Jackson and Jay Ward are questionable.
Minnesota is tied for the NFL lead with a plus-seven turnover margin. Buffalo is minus-two. The Vikings average 20 points a game, so a takeaway that gives Wentz a short field could matter as much as a stop against Allen.
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