by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Nov 08, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bills -5.5
FanDuel: Bills -5.5
BetMGM: Bills -5.5
Caesars: Bills -5.5
Season record
Vikings: 7-1 (1st place, NFC North)
Bills: 6-2 (1st place, AFC East)
We have officially hit the halfway mark and if you haven't enjoyed the parity in the NFL this season, what are you even doing? There are so many quality teams with winning records that may, or may not, challenge for the Super Bowl, but it's going to at least make these final couple of months really interesting in all division races. And as the races get tighter and the football gets more intensified, it's all about the winning plays that you can find at bigal.com. If you need the right person to go off of for those winning plays, look no further than Sean Murphy going 20-14-0 over the last month in what's been a profitable 30 days for him. Oskeim Sports has also been solid at 9-5-1 over the last 30 days, with Al McMordie posting a 17-14-1 mark. No matter who you go with, you know you're getting the right call with our champion handicappers at bigal.com.
Vikings - Bills preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Vikings: won 20-17 at Commanders; won six straight
Bills: lost 20-17 at Jets
It's about to be nervous time in Orchard Park. The status of Josh Allen has suddenly taken center stage for the Buffalo Bills and there's growing concern that the MVP frontrunner could miss some time due to some pain in his throwing elbow.
That's not a good sign for the Bills, coming off a 20-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday to further compact what's been a suddenly competitive AFC East. And now the Bills have to come back home and take on one of the bigger surprises in the NFL this season, the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings who have won six straight since getting thrashed by Philadelphia in Week 2.
The Bills could be without Allen, who has yet to be ruled out but could miss some time in what's becoming a daunting playoff race now that's anything but easy. If Allen can't go, it'll be veteran Case Keenum getting the start. You'll also remember that Keenum led the Vikings to that miraculous 13-win season and NFC championship appearance a few years ago.
“He’s been in multiple different systems and he’s seen a lot of ball,” offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said of the 10-year veteran Keenum. “So I think there’s some merit to having guys like that in your room that can come in and you’ve got a lot of faith in to step in and operate effectively.”
Part of that miracle season was the game-winning touchdown toss to Stefon Diggs in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints. So yes, put two and two together and this is Diggs against the VIkings for the first time. Diggs established himself as one of the game's best receivers while in Minnesota and has become elite with Allen at quarterback.
The Bills will be trying to put that loss to the Jets behind them while the Vikings are trying to capitalize on this incredible start they're on. Minnesota has won six in a row (somehow) and are thriving under first-year coach Kevin O'Connell. Kirk Cousins threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson reeled in 115 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s complementary football that defines good teams in this league,” O’Connell said on Monday. “You don’t always win with style, but when you’re able to win football games and consistently win close games by winning the fourth quarter, that does matter. We hate to put ourselves in position where you need to come from behind and win, but at least we know we’ve kind of removed all doubt and have belief in ourselves that we can go get those wins when we have to.”
The Vikings have benefited from an easy schedule through the first eight games, but the Bills will be a tough start to a ridiculous second-half slate that includes games against the Cowboys, Jets, Giants and a trip to Lambeau against the Packers. Nothing will be easy for them going forward.
It's about to be nervous time in Orchard Park. The status of Josh Allen has suddenly taken center stage for the Buffalo Bills and there's growing concern that the MVP frontrunner could miss some time due to some pain in his throwing elbow.
That's not a good sign for the Bills, coming off a 20-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday to further compact what's been a suddenly competitive AFC East. And now the Bills have to come back home and take on one of the bigger surprises in the NFL this season, the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings who have won six straight since getting thrashed by Philadelphia in Week 2.
The Bills could be without Allen, who has yet to be ruled out but could miss some time in what's becoming a daunting playoff race now that's anything but easy. If Allen can't go, it'll be veteran Case Keenum getting the start. You'll also remember that Keenum led the Vikings to that miraculous 13-win season and NFC championship appearance a few years ago.
“He’s been in multiple different systems and he’s seen a lot of ball,” offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said of the 10-year veteran Keenum. “So I think there’s some merit to having guys like that in your room that can come in and you’ve got a lot of faith in to step in and operate effectively.”
Part of that miracle season was the game-winning touchdown toss to Stefon Diggs in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints. So yes, put two and two together and this is Diggs against the VIkings for the first time. Diggs established himself as one of the game's best receivers while in Minnesota and has become elite with Allen at quarterback.
The Bills will be trying to put that loss to the Jets behind them while the Vikings are trying to capitalize on this incredible start they're on. Minnesota has won six in a row (somehow) and are thriving under first-year coach Kevin O'Connell. Kirk Cousins threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson reeled in 115 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s complementary football that defines good teams in this league,” O’Connell said on Monday. “You don’t always win with style, but when you’re able to win football games and consistently win close games by winning the fourth quarter, that does matter. We hate to put ourselves in position where you need to come from behind and win, but at least we know we’ve kind of removed all doubt and have belief in ourselves that we can go get those wins when we have to.”
The Vikings have benefited from an easy schedule through the first eight games, but the Bills will be a tough start to a ridiculous second-half slate that includes games against the Cowboys, Jets, Giants and a trip to Lambeau against the Packers. Nothing will be easy for them going forward.
Prediction
Even if Allen can't go, going to Buffalo when the weather gets colder is a tough test, and the Vikings have yet to face a defense of this magnitude. It could be a field day for Von Miller and co., and the Bills should be able to escape with a one-score win. Bills by 6
Betting trends
The over is 14-4 when the Vikings play their previous game on the road the last three years.
Vikings are 10-9 ATS in their last 19 road games.
Over is 6-1 in the last three years when the Vikings have 75 rushing yards or fewer the last game.
Bills are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games.
The over is 11-3 the last three years when the Bills play a division game the week prior.
Bills are 10-3 ATS the last three years when winning three of four.
Statistical leaders
Vikings:
Passing: Kirk Cousins -- 1,999 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Dalvin Cook -- 608 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Justin Jefferson -- 867 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Harrison Smith -- 4 INT
Bills:
Passing: Josh Allen -- 2,403 yards, 19 TD, 8 INT
Rushing: Josh Allen -- 392 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Stefon Diggs -- 857 yards, 7 TD
Defense: Von Miller -- 7 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
