News
11/13/22
3 min read
Justin Jefferson, Vikings Stun Bills in Overtime Thriller
Behind a clutch performance by wide receiver Justin Jefferson and a game-ending interception by Patrick Peterson late in overtime, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off an improbable comeback on Sunday to beat the Buffalo Bills, 33-30, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
The Vikings took a three-point lead with just under four minutes left in OT and came up with the turnover on the subsequent Bills drive. The game could have been over long before that, but the end of the fourth quarter just kept twisting and turning. Kirk Cousins was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line with under a minute left in regulation. But on the subsequent play, Josh Allen fumbled the snap, and the Vikings recovered for the touchdown, giving them a three-point lead with under 40 seconds remaining.
That was enough time for Allen to drive the Bills into field goal range and force overtime.
The clear star of the game was Jefferson, who finished with 10 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown. Jefferson almost added a game-clinching second TD in overtime when he hauled in a 24-yard catch and went out at the 2-yard line. The Vikings had to settle for a Greg Joseph field goal but held on for the win after Allen led the Bills' offense into the red zone before throwing the pick to Peterson.
Jefferson's clutch, one-handed catch on fourth-and-18 with under 2 minutes left in regulation, while the Vikings were driving for a go-ahead-score, will certainly get catch-of-the-year nominations.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON ASDGJSKDNFGKSDF;K
📺: #MINvsBUF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/uRjde5F169 pic.twitter.com/sxiLVx0NCi— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022
Allen, who powered the Bills' offense with 330 yards passing and 84 more rushing, was unhappy with his performance.
"Losing sucks," Allen said. "Sucks this way even worse, horrendous second half. I've got to be better."
The Bills and Vikings both finished with more than 480 yards of total offense in a meeting of first-place teams coming into the game. Buffalo now sits at 6-3 after the loss, surrendering their slim lead in the AFC East. The Vikings, meanwhile, improved to 8-1 with the win, maintaining their comfortable NFC North lead.
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The Bills can bounce back next week when they take on the Cleveland Browns at home.
The Vikings will head home to take on the Dallas Cowboys in another opportunity to stamp their status as a contender, if that wasn't already taken care of against the Bills on Sunday.
