(Photo: Cosm)

NFC Game Of The Week

Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings

Bills (6-1):

As I was watching their game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, I was a little confused by some of their play-calling, such as going for it on fourth down from their own 30-yard line and failing to convert, which gave Baltimore prime field position. In the first half, they played sloppy football, and I’m unsure whether it was rust coming off the bye week, but they turned the ball over twice, committed some costly penalties, and settled for field goals when touchdowns were available. The second half was a much different story, as they simply pulled away. The first thing I immediately noticed was how Josh Allen settled in because he appeared to be pressing in the first half. When a quarterback does that, it usually results in bad football. My biggest takeaway from Sunday’s win was that the Bills showed they can win games without needing Josh to win a shootout. At this moment, they sit atop the entire AFC with a 6-1 record, the best in the conference. This is one of the four best teams I’ve seen in the NFL to date, and Josh is an MVP candidate once again. However, I’m not ready to crown them the best all-around team in football because some things still need to be addressed, particularly their defense and, more specifically, their pass defense. What’s crazy is that this football team has had Super Bowl aspirations since 2020, but they always seem to fall short and collapse when it matters most in January. If their defense can become moderately more consistent, this is a dangerous group come postseason time. On Monday night, the Bills make their way to Minneapolis to close out Week 9.

Vikings (6-1): 

I knew Sunday in Detroit would be a challenge for them, and let’s be honest: entering the game, they hadn’t seen an offense as dynamic as the Lions have been all season. On the other side, however, the Lions hadn’t seen a defense as stout and solid as this one all year. This unit has truly been the backbone of this entire football team and a large part of why they were able to win their first six games of the season. I give them all the credit in the world because they were exceptional for most of the game in Week 8. The first thing I took away was that they held one of the better offenses in the league to 19 points and forced Jared Goff into his first turnovers of the season. For as good as they’ve been on the defensive side, anyone can be beaten on any given Sunday, and that was the case as they struggled to limit Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions’ ground attack. What hurt the Vikings, of course, was their offense, and this has been the glaring issue all season long. Kyler Murray was a little too inconsistent for my liking, which was my biggest concern. There were times when he missed open receivers and struggled to push the offense down the field. The offense struggled to sustain drives and capitalize on favorable situations, and they left points on the table after failing to capitalize on special teams opportunities. The Vikings played one tough game, and they have another this Monday night when they welcome Josh Allen and the first-place Buffalo Bills to town for an interconference showdown under the lights.

Bills X-Factor: DJ Moore

Last season, the Bills struggled to push the ball up and down the field through the air because they didn’t have that true downfield threat. That’s exactly why they acquired DJ: not only to stretch the field but also to give their quarterback a legitimate number-one receiving option. On Monday night, the Bills will face a very blitz-heavy defense, and if Josh gets enough time to identify the coverage, DJ can exploit the space created by those defensive looks. In this situation, I see the Vikings paying attention to Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, James Cook, and, of course, Josh Allen, which means DJ could become more of a complementary piece. He could give the Vikings’ zone scheme fits if he’s making plays consistently.

Vikings X-Factor: Jordan Mason

He could be the Vikings’ secret weapon in this game on Monday night. Jordan is a physical runner, and at 230 pounds, he has the power and ability to wear down a defense with repeated carries. When you play a quarterback of Josh Allen’s caliber, ball control and time of possession will be key to keeping No. 17 on the sidelines. Jordan’s powerful running style also makes him a threat in short-yardage situations and in the red zone. Another thing I’ll be watching is the Vikings’ offensive line and whether they can create running lanes. If they can do that, Jordan could be the difference-maker for the Minnesota offense.

Final Thoughts: 

I previewed their last meeting in 2022. The major storyline was Stefon Diggs facing the team that drafted him for the first time since being traded, and what a game that was! I also remember Justin Jefferson making a highlight-reel catch, and the Vikings ultimately won a close game. Years later, these two teams meet again on Monday night, and both enter the game with identical 6-1 records. The biggest matchup in this game is Brian Flores, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, against Josh Allen. How will Brian elect to defend him, and how will Josh look to attack? Pay close attention to this matchup. If I’m the Bills, I’d attack these blitz packages with quick passes, screens, and motion to keep the defense second-guessing. I’d also take a page out of Detroit’s playbook and establish James Cook! The Vikings’ run defense was exposed in Week 8. For Minnesota, containing Justin Jefferson might be easier said than done. I’d mix coverages and use safety help over the top. The Vikings must also keep Josh Allen contained and in the pocket. If they play man coverage, they should keep a spy on him and account for him every time the ball is snapped. He can take advantage of open space if they fail to account for his mobility. On the offensive side, get Justin Jefferson going early! Let him make his presence felt and move him around to create favorable matchups. Lastly, the Vikings must capitalize on scoring opportunities and come away with six points instead of three. That’s exactly what hurt them last week in Detroit.

Prediction:

Bills 24, Vikings 20