Vikings offense stalls badly in 23-6 loss to Bills
Carson Wentz completed only eight passes and threw two interceptions as Buffalo controlled the clock for over 42 minutes.
By Ethan Cooper ·
The Minnesota Vikings suffered a 23-6 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. The loss marked another instance where the team's strong defensive performance was negated by a struggling offense. The final score reflected a wide gap between the two sides, with Buffalo dominating possession time.
Carson Wentz had his worst statistical game of his NFL career during the contest. He completed eight of his 25 pass attempts for 81 yards. Wentz threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball once. He did not record a touchdown. At one point late in the game, he threw the ball directly to a defender who appeared to have open receivers. The interception was dropped, allowing the play to continue without a turnover.
The Vikings' fans grew frustrated with Wentz's performance, with some calling for backup quarterback Max Brosmer. Brosmer entered the game in the final minutes and led the most effective drive of the game. The team finished with only 178 total offensive yards and were booed by the crowd as they left the field.
The Bills took control of the game through methodical play. They held the ball for 42 minutes and 32 seconds. Josh Allen broke the 3-3 tie before halftime with a rushing touchdown. He rolled to the right, evaded defenders, and threw a pass to an open receiver for the score. That play extended the Bills' lead to 10-3.
The scoring continued in the second half. Tyler Bass kicked a field goal to increase the lead. James Cook then rushed for a touchdown to make it 20-6. Bass added another field goal late in the game to set the final margin. The Bills' defense, which had allowed an average of 352.1 yards per game before this matchup, held the Vikings to under 200 yards.
The game featured early struggles for the Vikings offense. They went three and out on their first possession and punted. After forcing an interception, they turned the ball over on the next drive due to a botched screen pass. The defensive unit remained effective, but the offensive output was insufficient to challenge the Bills.
The trade deadline occurs on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The performance on Monday puts the team's roster moves under scrutiny. The offense showed little consistency throughout the game. The defense limited the Bills to 23 points despite allowing a long touchdown drive and two field goals.
