Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings on ‘Monday Night Football’: How to watch with Sling
Watch the Bills visit the Vikings on ESPN, Monday, Nov. 9 at 8:15PM ET, with Sling Essentials, Orange, Essentials & Select, or Orange & Blue.
It’s an inter-conference battle between two 6-1 teams as the Buffalo Bills head west to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Week 9 of Monday Night Football. What makes this matchup particularly compelling is the lopsided nature of both teams’ success. For the AFC-leading Bills, their strength is their potent offense. The Bills are second in yards per game (393.1), third in rushing yards per game (148.4), and first in both points per game (33.3) and total points (233), despite having already had their bye. It’s exactly the opposite for the Vikings, who are second in yards allowed per game (271.6), and first in points per game (13.3).
An unstoppable object meets an immovable force on Monday Night Football when the Bills take on the Vikings. Here’s a full preview and key players to watch. To watch Monday Night Football all season long with Sling, subscribe to Sling Essentials or Sling Orange with ESPN.
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Bills at Vikings ‘Monday Night Football’ preview
https://youtu.be/J5eScV7DDpw?si=LgL04AD71P-fxh17
Despite the extra day’s rest, the Vikings have already ruled out starting QB Kyler Murray (hamstring) and will turn to backup Carson Wentz against the Bills. While losing a starting QB is never ideal, it should be less of an issue for the Vikings. In two starts this season, Wentz has a 106.4 passer rating compared to Murray’s 86.6. What’s more, star receiver Justin Jefferson – who was last seen yelling on the sidelines in a loss to the Detroit Lions – has 615 yards and two TDs in all of Wentz’s starts dating back to last year.
Minnesota will likely need to hit at least a couple of big plays to Jefferson if they want to keep up with the Bills. 2024 MVP Josh Allen is electric as ever, leading the NFL with 27 TDs, 16 of which have been rushing. RB James Cook is the perfect compliment, as he’s already scored 7 TDs while averaging 5.1 yards per touch. Buffalo’s offense has been forced to carry the load, since their defense is in the bottom 10 in scoring (25.9 points per game) and has allowed 15 touchdowns through the air. Overall, the Bills’ defense ranks 27th in opponent EPA per play (expected points added, which measures how much each play helps a team score).
The offense-defense split for the Vikings is even more pronounced. Minnesota’s defense is at or near the top in points per game, passing yards per game (154.9), and yards per game. In those respective categories on offense, the Vikings rank 27th, 31st, and 29th. To some degree, this is an indictment of the offense, but it’s also a testament to the defense under coordinator Brian Flores. With apologies to the Denver Broncos, no offense puts more pressure on the defense to win them games, and that’s exactly what they’ve done; Minnesota’s only loss is to the offensively-powered Lions, and even that game, the Vikings led through three quarters.
Much like last week’s MNF showdown between the Bears and the Seahawks, the Bills-Vikings game features an elite offense taking on an elite defense. Chicago got the better of Seattle in that one, but Josh Allen is much more turnover prone than Caleb Williams. If Minnesota can pressure Josh Allen and continue its NFL-best 11 percent sack rate, the Bills may not be able to score enough to cover its glaring holes on defense.
X-Factors
Bills: WR Khalil Shakir
- Role: Slot receiver and Allen’s go-to option on quick throws.
- Stat case: 27 catches for 354 yards, and 255 of those yards came after the catch, the most on the team by a wide margin.
- Why this matchup: Against the league’s most aggressive blitz, the answer is getting the ball out fast to a receiver who can turn a short catch into a big gain. DJ Moore and Joshua Palmer are both questionable, so Shakir’s target share could grow.
- What to watch for: Hot routes and screens on blitz downs. If Shakir picks up yards after the catch, Flores has to back off the blitz.
Vikings: OLB Dallas Turner
- Role: Edge rusher in Flores’ pressure scheme.
- Stat case: 6 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles. Through Week 5 he had 14 QB hits, the most on the team.
- Why this matchup: Allen and Cook had 8 combined fumbles through Week 6, and Buffalo’s right tackle is questionable. An edge rusher who knocks the ball loose is exactly what a low-scoring Vikings team needs.
- What to watch for: Turner on obvious passing downs. One strip-sack could swing a game Minnesota needs to keep low-scoring.
This is one of the best MNF matchups of the entire season, so don’t miss out! Subscribe to Sling Essentials or Orange with ESPN.