By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass with 44 seconds left before halftime, James Cook rushed 31 times for 107 yards and a late score, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings, 23-6, on Monday night, sending the Vikings deeper into their unrelenting offensive slump.
Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams had interceptions and Tyler Bass made four field goals to stretch his franchise-record streak to 25 straight as the Bills (7-1) matched their best eight-game start since 1993. That season ended with their last of four consecutive Super Bowl losses.
With Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury, Carson Wentz started at quarterback for the Vikings (6-2) and didn’t finish what became one of the worst performances of his 11-year career. Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards and three turnovers, including a backward pass in the first quarter that was thrown too high for even Justin Jefferson to catch it – resulting in a lost fumble near midfield.
Wentz, who was checked out in the medical tent at one point for an apparent lower leg injury, was replaced by Max Brosmer midway through the fourth quarter. Wentz completed just one of eight passes in the second half.
The battle of Buffalo’s highest-scoring offense in the league against the least-scored-on defense might well have gone to Minnesota had the offense been able to muster a decent drive or two.
But the Vikings had four straight possessions in the first half start beyond their 40-yard line, and the furthest they made it was the Bills’ 48.
The Vikings as usual sent blitzers at Allen from every angle possible, recording four sacks and an interception of a heave into the end zone that Byron Murphy ran down and returned 55 yards. But the Bills eked out just enough in the first half to give themselves a cushion, when Allen found tight end Keleki Latu open in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown as he rolled right and was hit hard by Andrew Van Ginkel.
ALLEN MATCHES MANNING
With 322 regular-season touchdowns – 232 passing, 88 rushing and two receiving – Allen tied Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history over a player’s first 10 years. Allen is halfway through his ninth season.
INJURY REPORT
Bills: Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins (ribs) and starting left guard Alec Anderson (ankle) were inactive.
Vikings: Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) and free safety Theo Jackson (quadriceps) were inactive.
ADRIAN PETERSON ENTERS VIKINGS’ RING OF HONOR
Adrian Peterson was inducted into the Vikings’ Ring of Honor on Monday night, drawing loud roars from a home crowd that was enamored with the electric running back from the start of his career as the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
The leading rusher in Vikings history, who is fifth on the NFL’s career list with 14,918 yards, sported a purple blazer and a wide smile as he watched pregame warmups on the field with family members while the Vikings prepared to face the Bills. Peterson sounded the Gjallarhorn and led the fans in the overhead “Skol” clap before kickoff, and he got the star treatment at halftime with a ceremony attended by dozens of former teammates.
Peterson’s last season with the Vikings was 2016, their first at U.S. Bank Stadium. He played for six teams over his last five years in the league, with his most post-Minnesota success coming for Washington from 2018-19, but he’ll always be linked with the Vikings from his record-setting rookie season on.
He rushed for 296 yards on Nov. 4, 2007, against the Chargers, still the best single-game total in NFL history, and went on to make the first of seven Pro Bowl appearances. Peterson, who had three league rushing titles, was voted the NFL MVP in 2012, the last non-quarterback to win the award.
Peterson’s career took a turn off the field in 2014, when he was indicted on felony child abuse charges for using a wooden switch to discipline his then-4-year-old son. He was punished by the league for what amounted to a 15-game suspension, avoiding jail time with a no-contest plea that came with probation, a fine and community service.
While the Vikings lost corporate sponsors in the fallout and Peterson’s endorsements dried up, his popularity at Minnesota’s home stadium didn’t waver. His connection with the Vikings has remained strong.
“Any time I’m back in Minnesota visiting the kids and family, I’m always embraced. I’m always invited out,” Peterson said earlier this week. “That’s what family does, and it’s been that way since my departure.”
Peterson, on a video conference call with reporters, spoke fondly of his pre-draft visit to Minnesota, vividly recalling how much he enjoyed the food at the team cafeteria.
“It was an awesome experience for me going through that process,” Peterson said. “Now that I sit back and think about it, I couldn’t have been drafted by a better organization.”
Now settled in the Houston area, the Texas native keeps busy shuttling his kids to school and sports. His son Adrian Jr. is already a football and track star as a high school freshman.
“Being out of the league, you realize how much time you miss with your kids and all those small things that really matter,” Peterson said. “It hasn’t always been good and perfect, but that’s what keeps me going right now and keeps my sanity and makes the transition a lot easier.”
UP NEXT
The Bills play at the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Vikings play at Green Bay on Sunday.
More to come on this story.