Vikings Game Today: Bills Lead 10-6 at Halftime in Minneapolis, Allen to Latu the Night's Only Touchdown
Week 9's closer matched the league's best scoring offense against its best scoring defense, and defense is winning: two 6-1 teams produced one touchdown, three field goals and a 10-6 halftime score.
MINNEAPOLIS — The best offense in football met the best defense in football on Monday night, and the defense's version of the game is winning. Buffalo leads Minnesota 10-6 at halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium, in a Week 9 closer between two 6-1 teams that has so far produced exactly one touchdown.
That touchdown belongs to the Bills: Josh Allen's scoring pass to Keleki Latu, the first touchdown of the night, pushed Buffalo ahead 10-3. Minnesota's six points are Will Reichard's alone — two field goals, the second of them a 53-yarder late in the half that cut the lead to four. Allen reached the break 13-of-20 for 122 yards with the touchdown and one interception. Across from him, Carson Wentz — starting for the Vikings with Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury — went 7-of-17 for 75 yards with neither a touchdown nor a pick.
The matchup was billed as strength on strength: Buffalo arrived averaging a league-best 33.3 points a game, Minnesota allowing a league-low 13.3. Ten points in a half is the defense's argument, and the Vikings get the ball to start their reply — though the third quarter opened with Buffalo in possession at its own 35, still up four. For Dallas readers, the result matters at one remove: the Cowboys sit 4-5 and tenth in the NFC, watching the top of the conference beat up on itself.
