Vikings vs. Bills live updates: Josh Allen looks to solve Minnesota's defense on 'MNF'

The Minnesota Vikings are set to have the NFL's hardest schedule from Weeks 8-11, which could cause them to tumble down the standings while dealing with quarterback problems. Much of that responsibility falls on head coach Kevin O'Connell. 

Why Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell should be on hot seat despite NFL-best 6-1 record

Garrett Podell

Minnesota won the last matchup between these two teams 33-30 in overtime up in Buffalo in 2022. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson went off for 193 yards receiving and a touchdown on 10 catches, the second-most receiving yards in a game in his storied career. Bills quarterback Josh Allen had 414 total yards, a passing touchdown and three turnovers that afternoon. 

Jefferson is averaging a career-low 55.8 receiving yards per game in 2026 with his connection with Kyler Murray failing to launch. 

Cook has six consecutive games with 75-plus rushing yards and a touchdown, which is tied for the longest streak in Bills history along with O.J. Simpson's streak in 1975. Cook also needs just one rushing touchdown to become the fourth Buffalo players with 40-plus rushing touchdowns. 

Allen entered Week 9 with 9 rushing touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback through the first seven games played of a season in NFL history. He also entered Week 9 averaging 1.29 rushing touchdowns per game, the most in the league. Allen can join Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as the only quarterbacks ever with double-digit rushing touchdowns in four different seasons. 

Allen has 30 total touchdowns in 11 career Monday night games, including multiple touchdowns in 9 of those games. 

Buffalo is allowing 25.9 points per game this season, which ranks 24th in the NFL. The most points per game allowed by a Super Bowl champion is the 2011 New York Giants at 25.0 points per game. It's a stark contrast for the Bills under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard after Buffalo led the NFL with 19.3 points per game allowed from 2021 to 2025 under ex-head coach Sean McDermott. 

The Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and James Cook-led offense leads the NFL in points per game with 33.3. It's the team's second most through seven games in team history. Will it translate to their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1990's?

This matchup features 2024 NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen and his Bills attack that is the league's No.1 scoring offense (33.3 points per game) against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores' No. 1 scoring defense (13.3 points per game allowed). Which side is going to win perhaps the best unit vs. unit matchup of the 2026 NFL season thus far? Well in the 21st century when teams leading the NFL in scoring offense and scoring defense have met in Week 9 or later, the squad with the No. 1 offense has won seven of the nine showdowns. 

However, the Vikings don't just lead the NFL in scoring defense. They also lead the league in the following metrics: 

• Scoring defense (13.3 points per game allowed)
• Red zone defense (25% red zone touchdown rate allowed)
• Goal-line defense (37.5% goal-line touchdown rate allowed)
• Completion percentage allowed (56.2%)
• Touchdown-to-interception ratio allowed (4-8)
• Sack rate (11%)
• QB pressure rate (46%)
• Blitz rate (73.6%, the highest by any team in the 21st century)

Anderson (ankle), Dawkins (ribs) and Gaines (calf) were all officially questionable entering Monday night, but none of them will play. Those are two huge blows to Josh Allen's offensive line against the Vikings' No. 1 defense. 

Murray (hamstring) and Jennings (calf) were ruled out earlier this week, and Jackson (quad) wasn't able to show enough to be active on Monday after being a limited practice participant just once this week.