Josh Allen finds Kelecki Latu for TE’s first career touchdown
By CHUCK POLLOCK, Sun Senior Sports Columnist
For the for the second straight game the Bills showed their ability to take advantage of a quarterback-challenged opponent.
Last Sunday it was Baltimore in Orchard Park which lost starter Lamar Jackson on the Ravens’ first offensive play leaving the game with a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Two series later backup Tyler Huntley was lost for the season after injuring his toe.
Baltimore (6-2) finished tthe game with its No. 3 quarterback, non-drafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who saw his first NFL action in a 36-10 defeat.
Then, last night in Minneapolis, with starting QB Kyler Murray out with a hamstring injury, he was replaced by No. 2 Carson Wentz who proceeded to prove why he’s played for six NFL teams in 11 seasons. His awful numbers — 8-of-25 passing for 81 yards, two interceptions, no touchdowns, and a sack — caused him to be booed all of the second half until he was replaced at the two-minute warning by No. 3 QB Max Brosmer.
Meanwhile, the Bills improved to 7-1, the best record in the conference and stretched their lead over New England (5-4) to 2 1/2 games in the AFC East, though the Patriots still have a headf-to-head victory over Buffalo.
“WE WEREN’T very efficient in the first half,” said Bills QB Josh Allen, who had a pedestrian game, 21-of-31 passing for 234 yards with a touchdown (to No. 4 tight end Kelecki Latu), was intercepted in the end zone and was sacked four times. “Our offense wasn’t perfect tonight, but it was enough against a very good defense (leading the league in fewest points and second in yards surrendered) and to play the way they did against that kind of defense.”
Buffalo running back James Cook had an impressive night rushing for 107 yards on 31 bruising carries with a touchdown.
And the Bills needed every yard as they continued to roll up penalties, eight for 62 yards. The most victimized was tackle Tylan Grable, who replaced the injured Dion Dawkins, as he was flagged for two false starts and a hold. Buffalo was also called for offensive pass interference, safety Damar Hamlin was flagged for defensive holding and tackle Spencer Brown and special teamers Dorian Williams and Lloyd Cushenberry were all called for false starts, the dreaded pre-snap violations.
“THERE was no panic in this kind of environment,” first-year coach Joe Brady said of the U.S. Bank crowd of over 70,000, “especially against this kind of defense. You have to love the fact that we held the ball for 42 (1/2) minutes (to the Vikings 17 1/2) and one reason is that we had success on third down (Buffalo was 7-of-18, the Vikings a miserable 0-for-8).”
He concluded, “It doesn’t matter how pretty it looks, we won the game.”
NOTES FROM the Bills 23-6 win over the Vikings on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis:
— The touchdown pass caught by Bills No. 4 tight end Keleki Latu was the first of his career.
— Allen carried only six times for 15 yards, but the latter put him over 5,000 yards (5006) and omade him one of only five NFL quarterbacks to exceed that figure. The others are Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.
— Buffalo’s first takeaway came, after a review, as linebacker Greg Rousseau’s recovery of a marginal lateral pass by Wentz was ruled a fumble. No. 2 was an interception by linebacker Dorian Williams, his second of the season and the third was a pick by middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, his first.
— The Vikings only takeaway was a spectacular interception of an Allen pass by cornerback Byron Murphy in the end zone, his team-leading fourth.
— Minnesota’s initial sack of Allen was recorded by linebacker Dallas Turner, his first. Later defensive tackle Jalen Redmond got a sack as did linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel who got a near strip-sack but it was ruled Allen, after review, was down by contact. though it gave him a team-leading 8 1/2 sacks. Finally, rush linebacker Ivan Pace added a sack.
— Bills wide receiver Greg Dortch returned the opening kickoff 58 yards, one of the season’s best for Buffalo
— The Vikings initial sack of Wentz went to Rousseau, his team-leading eighth of the season.
— Inactive for Bills were the starting left side of the offensive line, tackle Dion Dawkins (rib) and guard Alec Anderson (ankle,). In addition, rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell, safety Jalon Kilgore, linebacker Mike Danna and defensive tackle Greg Gaines (calf) were also inactive.
Dawkins was replaced by Grable and Anderson by Austin Corbett
Promoted from the Bills practice squad were safety Geno Stone and wide receiver Trent Sherfield while wideout Joshua Palmer (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve.
— Inactive for the Vikings were quarterback Kyler Murray, safeties Jakobe Thomas and Theo Jackson, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, cornerback Chuck Demmings and defensive lineman Caleb Banks.
Jennings, Jackson and Murray were starters.
Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
