Josh Allen hits 322 career touchdowns as Bills beat Vikings 23-6
Buffalo's offense outpaced a struggling Minnesota attack, while Carson Wentz threw three interceptions and was benched in the final quarter.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Josh Allen now has 322 regular season touchdowns, a mark that ties him with Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history over a player's first 10 years. The Bills quarterback reached that milestone on Monday night when he threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to tight end Keleki Latu with 44 seconds left before halftime. The score helped Buffalo defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Allen, who is halfway through his ninth season, accounted for the majority of those career scores with 232 passing touchdowns and 88 rushing scores. He also had two receiving touchdowns in his career total. The win improved Buffalo's record to 7-1. The team has matched its best eight game start since 1993, the season that ended with their fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss.
The Vikings, now 6-2, continued a sharp decline in offensive production. Starting quarterback Carson Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards and threw three interceptions. One first quarter throw was a backward pass that flew too high for wide receiver Justin Jefferson to catch, leading to a fumble near midfield. Wentz completed only one of his eight second half passes before Max Brosmer replaced him midway through the fourth quarter.
Buffalo's defense controlled the game with two interceptions. Linebacker Terrel Bernard picked off one pass, while Dorian Williams intercepted a heave into the end zone and returned it 55 yards. The Bills also recorded four sacks. Linebacker Byron Murphy was part of the defensive effort that pressured Allen from multiple angles. Tight end Keleki Latu caught the halftime winner while rolling right and taking a hit from Andrew Van Ginkel.
Running back James Cook carried the ball 31 times for 107 yards and scored a late touchdown for Buffalo. Kicker Tyler Bass converted three field goals, extending his franchise record streak to 24 straight successful attempts. The Bills' offense, which is the highest scoring in the league, outplayed a Minnesota unit that had four straight first half possessions that started beyond its own 40 yard line. The furthest Minnesota advanced was the Buffalo 48 yard line.
Both teams will play on Sunday. The Bills travel to the New York Jets, while the Vikings head to Green Bay. Buffalo listed starting left tackle Dion Dawkins with rib issues and left guard Alec Anderson with an ankle injury as inactive. Minnesota left wide receiver Jauan Jennings with a calf injury and strong safety Theo Jackson with a quadriceps injury off the active roster.
Wentz was checked in the medical tent during the game for an apparent lower leg injury. The Vikings' defensive blitzes forced Allen into quick throws, but the Bills maintained their lead after the first half cushion.
