The Buffalo Bills come out of their bye and head into Sunday’s matchup with a few big questions hanging over the game. Kickoff at Highmark Stadium is set for 1 p.m., and with the Bills rested, the focus shifts to how they handle a Baltimore Ravens team that arrives in western New York needing a win after dropping back-to-back games.
One of the biggest things to watch is how Buffalo deals with a defense that comes after quarterbacks in waves. Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores has built a unit that doesn’t sit back and wait.
It attacks. The Vikings lead the NFL in fewest points allowed per game at 13.3, sack percentage at 10.96% and QB pressure rate at 45.8%, while also ranking second in yards allowed at 271.6.
Last week against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota blitzed on 90% of passing plays, the highest single-game blitz rate by any team since 2018. That kind of pressure changes everything for an offense.
On the other side, the Bills may be looking at a favorable setup for their defense. Minnesota’s offense has struggled all year, ranking fourth-worst in the league in yards per game at 279.4 and sixth-worst in points per game at 20.0. Buffalo won’t be facing the same kind of chaos it saw in last week’s game, but the numbers point to a unit that has had trouble moving the ball.
There’s also the quarterback situation to monitor. Starter Kyler Murray is dealing with a hamstring injury after a season that has not gone well, and if he can’t play, backup Carson Wentz would get the call.
If Minnesota keeps its plans quiet, that creates a real preparation challenge for Buffalo. The Bills have to get ready for one quarterback while leaving room for another.
DJ Moore is another name worth tracking after his return from a shoulder injury against the Ravens. He was seen limping at one point last week, but he stayed in the game and finished with four catches on seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.
His presence also seemed to open things up for others, with Dalton Kincaid posting four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown and Khalil Shakir adding five catches for 64 yards. If Moore is healthy again, his impact could ripple through the offense once more.
Buffalo’s secondary is dealing with some movement too. Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson has been released, and defensive back Jordan Hancock, who impressed during the summer, has been activated off injured reserve. Those changes add another layer to a game that already has plenty to sort out on both sides.
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Bills Add Familiar AFC East Help Ahead Of Tough Week 9
The Bills added some familiar AFC East experience to their secondary this week, signing cornerback Kader Kohou to the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Vikings. Kohou arrives with a background that should make the transition easier, having spent three seasons with Miami and also time with Kansas City before his recent release.
For Buffalo, the move is about adding another layer of depth at a position that can get stressed quickly over the course of a season. The Bills are trying to keep momentum rolling with a fourth straight win in sight, and bringing in a player who knows the division gives them a little more insurance as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
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The historical backdrop is part of what makes this one worth watching, because these elite-versus-elite showdowns have not come around often and they have not always gone the same way. The offense has had a slight edge over time, but the results have been close enough to suggest there is no easy script here, which only adds to the intrigue for a Bills team trying to prove its ceiling against Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Keon Coleman Decision That Could Split Fans
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That is where the conversation gets interesting, because ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that Coleman could become part of a deal to bring in defensive help. No trade has been reported, but the mere possibility is enough to spark debate in Buffalo, where fans are already trying to figure out whether a productive young receiver is a core piece or a movable asset. [Read more 🡒]