Bills Beat Vikings 23-6 as James Cook Runs Wild on Monday Night Football

By Imran Javed | Updated: 10 November 2026

The Buffalo Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 on Monday Night Football, riding a dominant second half and a 107-yard night from running back James Cook to improve to 7-1 on the season. Buffalo shut out Minnesota 13-0 after the break at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, turning a tight 10-6 half-time lead into a comfortable road win in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season.

It was the kind of win that tells you plenty about where both teams stand. The Bills controlled the ball for more than 42 minutes, ran 79 plays and wore down a Vikings defence that came into the night ranked No. 1 in the NFL. Minnesota, meanwhile, lost its second game in a row after opening the season 6-0, and its offence never got going with backup quarterback Carson Wentz under centre.

Key Facts: Bills vs Vikings, Week 9

How the Bills Beat the Vikings: Scoring Summary

The game started as a kicking contest before Buffalo’s offence found its rhythm. Tyler Bass opened the scoring with a field goal to put the Bills 3-0 up, and Minnesota answered through Will Reichard’s 43-yard kick to level it at 3-3. The first touchdown came when Josh Allen found Keleki Latu for a 25-yard score, a fine bit of improvisation that put Buffalo 10-3 ahead. Reichard’s 53-yard field goal just before the break cut the gap to 10-6 at half-time, and at that stage the Vikings were still very much in the game.

The second half belonged entirely to Buffalo. Bass added a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 13-6, and from there the Bills’ running game took over. Cook’s five-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter made it 20-6, and when Bass drilled a 52-yard field goal with 4:40 left on the clock, the scoreboard read 23-6 and the game was done.

James Cook Carries the Bills to 7-1

There was nothing fancy about Buffalo’s game plan on Monday night, and that was exactly the point. With the Vikings’ defence ranked No. 1 in the league, the Bills decided to run straight at it — and James Cook kept answering the call. His 31 carries were a season high, and his 107 yards came the hard way, through tackles and traffic rather than open-field breakaways.

The touchdown that sealed it was typical Cook. Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Vikings defence tiring after chasing the Bills all night, he found a gap and powered in from five yards out to make it 20-6. It was his eighth touchdown of the season, and it underlined just how central he has become to this Buffalo offence. When the Bills need to close a game out, the ball goes to Cook — and the 42 minutes and 32 seconds of possession Buffalo enjoyed started with a running back who kept the chains moving.

Josh Allen Does Enough as Bass Stays Perfect

Josh Allen did not have one of his spectacular nights, but he did not need one. The Bills quarterback completed 21 of 34 passes for 234 yards, with one touchdown — the 25-yard strike to Keleki Latu — and one interception. It was a steady, professional performance: Allen took what the Vikings gave him, avoided the big mistake at the key moments, and let the running game and the defence do the rest.

The Latu touchdown was the highlight of Buffalo’s passing game — Allen extended the play, kept his eyes downfield and found the big target in the end zone. Tyler Bass, meanwhile, stayed perfect on the season, nailing both of his attempts: a 25-yarder in the third quarter and a booming 52-yarder with 4:40 left in the fourth that put the result beyond doubt.

Wentz Struggles as Vikings Offence Stalls

For Minnesota, the story of the night was the quarterback position. Carson Wentz started at quarterback for the Vikings in place of the injured Kyler Murray, and he endured a difficult evening, completing just 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions. The Vikings’ passing game never found any rhythm, and with the Bills dominating possession, Wentz spent long stretches of the night watching from the sideline.

Things got so difficult that rookie Max Brosmer was sent in with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings already down by 17 points. It was a late cameo that said plenty about how the night had gone for Minnesota’s offence — a unit that managed just six points, all from Will Reichard’s boot, and was shut out completely in the second half.

That is a remarkable stat in itself. The Vikings scored only two field goals all night — Reichard’s 43-yarder and a fine 53-yarder before half-time — and never looked like reaching the end zone.

A Statement Win Against the NFL’s No. 1 Defence

What makes this win stand out for Buffalo is the opponent. Minnesota’s defence came into Monday night ranked No. 1 in the NFL, yet the Bills put up 23 points, ran 79 plays for 399 yards and held the ball for more than 42 minutes. That is not just a win — it is a statement about how this Bills team can beat you in different ways.

Buffalo did not need Allen to throw for 300 yards or produce a highlight reel. Instead, the Bills played the long game: run the ball, control the clock, kick the field goals and squeeze the life out of the opposition. The 13-0 second-half shutout was the reward for that patience, and the win carries some history too — at 7-1, the Bills are 7-1 through their first eight games for the first time this century.

What the Result Means for the NFC North

For the Vikings, the defeat stings twice over. Not only is it their second straight loss after a perfect 6-0 start, but it also drops them to third place in the NFC North. The Chicago Bears now lead the division at 7-2, with the Detroit Lions second at 6-3 — and the Green Bay Packers, also 6-3, sit level with Minnesota’s rivals in a division that is suddenly very crowded.

That is the cruel part of the NFL. Six weeks ago the Vikings looked unstoppable at 6-0; now they are 6-2, third in their own division and heading to Lambeau Field to face the Packers on Sunday. A third straight defeat there would turn a wobble into a genuine crisis.

Trade Deadline Looms as Bills Look to Strengthen

The timing of this win is interesting, because the NFL trade deadline falls on Tuesday, 10 November, at 4pm ET — less than a day after the final whistle in Minneapolis. Teams across the league are making their final moves, and Buffalo’s 7-1 start makes them obvious buyers if the right player becomes available.

It has already been a busy deadline period around the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars landed defensive tackle Jordan Davis in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, who received a 2027 first-round pick in return — a deal that underlines how aggressively contenders are moving. Our Jordan Davis trade breakdown has the full details of that move, and our NFL trade deadline tracker is following every deal as the 4pm ET deadline approaches, including the ongoing Jonathan Taylor watch.

Away from the NFL, the sporting world has had plenty to talk about this week too — not least Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international football with Portugal. But for now, the Monday night spotlight belongs to Buffalo, and to a running back who carried his team to a seventh win.

FAQs: Bills vs Vikings

The Bills head into the trade deadline and the trip to New York in excellent shape. Seven wins from eight games, a running game that can control a match against the league’s best defence, and a kicker who has not missed all season — Buffalo look every inch a contender. The Vikings, meanwhile, have a week to find answers before a trip to Green Bay that already feels like a season-defining game.