Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - After getting out a 17-point lead in the second half, the Buffalo Bills collapsed, eventually losing 33-30 in overtime to the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
With the loss, the Bills have now dropped two games in-a-row, and have fallen out of the top spot in the AFC East and the AFC standings.
The Bills received the opening kickoff in this game and couldn't get the offense going, punting the ball away after just three plays.
Minnesota got their first drive going on their own 26-yard line, where quarterback Kirk Cousins connected early with wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Vikings the first lead of the game, 7-0.
The Bills respond immediately on their next drive, starting with a huge kick return for 43 yards from returner Duke Johnson in his Bills debut. Running back Devin Singletary kept the ground game moving with three-straight runs, capping off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.
The Vikings only got off three plays on their next drive before punting the ball away.
On Buffalo's next drive, Allen marched the offense down the field with big throws to Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs that helped get them inside the red zone. Singletary, once again, capped of the drive with his second touchdown of the day that gave the Bills the 14-7 lead.
The Vikings couldn't get any offense going again on their next drive when Cousins was picked off by rookie cornerback Christian Benford on a pass intended for wide receiver K.J. Osborn. Benford ran the interception back 35 yards to give the offense great field position.
Despite the great field position at the Vikings' 27-yard line, the Bills were unable to put up seven points on their seven-play drive. However, kicker Tyler Bass was called upon to convert a 34-yard field goal attempt to give Buffalo a 10-point lead in the second quarter.
The Bills defense came up big on the Vikings' next drive, holding Cousins and his team to just a field goal with three goal line stops. Vikings kicker Greg Joseph's 27-yard field goal cut Minnesota's deficit back to a touchdown.
Following a Buffalo fumble and a Minnesota turnover-on-downs, the Bills started a drive on their own 29-yard line within the two-minute-warning.
Allen got his legs moving to start the drive with a big 25-yard gain. The offense was able to drive down to the red zone, and Allen finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Davis, giving the Bills a 24-10 lead going into halftime.
The start of the second half was slower than the first half.
After receiving the second half kickoff, Cousins threw his second interception of the day to Dane Jackson. However, the Bills and Vikings then punted once each before Buffalo got the ball back again.
Allen and the offense threatened for another touchdown, but came up short on third down. Bass was called upon again for a 45-yard field goal attempt, which he made with ease to gie the Bills a 27-10 lead.
Minnesota's offense came to life on their next drive that only took one play. It was running back Dalvin Cook exploding down the sideline for an 81-yard touchdown run, which made the game interesting just before the start of the fourth quarter.
The Bills offense fired right back offensively on their next drive, but Allen tossed an interception to Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson on a pass intended for tight end Dawson Knox in the end zone on a fourth down play.
The Vikings then fought their way down the field and capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run from fullback C.J. Ham. However, Joseph missed the extra point attempt, giving the Bills a four-point lead.
After the Bills were unable to kill enough time or put up more points on their next drive, the Vikings drove down the field again and deep into Buffalo territory. However, the Bills came up with a huge stop on fourth down to get the ball back late.
On Buffalo's very first play of the next drive at the Minnesota one-yard line, Allen never cleanly had the ball on the snap from center Mitch Morse, resulting in a fumble at the goal line. Minnesota ended up recovering the football in the end zone, giving the Vikings the touchdown and a 30-27 lead.
With 48 seconds to go, the Bills offense had one last shot to win the game, or tie the contest and send the game to overtime. Buffalo drove down the field with three big throws from Allen, getting the Bills within field goal range. With five seconds to go in regulation, Bass was able to convert a 29-yard field goal to even the score at 30-30 and force overtime.
The Vikings received the opening kickoff in overtime and, once again, drove down the field to the Bills' five yard line. The difference this time was the Buffalo defense stood tall, forcing a 33-yard field goal from Joseph that gave the Vikings the 33-30 lead.
Needing a touchdown to win or a field goal to tie the game and continue overtime, Allen and the Bills offense started their drive at their own 28-yard line.
Allen was able to start the drive with two huge runs for 18 and 20 yards, getting the Bills into Vikings territory. Buffalo was able to get as far as the Vikings' 20-yard line before Allen went looking for Davis in the end zone for the win.
However, Allen's pass attempt was behind Davis and went right into the hands of Peterson for his second interception of the game. The play sealed the victory for the Vikings in, perhaps, the craziest game to date in the 2022 NFL season.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- MINNESOTA 7-0: Vikings touchdown (10:13) - Kirk Cousins finds Justin Jefferson for a 22-yard touchdown pass. (Greg Joseph's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:54
- TIE 7-7: Bills touchdown (8:10) - Devin Singletary rushes five yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 47 yards, 2:03
- BUFFALO 14-7: Bills touchdown (1:04) - Devin Singletary rushes one yard for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:09
Second Quarter:
- BUFFALO 17-7: Bills field goal (12:53) - Tyler Bass' 34-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 12 yards, 2:25
- BUFFALO 17-10: Vikings field goal (7:12) - Greg Joseph's 27-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 46 yards, 5:41
- BUFFALO 24-10: Bills touchdown (0:28) - Josh Allen passes 11 yards to Gabriel Davis for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 71 yards, 1:22
Third Quarter:
- BUFFALO 27-10: Bills field goal (1:51) - Tyler Bass' 45-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 46 yards, 4:21
-BUFFALO 27-17: Vikings touchdown (1:34) - Dalvin Cook rushes 81 yards for a touchdown. (Greg Joseph's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 81 yards, 17 seconds
Fourth Quarter:
- BUFFALO 27-23: Vikings touchdown (4:34) - C.J. Ham rushes three yards for a touchdown. (Greg Joseph's extra point attempt is no good)
Drive info: 13 plays, 66 yards, 5:53
- MINNESOTA 30-27: Vikings touchdown (0:48) - Eric Kendricks recovers a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. (Greg Joseph's extra point is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 75 yards, 2:37
- TIE 30-30: Bills field goal (0:02) - Tyler Bass' 29-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, 69 yards, 0:39
Overtime:
- MINNESOTA 33-30: Vikings field goal - Greg Joseph's 33-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 60 yards, 6:18
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills stay at home next Sunday when they'll get set to host the Cleveland Browns at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Buffalo Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
