THE GREATEST GAME

VIKINGS 33

BILLS 30

OT

Oh please, as if an instant classic like this can possibly be summarized in a blog post.

This was one of the greatest regular season wins in the history of the Vikings. And one of the most improbable.

The Bills had a 14 point halftime lead, a lead they had not blown in a home game since 1968. They led by 17 points late in the 3rd quarter. They had possession of the ball with under a minute left.

I have been saying since August that Buffalo is the super bowl favorite, that nobody will go in there and win. And to do it, you absolutely have to bring your A game. 

The Vikings did not have their A game today. Our defense was often hapless against Josh Allen. Kirk Cousins threw 2 of the absolute worst interceptions of his whole career. We had some very poor playcalling at times. We were down to a backup LT and a corner just off the practice squad. Oh, and our idiot kicker beefed another PAT. The refs even screwed us on multiple occasions. 

None of it mattered, because this magical Vikings season reached a stunning new high, with an absolute rollercoaster of a comeback win. This is the kind of game that rises to legendary status. We will be talking about this game for years. Maybe forever. 

This game stood as a major measuring stick for the Vikings. Despite their 7-1 start, nobody seems to be taking them seriously. People seem to be taking pride in how little regard they show this team, as if close wins aren't wins. 

Much of the week there was some uncertainty about who would start at QB for Buffalo. Josh Allen was hurt last week and didn't practice much. It looked like Case Keenum might be the guy, but no, it was Allen. 

We had one of our trademark opening touchdown drives. It culminated with a terrific TD catch by Justin Jefferson, who was just getting started. But our defense quickly became a toy for Allen to play with. Buffalo scored on their next 3 drives, twice finishing with rushing TDs. Allen was running on us and throwing on us whenever he wanted. It wasn't looking good.

At 14-7 Bills, Kirk Cousins sailed a pass down the middle which got picked off. Absolutely can't give away possessions in this game. We also blew one drive by botching a 3rd and 4th and 1 by trying to throw on both downs. Occasionally KOC is still prone to some rookie coaching blunders. 

Buffalo followed the pick with a field goal. We also got a field goal, but our defense was proving to be a sieve and the Bills were steamrolling down the field, seemingly destined for another touchdown, before we forced a fumble on a run. Cam Bynum had a nice return, but then we had the aforementioned turnover on downs. 

Buffalo zipped right back down to take that 24-10 lead they were about to earlier. And so ended a deeply frustrating half. We had botched a couple drives. We had our hands on 2 Allen passes without picking them off. 

Our usually bad 3rd quarter play continued. We were driving to start the quarter, but then inexplicably Kirk threw the worst interception of his career, right to a Bills defender with no Viking even in the area. I defend Kirk all the time but this was an abominable play. 

The Vikings defense was able to hold the Bills to just a single field goal on the next 2 drives, keeping the door slightly open. Although how open was the door down 27-10 on the road to the mighty Bills? 

Following that Bills field goal, Dalvin Cook burst loose for a career best 81 yard TD run.

And then we were into the 4th quarter, the site of so many clutch Vikings moments the last 6 games. 

Buffalo seemed to be about to re-establish full control of the game the next drive. We gave up a pair of 3rd and long conversions, including one absolutely ridiculous leaping one handed grab by Stefon Diggs. The Bills got down inside the 10, and faced a 4th and 2. They went for a knockout punch, but Allen's endzone pass was picked off by Patrick Peterson.

The Vikings built a drive. It took a pair of super clutch 4th down conversions that would soon be overshadowed. On the first, KJ Osborn just barely snuck past the marker on a run, and on the 2nd Kirk fired a dart to TJ Hockenson. Now they hit their stride. Kirk hit Thielen along the sidelines for a big gainer, then Kirko Chains took off for a 15 yard run to barrel inside the 5. Two plays later CJ Ham ran in for his first touchdown in years.

That dipshit Greg Joseph clanged the PAT off the upright to keep it a 4 point game. This too would be a twist soon buried. (Although we gotta cut this guy before he costs us in January)

The Vikings defense stood strong and forced a 3 and out and here we were yet again. Late 4th quarter, needing a drive to win. Could they possibly do this again? 

It didn't look like it. We got one first down but then Kirk got sacked on 2 out of 3 plays, burying us in a seemingly hopeless 4th and 18 spot. 

But we have Justin Jefferson. On 4th down, Kirk launched a prayer down the right sideline. Somehow, Jefferson leaped up, and with one hand (in between 2 hands of a Bills defender) snatched the ball away. Words fail to describe this play. It may be the greatest catch in Vikings history, and considering the stakes one of the great catches in NFL history. It will be the centerpiece of every Justin Jefferson highlight package that ever exists from here on out. It might make him an MVP frontrunner. 

But we still had a game to win. Kirk hit Thielen for 9, and a personal foul tacked on another 15. Kirk hit Jefferson on another dart inside the 5. This was really going to happen!

On 1st and goal, Ed Ingram stepped on Kirk's foot (for the 2nd time) and we lost yardage. 2 plays later Kirk hit JJ on a quick slant and for a moment it looked like he got in the endzone. Replay showed JJ just a trace short, setting.up 4th and goal at the 1. We actually got two tries at this. Try one had Cook bobble a would be TD catch but the Bills were grossly offsides. 

Then Kirk did a QB sneak. It was pretty damn obvious to me that Kirk fell into the endzone with the ball crossing the white, but the officials ruled him short. Replay stood. I fucking hated this. Here is why. If that play happens prior to the 2 minute warning it gets ruled a TD to trigger an automatic review. But under 2 minutes anything can be reviewed, so the officials decided not to rule it a TD. So then they have the replay and decide it was inconclusive. It's a horrible way to rig the system, and after this happened it looked like the Vikings had quite simply had a win stolen from them. 

But karma swooped in and gave us a miracle. Buffalo only needed to run out the clock from their own 1, but, in a play that NEVER happens, Allen fumbled the snap at the goal line. Eric Kendricks was there to jump on the ball, and the doomed Vikings had one of the most stunning touchdowns ever. Major credit to the defense for playing hard even on what in 99.99% of instances is nothing more than a formality play. This team truly does not quit even when things appear the most hopeless. 

Joseph did hit the PAT this time. But it wasn't over yet. The Bills still had some time, and took advantage with the help of some of the softest prevent defense you will ever see. (And the refs letting an incomplete pass go unreviewed) We even needed Andrew Booth to wisely commit a PI to prevent a possible last second TD throw. Buffalo tied it and we were off to overtime. 

CJ Ham won us the coin toss. We came out looking to end things fast. Cook with 2 nice runs. Kirk hit JJ for a first down, then JJ drew a DPI. Again it was JJ on what had to be Kirk's best throw of the day, a pinpoint perfect pass down to the 2. We were just 2 yards away from a glorious win. But we went backwards, first on a Cook run (on a play the Bills had 12 men out there, uncalled), then a sack. We had to settle for a field goal, which did not end the game. What a missed opportunity. 

And it quickly looked like we would forever regret it, as Allen went into unstoppable mode, rushing for 18, then for 20 (dragging Kendricks along the way). A pair of Diggs catches got them down to the 20, and I was begging to salvage a tie at this point. 

Allen went for the win, but Duke Shelley of all people made a huge pass breakup in the endzone. Then Allen again went for the win, but Peterson stepped in to pick it off and deliver the knockout blow in a thrilling win.

This is unquestionably one of the top 5 Vikings games I have ever seen, certainly regular season. I have never seen a game with such massive momentum swings late like this, and so many moments that will live on.

That this team becomes something new once that 4th quarter hits is not news. For 7 weeks now this team has been showing itself over and over to be the most clutch team in franchise history. But they had never done it at this level, against this level of opponent. I still think Buffalo is a super bowl favorite. 

Games like this can be transformative. This could be our new 1998 Lambeau game. This could be the game where a fun story turns into something very, very real. So much history would tell us this Vikings team cannot win the super bowl. But they are showing week after week a resolve and an ability to rise up in big moments that this franchise has not had.

Practically speaking a win like this just means another win. We are not suddenly guaranteed anything. But it's time to start dreaming of this increasingly magical season ending in February with Kevin O'Connell going back to back.