Closing spread
MIN -5
Total
43.5
Model margin
+4.7est.
MIN perspective
Push chance
2.0%est.
Availability
The injury report
The official league filing for this week — game designations first, then who missed or was limited in practice.
Bills
- OutDwan EdwardsDEHamstring· DNP
- OutEric WoodGAnkle· DNP
- OutReggie TorborLBShoulder· DNP
- OutShawn NelsonTEIllness· DNP
- DoubtfulTerrence McGeeCBKnee· DNP
- QuestionableTorell TroupDTFibula· Limited
- ProbableC.J. SpillerRBHamstring· Full
- ProbableChris KelsayLBIllness· Full
- ProbableDemetress BellTKnee· Full
- ProbableSpencer JohnsonDEHamstring· Full
Vikings
- OutChris CookCBKnee· DNP
- QuestionableAdrian PetersonRBAnkle· Limited
- QuestionableGreg LewisWRConcussion· DNP
- QuestionableJamarca SanfordSHamstring· Limited
- QuestionablePercy HarvinWRIllness· DNP
- QuestionableRay EdwardsDEAnkle· Limited
- QuestionableSteve HutchinsonGThumb· DNP
- ProbableBernard BerrianWRGroin· Full
- ProbableBrett FavreQBright Shoulder· Full
- ProbableEric FramptonSHamstring· Full
- ProbableHusain AbdullahSAnkle· Full
- ProbableSidney RiceWRHip· Full
Win probability
- Vikings
- Bills
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- -0.106EPA / play-0.112
- 40.1%Success rate42.3%
- -0.089EPA / dropback-0.105
- -0.132EPA / rush-0.121
- 8.1%Explosive rate9.3%
- -1.94CPOE-2.30
- 38.1%Third-down rate34.1%
- 60.1%Red-zone TD rate48.7%
- 1.49Points / drive1.25
- 3.6%Turnover rate3.5%
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
BUF lead 4–3 since 1999
Meetings average 50.3 points. MIN are 3-4 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | BUF–MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIN | Q1 15:00 | 3 | 5 | Turnover | 0–0 |
| BUF | Q1 13:33 | 3 | 3 | Punt | 0–0 |
| MIN | Q1 12:03 | 6 | 44 | Punt | 0–0 |
| BUF | Q1 9:03 | 6 | 18 | Punt | 0–0 |
| MIN | Q1 5:59 | 3 | 6 | Opp touchdown | 7–0 |
| MIN | Q1 4:34 | 5 | 70 | Touchdown | 7–7 |
| BUF | Q1 1:45 | 0 | 0 | Touchdown | 7–7 |
| MIN | Q1 1:37 | 5 | 9 | Touchdown | 7–14 |
| BUF | Q2 14:56 | 3 | 2 | Punt | 7–14 |
| MIN | Q2 13:07 | 5 | 45 | Touchdown | 7–21 |
| BUF | Q2 11:00 | 4 | 11 | Turnover | 7–21 |
| MIN | Q2 8:47 | 2 | 5 | Touchdown | 7–28 |
| BUF | Q2 8:00 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 7–28 |
| MIN | Q2 5:08 | 11 | 62 | Field goal | 7–31 |
| BUF | Q3 15:00 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 7–31 |
| MIN | Q3 13:14 | 3 | 6 | Turnover | 7–31 |
| BUF | Q3 11:52 | 3 | 35 | Turnover | 7–31 |
| MIN | Q3 10:40 | 5 | 28 | Punt | 7–31 |
| BUF | Q3 7:18 | 7 | 42 | Punt | 7–31 |
| MIN | Q3 2:47 | 5 | 30 | Turnover | 7–31 |
| BUF | Q3 0:04 | 2 | -3 | Turnover | 7–37 |
| MIN | Q4 14:52 | 1 | 43 | Touchdown | 7–38 |
| BUF | Q4 14:46 | 9 | 68 | Turnover | 7–38 |
| MIN | Q4 9:25 | 5 | 17 | Punt | 7–38 |
| BUF | Q4 5:45 | 5 | 43 | Touchdown | 14–38 |
| MIN | Q4 4:43 | 6 | 17 | Punt | 14–38 |
| BUF | Q4 0:23 | 1 | 5 | End of half | 14–38 |
Box score
Individual performances
Bills
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | 15/25 | 158 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Jackson | 11 | 42 | 3.8 | 0 |
| C.J. Spiller | 7 | 35 | 5.0 | 0 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Donald Jones | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Evans | 3 | 6 | 72 | 0 |
| Steve Johnson | 2 | 4 | 36 | 0 |
| David Nelson | 4 | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| Fred Jackson | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Donald Jones | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| C.J. Spiller | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| David Martin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Vikings
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarvaris Jackson | 15/22 | 187 | 2 | 3 |
| Brett Favre | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Peterson | 16 | 107 | 6.7 | 3 |
| Toby Gerhart | 12 | 54 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Albert Young | 10 | 27 | 2.7 | 0 |
| Tarvaris Jackson | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Rice | 5 | 6 | 105 | 2 |
| Greg Camarillo | 2 | 5 | 27 | 0 |
| Jimmy Kleinsasser | 3 | 3 | 25 | 0 |
| Visanthe Shiancoe | 2 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| Bernard Berrian | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| Adrian Peterson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Toby Gerhart | 1 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Vikings; negative favour Bills.
Half-point at risk
1.97%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
61.6%
Expected total
42.1est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+2.23
- Home-field advantage+2.49
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+4.72



