Bills Beat Vikings 23-6 as Cook Runs for 107 and Wentz Throws Two Picks

The Buffalo Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 on Monday night, November 9, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to close Week 9. Buffalo held Minnesota to two field goals, intercepted Carson Wentz twice in the second half, and pulled away behind James Cook, who ran 31 times for 107 yards and one touchdown. The Bills improved to 7-1, their best start to a season since 1993. The Vikings fell to 6-2, a second straight loss after a 6-0 start, and dropped from first place to third in the NFC North.

A slow start and one touchdown before halftime

Both defenses ran the first half. Tyler Bass opened the scoring with a 39 yard field goal late in the first quarter, on a drive set up when Greg Rousseau recovered a backward pass that officials ruled a Minnesota fumble after a Buffalo challenge. Will Reichard tied the game at 3-3 with a 43 yard field goal in the second quarter. Buffalo finally reached the end zone with 44 seconds left in the half, when Josh Allen extended a play under pressure and found rookie tight end Keleki Latu for a 25 yard touchdown, the first touchdown of Latu's career. Reichard answered with a 53 yard field goal five seconds before halftime, and Buffalo led 10-6 at the break. Allen finished 21 of 34 for 234 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Buffalo totaled 334 yards.

Wentz and the Vikings offense never got going

Wentz started for Kyler Murray, who was ruled out on November 5 with a hamstring injury and is week to week. Wentz completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards, threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and posted an 8.9 passer rating, the worst mark by any quarterback over the last three seasons, according to TruMedia figures carried by theScore. Dorian Williams intercepted Wentz at the Buffalo 11 yard line early in the third quarter, and Terrel Bernard intercepted him again later in the quarter. Head coach Kevin O'Connell replaced Wentz with Max Brosmer on Minnesota's final possession. Justin Jefferson, the Vikings' top receiver, caught three passes for 58 yards on 11 targets. Minnesota never reached the end zone.

Cook and Bass close it out

Bass added a second field goal in the third quarter to make it 13-6 after a 14 play, 83 yard drive. Cook then finished a 15 play, 84 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown run with just over six minutes left, his eighth touchdown of the season, to push the lead to 20-6. Bass closed the scoring with a 52 yard field goal with 4 minutes 40 seconds left, his third kick of the night. Buffalo's defense did the rest, turning Minnesota away on downs on the Vikings' last full possession. The NFL trade deadline falls on Tuesday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET, and Minnesota's quarterback picture is its open question after this loss. Buffalo plays at the New York Jets on November 15. Minnesota plays at Green Bay on Sunday.

The final score, the quarter by quarter scoring and the player lines were confirmed by the Democrat and Chronicle game report, the USA TODAY live report, theScore and Flashscore, which carried the same 23-6 result and the same main statistics.