The Bills walk into Monday night with a chance to make a statement, but the bigger question is whether they can do it while patching together an offensive line against one of the league’s most aggressive defenses.
Buffalo is 6-1 and chasing the AFC East title after losing it last year to the New England Patriots. Bigger picture, the Bills want to be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl and win it for the first time in franchise history.
Standing in the way is a 6-1 Vikings team that turns U.S. Bank Stadium into the center of the football world for this matchup.
This game has the feel of a collision between extremes. Buffalo brings the NFL’s best offense into a meeting with the league’s best defense, while the Bills’ defense gets tested by a Vikings offense that has been described as moribund. If either of those struggling units can rise up, it could swing the night.
The injury report adds another layer of uncertainty. Minnesota has already made a quarterback change, benching starting QB Kyler Murray because of a hamstring injury and turning to backup Carson Wentz, who head coach Kevin O’Connell has tapped to start.
Buffalo’s biggest concern is up front. Three starters on the offensive line show up on the injury report: left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard Alec Anderson and right tackle Spencer Brown.
Dawkins has missed practice all week and sat out the last three days, including Saturday, because of a rib injury. He’s listed as doubtful.
Anderson is dealing with an ankle issue. He missed Thursday and Friday, then returned in a limited capacity Saturday. The Bills list him as questionable.
Brown appears to be in better shape than the other two. He has a back injury, but he was limited Thursday and Friday before taking part fully Saturday.
That left side of the line could be a target for Minnesota, even if Dawkins and Anderson are able to go. The Vikings’ blitz-heavy approach is a problem for any offense, and it puts extra pressure on Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr.
Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel headline the pass rush, and if they get to Allen, they’ll need to finish the job. He’s tough to bring down once he’s in their grasp.
If Buffalo has to lean on its backups, Tylan Grable and Jude Bowry are the likely next men up. Both have played well enough to this point that the Bills may be able to survive if called upon.
There are more injury questions beyond the line. Nose tackle Greg Gaines is questionable with a calf injury, and wide receiver Josh Palmer is out with a hamstring issue.
In the passing game, Dalton Kincaid figures to be a major piece again. He leads the Bills with 27 catches for 401 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 148 of those yards have come after the catch. He also has eight plays of 20 yards or more, which makes him especially dangerous when the pocket gets messy.
Dawson Knox gives Buffalo another option. Kincaid is clearly the top target between the two tight ends, but Knox could see more work Monday night if Allen needs a quick outlet. Knox has 9 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.
The run game could also matter a lot. Minnesota was vulnerable on the ground in its Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions, when the Vikings’ offense couldn’t stay on the field and Detroit leaned on Jahmyr Gibbs for 153 yards and backup Sione Vaki for 65.
Buffalo will try to follow that blueprint with James Cook, who has rushed for 707 yards at 5.1 yards per carry. The concern for Joe Brady is Cook’s ball security. He has been charged with four fumbles this season, and opponents have recovered two of them.
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