Two of the remaining one-loss teams in the NFL are set to face off in Week 9. The Minnesota Vikings just lost their first game of the season against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, while the Buffalo Bills have won three in a row.
This will be a classic battle of offense vs. defense. The Bills are currently scoring more points than any team in the NFL (33.3 per game), and the Vikings are allowing the fewest (13.3 per game). Brian Flores' defense just kept another high-powered Lions offense in check, but can he do it two games in a row? We're going to break down some bold predictions for the Vikings-Bills matchup.
3 bold predictions for Bills vs. Vikings MNF matchup
Bills have huge game on the ground
The Vikings are incredibly difficult to pass on. Flores is a wizard at dialing up blitzes. Even an elite quarterback like Josh Allen isn't going to be able to dice up their secondary.
However, the Vikings' defense does have one slight weakness: the running game. They are allowing 116.7 yards per game on the ground. That puts them in the middle of the pack across the NFL.
With the Bills unlikely to get the passing game going, it's going to be a big game for James Cook. He hasn't had over 100 yards rushing in a game since Week 5, but that should change. He's going to get the ball early and often to mitigate the damage Flores' blitzes can do. Allen should also have a big game on the ground. He's not going to sit around and not try to make an impact. If the blitzes are getting home, he'll use his legs to scramble and pick up some big runs.
Carson Wentz turns back the clock
The Vikings offense is a mess. Kyler Murray has been bad, and now he's going to be out with an injury. The Vikings will turn to Carson Wentz, who hasn't been a consistent starter since 2021.
That said, he's 2-0 in his career against the Bills, and Buffalo might have the worst pass defense in the NFL. They got a bit of a break in Week 8, as Lamar Jackson had to leave the game early for the Baltimore Ravens. If Wentz can just be serviceable, he has a chance to have a big game.
If Wentz dices up the Bills' defense, that won't be a great sign. He should simply try throwing to Justin Jefferson every chance he gets. That could be enough to keep the Vikings' offense moving against a bad defense.
Bills win with ease
While the Bills will struggle to pass and stop the Vikings' passing game, this will be an easy day at work for Buffalo. Though Minnesota has been good this season, they can only keep winning with defense for so long.
It likely won't be a blowout, as Flores' defense is just too good, but the Bills should at least be able to get to 24 points, while the Vikings get to 14 points off of two Wentz touchdown passes.
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