Josh Allen didn’t have one of those effortless, everything-is-clicking nights on Monday, but the Bills didn’t need him to be perfect to handle the Vikings.
That’s the part Buffalo should like most. Even with Allen looking more human than usual, the Bills still rolled to a comfortable win over Minnesota. For a quarterback who has been playing at an MVP level through the first half of the season, this was a noticeable step down - just not a disastrous one.
The early going belonged to Brian Flores and his defense. Minnesota kept heat coming at Allen almost every time he dropped back, and Buffalo’s play-action-heavy approach didn’t help much when the blitzes arrived fast. Allen took several sacks on those snaps and had to use his legs to buy time when the pocket collapsed.
He also had a couple of throws that flashed the usual Allen talent, but most of his first-half work came underneath the sticks. The Vikings made him earn every inch.
The biggest swing of the night came on the throw to D.J. Moore in the end zone.
Moore had beaten his man on a deep post and had plenty of room ahead of him, but Allen didn’t put the ball out in front of him vertically. Instead, he threw it inside, and Byron Murphy Jr. was able to close and take it away.
What looked like a sure touchdown turned into a turnover.
Allen had another deep shot in the first half that nearly went the other way, too. Under pressure, he uncorked a throw that sailed and came close to landing in a defender’s hands.
He did settle in before halftime. On the final drive of the first half, Allen connected with Moore on a long throw down the left sideline, then capped the series with a touchdown pass to Keleki Latu while moving outside the pocket.
From there, Buffalo could lean on the run game and let the clock do the rest. James Cook handled 16 second-half carries as the Bills closed things out, and Minnesota never gave Buffalo much reason to think it needed to open things up again.
Allen’s final line wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t the standard he’s set this season either. He looked bothered by Flores’ blitzes, made a few mistakes you don’t usually see from him, and still helped the Bills cruise. That’s the encouraging part for Buffalo - and the reminder that those same mistakes could carry a heavier price later on.
Josh Allen’s Week 9 grade: B-
In Other News...
Bills Made A Statement And Josh Allen Sent A Clear Message
The Bills 23-6 win over Minnesota on Monday night was the kind of performance that can travel well into the rest of the season. Buffalo leaned on a defense that controlled the game from start to finish, smothering the Vikings ground attack and making life miserable for Carson Wentz, while the linebackers fit into the scheme cleanly and helped keep the field tilted in the Bills favor.
Josh Allen did his part, too, delivering a strong outing even with some pressure coming through the offensive line. For Buffalo, the bigger takeaway was the way the whole operation looked connected on a national stage, a reminder that when the defense is dictating terms and Allen is still producing, this team can make a statement without needing a shootout. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Trade Price For Amani Hooker Will Spark Debate
The Bills spent the trade deadline shoring up a defense that had a clear vacancy after the release of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, landing Amani Hooker from the Titans in a move that immediately gives Buffalo a proven piece in the back end. Hooker arrives with a track record of producing on defense this season and a contract that runs through 2028, which makes him more than just a short-term patch for a team trying to keep pace in a crowded AFC race.
What will keep this deal under the microscope is the price Buffalo paid to get him, sending a 2027 second-round pick and a fifth-rounder to Tennessee. For a front office that has generally valued draft capital, the question now is whether Hookers fit and long-term control will justify the cost, especially if he settles in quickly and becomes a fixture in a secondary that needed help right away. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bills Coach Rex Ryan Is Facing Serious Questions In Nashville
Former Bills coach Rex Ryan turned himself in to Nashville police after a warrant was issued for his arrest, putting the longtime NFL figure at the center of a serious legal matter far from his days in Buffalo. Authorities say he faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render aid, after an alleged incident in which two pedestrians were struck by his pickup truck.
Bond was set at $6,000, and neither Ryan nor ESPN has commented on the case. For Bills fans who remember his loud, high-profile run on the sideline, the latest news is a jarring reminder that one of the leagues more recognizable personalities is now dealing with questions that go well beyond football. [Read more 🡒]