Pro Sports

Bills stun Vikings 27-6 in rookie Allen's 1st road start

Posted September 23, 2018 7:00 am

By DAVE CAMPBELL

Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Josh Allen played with the poise of a well-seasoned quarterback, hustling to give Buffalo an early lead in his first NFL road start.

Then, the Bills turned their defense loose on Kirk Cousins and delivered a stunningly lopsided victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Allen accounted for three touchdowns, making Cousins look like the raw rookie as the Bills beat the Vikings 27-6 on Sunday as 16ˆ½-point underdogs.

"This is a tough place to play. That's a good Vikings defense," said Allen, who became the first Bills rookie quarterback to record at least one rushing and passing score in his first career road start. "It just solidifies the trust that I have in my teammates."

Cousins had three turnovers. He lost a fumble on a third-down sack inside Minnesota's 20-yard line on each of the first two possessions , and Buffalo turned those recoveries into 10 points. The Bills built a 27-0 lead by midway through the second quarter as the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings had won 10 of their last 11 games including the playoffs, began booing with increased intensity.

"Great defense, well-coached, great scheme," Cousins said. "They have legitimate players at a lot of different positions."

The Vikings (1-1-1) allowed the Bills (1-2) to become only the sixth 16-plus-point underdog winner in the NFL's last 81 point spreads of that size. According to ESPN research, the last such winner was Washington over Dallas on Dec. 3, 1995.

"I don't think we took them too lightly," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "I think they came out and kicked our butts."

After being outscored 75-9 over their first six quarters of the season, the Bills have enjoyed a 41-9 advantage over the last six periods.

"We really don't really pay attention to what people think about us," linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. "It's all about internal belief and confidence. If you listen to outside noise, we'd never win a game because nobody respects Buffalo at all. We have to continue to go out and earn that respect."

Allen certainly earned some with this performance.

The seventh overall pick in the draft out of Wyoming who took the job earlier than expected in relief of a struggling Nathan Peterman in the opener, completed 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards. That included a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide-open tight end Jason Croom .

AIRBORNE ALLEN

Though Allen took three sacks and fumbled three times, the Bills were able to recover all of them. He put together a mini-highlight film with his feet while injured running back LeSean McCoy watched in a sweatsuit - with a big smile - from the sideline.

Allen dived to finish a 10-yard run by beating Anthony Barr to the pylon to finish the game's first drive. Later, on third-and-9, Allen hurdled over Barr to land past the first-down marker. He capped that possession with a 1-yard touchdown leap over the goal line on fourth down for a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter.

"He was decisive early, and that's important," coach Sean McDermott said. "It looked like he played with a clear mind."

GROUNDED GAME

With running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) inactive and the score so lopsided, the Vikings set a franchise record for fewest rushing attempts with six. Cousins, who took four sacks, finished 40 for 55 for 296 yards and a late touchdown to Kyle Rudolph .

GOING GREEN

The Vikings inducted the late Dennis Green, who's second behind Bud Grant in winning percentage as a head coach, into their Ring of Honor. Green, who guided the Vikings to the playoffs in eight of his 10 seasons, became the 24th member. The Vikings beat the Bills in all three meetings under Green.

INJURY REPORT

Bills: Beyond McCoy (rib), starting CB Phillip Gaines (elbow) and backup DE Shaq Lawson (hamstring) was inactive. ... Russell Bodine, who started at C for Ryan Groy, left with leg cramps in the third quarter. Groy, who had moved to LG when Vlad Ducasse was injured, shifted back to the middle as Ducasse re-entered. ... CB Ryan Lewis, making his NFL debut in place of Gaines, left with an injury in the fourth quarter. Murphy (ankle) did, too.

Vikings: In addition to Cook and DE Everson Griffen (knee), backup TE David Morgan (knee) and PR Marcus Sherels (ribs) were held out. Griffen was not at the game, and Zimmer said he was dealing with a "personal matter." ... CB Trae Waynes (ankle) left in the first quarter and didn't return. ... RT Rashod Hill (ankle) departed in the second quarter and didn't return.

UP NEXT

Bills: Play at Green Bay next Sunday.

Vikings: Play the Rams in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass over Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) fumbles as he is hit by Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen dives into the end zone over Minnesota Vikings' Sheldon Richardson, left, and Ben Gedeon (42) during a 1-yard touchdown run in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen tries to break a tackle by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Buffalo Bills tight end Jason Croom (80) celebrates after catching a 26-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen dives to the end zone during a 10-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

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