“Horrendous second half,” Allen said after the game. “I’ve got to be better.”
The win pushed the Vikings’ record to 8-1, giving them a comfortable lead in the N.F.C. North. Seven of their wins this season have been by 8 or fewer points, with none more improbable than Sunday’s victory in blustery and cold conditions.
The Bills have lost two consecutive games and, at 6-3, are locked in a second-place tie with the Jets in the A.F.C. East, perhaps the league’s most competitive division. Kansas City (7-2) is now the front-runner for the best record in the A.F.C. and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Bills’ past two losses showed how much the team relies on Allen. His arrival in Buffalo in 2018 as a first-round draft pick sparked a resurgence and now the fifth-year quarterback is on pace to eclipse 4,000 passing yards for the third consecutive season. He is also the Bills’ leading runner with 476 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
But when Allen tries to do too much, the Bills are vulnerable. On Sunday, Allen was 29 for 43 passing for 330 yards and one touchdown, plus 84 yards rushing. But his two interceptions gave the Vikings the chances they needed to steal a win.
The Bills, of course, are still in good position to reach the postseason. And the Bills and their fans can exhale now that Allen’s elbow appears strong enough, even after he seemed to injure it further while trying to make a tackle after he threw his first interception on the day. All week, Bills Coach Sean McDermott was coy about Allen’s status. He said Allen’s injury was “day to day” and “hour to hour.” Allen did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but appeared at practice on Friday, then ran off the field to avoid scrutiny.
On Saturday, the Bills kept Matt Barkley, their third-string quarterback, on the practice squad, a sign that McDermott was confident that Allen was well enough to play.
After a slow start, Allen led the Bills to a commanding 24-10 lead at halftime as he completed short passes to the sidelines and scrambled for first downs. The Bills pushed that lead to 17 points on a field goal with 1:51 left in the third quarter.
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