The Buffalo Bills didn’t need Josh Allen to put on a superhero cape Monday night. Instead, they leaned on James Cook, a defense that refused to let the Minnesota Vikings find the end zone, and a young tight end who delivered one of the biggest moments of his career.
Buffalo’s 23-6 victory over Minnesota was a team effort, and head coach Joe Brady’s postgame Game Balls reflected exactly that.
Cook received recognition for another hard-fought performance and a career milestone, the entire defense earned
praise for shutting down Minnesota, and Keleki Latu celebrated his first NFL touchdown.
Game Ball No. 1: James Cook
Cook was Buffalo’s workhorse Monday night, carrying the football 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown.
It wasn’t necessarily the flashiest performance of his career, averaging 3.5 yards per carry, but it was exactly what Buffalo needed. The Bills dominated time of possession, holding the football for 42:32, and Cook was a major reason why.
His five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter capped a 15-play, 84-yard drive that drained 8:32 off the clock and effectively put the game out of reach.
Brady also recognized Cook for reaching the 5,000-career-rushing-yard milestone, another significant accomplishment for Buffalo’s running back. The milestone adds to a night when Cook carried the offense, helping the Bills dominate time of possession and secure their second consecutive victory.
Cook continues to prove he can be more than an explosive-play threat. When the Bills need to grind out yards, extend possessions, and keep their defense fresh, he’s more than capable of carrying the workload.
Game Ball No. 2: The entire defense, presented to Terrel Bernard
For the second consecutive game, Buffalo’s defense delivered the kind of performance Bills fans have been waiting to see. Minnesota managed just 178 total yards, nine first downs, and six points. The Vikings went 0-for-8 on third down, failed on both fourth-down attempts, and committed three turnovers.
They never reached the end zone.
Brady recognized the entire defensive unit but singled out linebacker Terrel Bernard to receive the Game Ball on its behalf. Bernard finished with six combined tackles, an interception, and two passes defended. His third-quarter interception was one of two Buffalo recorded against Carson Wentz, with Dorian Williams collecting the other.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic was the workload. Buffalo’s defense played just 48 snaps after logging only 51 against Baltimore the previous week.
Game Ball No. 3: Keleki Latu
Sometimes a Game Ball is about more than the stat sheet. Latu caught just one pass Monday night, but it was a big one.
With 44 seconds remaining in the first half, Josh Allen connected with Latu for a 25-yard touchdown, giving Buffalo a 10-3 lead.
It was the first touchdown of Latu’s NFL career, and his teammates made sure he received the recognition he deserved. When accepting his Game Ball, Latu kept his message simple:
“Really no place I’d rather be than right here with you guys.”
Honorable mentions
Greg Rousseau: Another disruptive performance from Groot, who recorded a sack, three quarterback hits, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery.
Tyler Bass: Perfect on the night, connecting on all three fieldgoal attempts from 39, 25, and 52 yards and two extra points.
Final thoughts
For the second consecutive week, Buffalo found a way to win without requiring Josh Allen to do everything.
Cook handled the heavy lifting, the defense made life miserable for Minnesota’s offense, and Latu delivered a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his career.
There are still things to clean up, but the Bills are beginning to show they can win games in different ways.
