The 6-1 Buffalo Bills play the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, matching the NFL’s highest-scoring offense against its top-ranked defense.
Teams Face Identical Super Bowl Struggles
Both franchises enter Week 9 with identical 6-1 records and matching 0-4 all-time records in the Super Bowl, according to NFL coverage. The Vikings lost Super Bowl IV just before the NFL-AFL merger and three more title games between 1974 and 1977.
Legendary defensive tackle Pat Williams, who played for both teams, noted the shared postseason frustration. Both fanbases need it — bad!
Williams said, as reported by The Athletic.
The @vikings are bringing the PRESSURE 💥 BUFvsMIN – 8:15pm ET on ESPN Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RRXsuYmmed
When the league slate was released in May, nobody envisioned the matchup as a Super Bowl preview. Williams noted that if both sides reach the Super Bowl in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day, the long-awaited Lombardi Trophy would be guaranteed for one of them.
The Vikings previously lost Super Bowl IV just before the merger of the NFL and AFL, dropped three additional title games from 1974 to 1977, fell in the 2009 NFC Championship Game after Brett Favre threw an overtime interception following a near-winning last-second field goal attempt, and were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 conference championship.
We're ready for this one in Minnesota 🍿 BUFvsMIN – 8:15pm ET on ESPN Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/htJ5IIRTgZ
Buffalo sits atop the American Football Conference, while Minnesota stands second in the National Football Conference behind the San Francisco 49ers on a tiebreaker.
Discussing the magnitude of a potential championship victory, Williams remarked, If these teams get back to the Super Bowl, you know there’s going to be a parade that’s out of control.
He added, I’m going to show up at either one of them because I want to witness that. Buffalo will tear the whole city down, but Minnesota has been waiting a long time, too.
MNF ROLL CALL!!! Bills Mafia, where are you representing from today?@MillerLite | #BUFvsMIN pic.twitter.com/tHSygjPhbz
Offensive Power Against Defensive Scheme
With Bills coach Joe Brady, Buffalo leads the league with 33.3 points per game, per Establish The Run. Quarterback Josh Allen has thrown 11 touchdowns and rushed for nine more through seven games.
Minnesota counters with a defensive unit coordinated by Brian Flores that allows a league-low 13.3 points per game and the lowest expected points added per play, according to Yahoo Sports. Allen faces a defense that has blitzed at a high rate all season, though Allen boasts a 66.7 percent completion rate when pressured, as detailed by the New York Post.
Allen averages about 40 yards per game on the ground alongside his nine rushing scores, ranking second in the league for rushing touchdowns. The Buffalo offense meets a defense allowing a league-low 1.18 points per drive and ranking first in defensive success rate at 36.1 percent.
Evaluating the matchups, Pat Williams noted that while the defense is entertaining, opponents must reach the quarterback or else risk letting opponents throw effectively, though noting that extra pass rushers can be neutralized by Allen’s mobility.
Buffalo lists offensive tackle Dion Dawkins with a rib injury and guard Alec Anderson with an ankle injury as questionable for the contest. On the other side, running back James Cook provides the Bills with a strong ground presence alongside Allen, while Minnesota’s rushing defense ranks sixth in expected points added per rush allowed.
Carson Wentz Starts for Minnesota
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Carson Wentz will start at quarterback while Kyler Murray recovers from a hamstring injury. Wentz has completed 23 of 39 passes for 276 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in two appearances this season.
And oh yeah, there's an actual game tonight at U. S. Bank Stadium between two 6-1 teams. Bills favored by 3 pts over the Vikings. FPI gives Bills 63.6% chance to win. Here's our @espn digital preview… https://t.co/fmfncqwzuG pic.twitter.com/YDe9BcfhQh
Jefferson caught two scoring passes from Wentz during Week 1.
Minnesota enters the matchup ranking 27th in scoring with 20.0 points per game, 29th in total yards with 279.4 per contest, and 31st in passing yards at 165.6 per game. The offense recently dropped a decision to the Detroit Lions.
Odds and Broadcast Details for Game
Oddsmakers have the Bills as 3-point road favorites with an over/under set at 43.5 points, according to ESPN. ESPN and ABC will broadcast the 8:15 p.m. ET matchup nationally in the United States, with streaming available through platforms such as ESPN Unlimited, Sling, and YouTube TV, as outlined by Business Insider and USA Today.
International viewers can access live coverage via DAZN in Canada, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, and the DAZN NFL Game Pass in most other international territories. Fans traveling abroad can also utilize virtual private networks to access their usual domestic streaming services.
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