The Buffalo Bills will head to the Midwest this coming weekend to take on the Minnesota Vikings in primetime for Week 9 of Monday Night Football. It’s a marquee matchup of two 6-1 teams, featuring Buffalo’s potent offense against Minnesota’s fearsome defense.
As you’d guess with a game of this magnitude, the spread is close — but it’s not necessarily what you’d expect. Entering Week 9, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Bills as three-point road favorites (-3) against the Vikings (+3). As of publishing, the over/under
for this game stood at o/u 46.5.
Even considering quarterback Josh Allen, it’s perhaps a bit surprising that Buffalo is favored as the road team against an opponent with what many see as a championship-caliber defense. Buffalo is coming off a 36-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens, while Minnesota dropped its first game of the season in a 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions.
As is typical at this point in any NFL season, injury reports will be a huge priority for anyone looking to get a better read on the potential outcome of this game. The biggest concerns on that front for the Bills are wide receivers DJ Moore (leg) and Joshua Palmer (hamstring), plus right tackle Spencer Brown (back), and running back James Cook III (concussion, cleared to return).
There’s also some question as to whether or not quarterback Josh Allen sustained an injury, based on the team’s apparent refusal to run short-yardage sneaks with him against the Ravens. Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith grabbed and spun Allen’s helmet around, bloodying quarterback’s head.
Key injuries to watch for the Vikings include quarterback Kyler Murray (hamstring), and safety Theo Jackson (quad). Murray is managing hamstring tightness. Should he be unable to play in Week 9, it’s likely Minnesota then turns to veteran backup quarterback Carson Wentz.
The Bills and Vikings have played just 15 times dating back to their first matchup in October 1971. Minnesota leads the all-time series 9-6, having won the last game between the two franchises. That 33-30 overtime loss for Buffalo came in Orchard Park, NY back in November 2022.
Josh Allen is 1-1 against the Vikings since entering the NFL, with his first NFL win coming in a 27-6 win back in September of his rookie season in 2018. That game is part of Bills lore now, thanks to Allen’s hurdle of linebacker Anthony Barr.
Think you’ve got what it takes to make a play with the Buffalo Bills in 2026? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook now and put your luck to the test!
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