Bills vs. Vikings key storylines
- Two 6-1 teams, one marquee matchup. The Bills visit Minnesota after beating the Ravens 36-10, while the Vikings look to rebound from their first loss, a 19-15 defeat in Detroit.
- Kyler Murray's hamstring is the biggest injury to watch. Kevin O'Connell said Murray remained under evaluation Monday. Carson Wentz is the next option if Murray cannot play but, even if he starts, his mobility deserves attention. Wentz guided the Vikings to wins over the Packers and Bears in September, completing 59% of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
- Minnesota's protection is another concern. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is dealing with shoulder soreness. His availability becomes especially important if Murray's hamstring limits his ability to escape pressure.
- Josh Allen's supporting cast needs monitoring, too. Joshua Palmer injured his hamstring against Baltimore, DJ Moore picked up another injury concern, and right tackle Spencer Brown missed that game with a back issue. Their practice participation will matter this week.
- The early market favors Buffalo on the road. The Bills are favorites of -3/-3.5 points, depending on where you do your shopping, and the total has dropped from 48.5 at open to as low as 45.5. Murray's status could move both numbers. If you're curious to read a couple of interesting trends: The Vikings are a perfect 7-0 SU and ATS in the fourth quarter this season, while the Bills are 6-0-1 SU and 7-0 ATS in the second quarter. These are shocking stats when you consider the teams are a combined 12-2 on the year, but just thought we'd pass it along.
Vikings vs Bills odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Bills -3.5
- Moneyline: Bills -170; Vikings +155
- Total: 45.5
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Vikings vs Bills USA TODAY expert picks
Adam Kaufman: Bills 24, Vikings 20
Do we have a Super Bowl preview on our hands? Guess that depends how you feel about Minnesota's offense and Buffalo's defense. Either way, we've got a pair of 6-1 teams, a few superstar talents in Josh Allen, James Cook and Justin Jefferson, plus a banged up Kyler Murray with a hamstring injury that could move the line before kickoff. Whether it's Murray or Carson Wentz stepping in for him again, I still trust the Bills more to manufacture points. Brian Flores and the Vikings defense will make Allen work for everything – as the Lions just experienced in their low-scoring win – but the visitors simply have more at their disposal and I like them to remain unbeaten on the road.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bills 21, Vikings 14
For a
team that was the league's last undefeated group standing, the Vikings are facing quite a bit of strife. A rickety offense might soon become fully broken if Kyler Murray continues to miss on downfield opportunities. Jim Leonhard's defense has hardly been a bunch of world-beaters, but the opportunistic group continues to come up with big plays in key moments, particularly with its pass rush. If the Bills can get Murray off schedule, it could be a difficult evening for Minnesota.
Nicholas Brinkerhoff: Vikings 21, Bills 16
Offense or defense? Like Week 8, the Vikings find themselves in a matchup that features strength vs. strength and weakness vs. weakness. It was the Lions offense that triumphed against the Vikings defense, but there's reason to believe things could be different this week. Buffalo has been much looser with the football this year, turning it over 11 times – which ranks 11th-most in the league, while Detroit has the third-fewest. Suddenly, you see the Vikings' path to victory. Brian Flores' defense forces Josh Allen into a mistake or two on Monday night and that is the difference.
Where to watch Bills at Vikings
- Matchup: Vikings vs. Bills
- Date: Nov. 9
- Time: 8:15 p.m.
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TV: ESPN,ABC
Bills at Vikings upated injury report
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills at Vikings: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 9 game
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