Week 4 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 12, Buffalo Bills 17

What you need to know

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota lost for the second consecutive week in a game that could have easily gone in their favor. The Vikings marched down the field on their first possession and kicked a field goal to take the early lead but never regained that momentum throughout the remainder of the game. The ground game struggled from the outset with Chester Taylor rushing for just 23 yards on ten carries. Brad Johnson was also inconsistent in the passing game and managed to convert just two of 13 on third down conversion attempts.

Marcus Robinson returned to the Vikings’ lineup and led the receivers with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Jermaine Wiggins led the team with six receptions and contributed 59 yards.

Brad Johnson completed 25 of 44 passes for 267 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Johnson’s 29 yard touchdown pass to Marcus Robinson was the first offensive score in 13 quarters for the Vikings. Johnson used short and intermediate routes to orchestrate two first half field goals but in between the Vikings managed to go three and out on four consecutive possessions.

Buffalo Bills

After losing a heartbreaker last week to the Jets in a game they clearly dominated, the Bills had no turnovers and played stingy on defensive to secure a victory against Minnesota. The Bills fell behind quickly 3-0 but the defense came through shutting down the Vikings’ offense. The Bills took their first lead shortly after with a marathon 12 play, 79 yard match that spanned the first and second quarters. J.P. Losman took advantage of a soft Minnesota coverage scheme to forge their way down the field before McGahee dove in from a yard out to give Buffalo a 7-3 edge.

J.P. Losman’s completed 23 of 32 pass attempts for 222 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions or lost fumbles. Losman took what the defense gave him completed mostly short routes with an occasional deep pass downfield. He was effective at reading blitz from the linebackers and corners and relied on his outlet receiver versus forcing something downfield into coverage.

Willis McGahee carried the load on the ground for Buffalo, scoring his first touchdown of the season on a one yard plunge. He finished the game with 28 carries for 78 yards.

Linebacker Takeo Spikes did not play for the third straight week due to a right hamstring injury. Right guard Chris Villarrial sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

What you ought to know

QB Brad Johnson, Pass: 25 - 44 - 267 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 3 - 18 - 0

Johnson finished the day completing 25 of 44 passes for 267 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He did not look sharp with his passes and had numerous overthrown attempts both short and deep downfield. His receivers’ added to his lackluster game with several dropped balls. Johnson’s only touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter when he pumped faked, stepped up in the pocket and launched a beautiful 29 yard spiral to Marcus Robinson. He had two second half interceptions in the game, one led to a field goal for Buffalo. In fairness to Johnson, one of his interceptions was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Johnson also fumbled the snap from center but was able to recover the ball for Minnesota.

RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 10 - 23 - 0, Rec: 3 - 14 - 0 (4 targets)

Taylor had a disappointing game for the Vikings with just 23 yards on ten carries. His longest run of 11 yards came in the fourth quarter accounting for nearly half his total rushing yards. Three of his carries went for a loss or no gain. Taylor had three catches out of the backfield for 14 yards.

RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 2 - 17 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (2 targets)

Moore played on several of the team’s third down plays and caught two passes for 21 yards. He carried the ball twice for 17 yards including a delay draw play for nine yards that help set up Longwell’s first field goal.

RB Tony Richardson, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (2 targets)

Richardson had two catches for 31 yards with no rushing attempts. Richardson was wide open on his first reception going 25 yards into Bills’ territory before being tackled.

WR Marcus Robinson, Rec: 5 - 78 - 1 (8 targets)

After being inactive last week, Robinson saw plenty of action in this game and was the leading receiver for Minnesota. Robinson had six of his eight targets in the fourth quarter including a 29 yard touchdown catch from Johnson. His biggest target came late in the fourth quarter on deep pass down the right sideline, aided by blown coverage by the Bills, but he was unable to hold on to the ball. The incompletion would have put Minnesota in the red zone with under a minute left in the game. Robinson caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

WR Travis Taylor, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 4 - 28 - 0 (10 targets)

Taylor was Brad Johnson’s favorite target for the game but only caught four passes for 28 yards. His longest reception of the game was just 11 yards, late in the game. Taylor was the intended receiver on Johnson’s second interception.

WR Troy Williamson, Rec: 2 - 27 - 0 (9 targets)

Williamson saw plenty of targets from Brad Johnson but caught just two passes for 27 yards. He was fairly non-existent during the second and third quarter with just one target that Williamson dropped. Williamson was the recipient of several overthrown passes but did have one pass go through his hands that would have kept a drive alive.

WR Billy McMullen, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

McMullen caught his only target of the game for a nine yard gain.

TE Jermaine Wiggins, Rec: 6 - 59 - 0 (8 targets)

Wiggins was the second leading receiver for the Vikings with 59 yards on six receptions. He saw half of his targets in the fourth quarter when Minnesota was forced to pass the ball.

TE Jim Kleinsasser (1 targets)

Kleinsasser could not hold on to his only target of the game.

PK Ryan Longwell 2 - 2 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 6 points

Longwell was perfect on the day hitting two field goals. He played the wind perfectly on his 49 yard attempt splitting the uprights. Longwell also made a 37 yard attempt on Minnesota’s first possession to give them the early lead. Minnesota went for the two point conversion after the only touchdown of the game.

MIN Rush Defense

The Vikings’ rush defense was solid up the middle led by defensive linemen Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and contained Willis McGahee through most of the first half. Minnesota held the Bills to 95 yards rushing on 33 carries and one touchdown.

MIN Pass Defense

The Vikings’ pass defense held the Bills out of the end zone in the first half but allowed a short eight yard score early in the third quarter. The frequent blitzes led to three sacks and plenty of pressure on Losman but did not create any turnover for the defense. Minnesota allowed 222 yards passing and one touchdown.

QB J.P. Losman, Pass: 23 - 32 - 222 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 17 - 0

Losman’s numbers may not be as impressive as last week but he was very effective and did not create any turnovers. He showed his athleticism scrambling out of the pocket to avoid the sack and allow his receivers to get downfield. Losman’s scrambling set up his touchdown pass to Price by escaping the blitz and running up the middle for 15 yards down to the Minnesota eight yard line. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He completed nearly 70% of his passes with only a few errantly thrown attempts and several ball tipped or knockdown at the line of scrimmage.

RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 28 - 78 - 1, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (3 targets)

Early on McGahee had little success rushing as he attempted to penetrate the middle of the Vikings’ defensive line over and over again for little or no gain. After the run plays shifted to more outside attempts, McGahee found a little more running room. McGahee was the workhorse with 28 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. He scored on a one yard touchdown leaping towards the goal line with his outstretched arm to break the plane with the ball. It was the first touchdown of the season for McGahee. McGahee left the field in the first quarter after kneeling on the field for several minutes apparently having the wind knocked out of him on the play. He returned after sitting out a play and would score his touchdown later on that drive. McGahee had just one catch out of the backfield for four yards.

WR Lee Evans, Rec: 7 - 90 - 0 (9 targets)

Evans was busy in the first half with five catches for 74 yards but cooled off in the second with just two receptions. Evans continues to be a favorite target for Losman. He was utilized by Losman in short routes and a couple of deep targets. Evans’ longest reception went for a 23 yard gain deep over the middle during a second quarter drive for the Bills. He finished the game with seven receptions for 90 yards.

WR Peerless Price, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 5 - 40 - 1 (5 targets)

Price had his best game of the season with five catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Price’s touchdown was not only his first of the season but his first since the 2004 season in Atlanta. He scored on an eight yard screen pass from Losman, breaking loose from a swarm of defenders that appeared to give up on the play and sprinted along the sideline into the end zone. Also, Price had an end around play for no gain.

WR Josh Reed, Rec: 4 - 43 - 0 (4 targets)

Reed was targeted on several short underneath passes, but had a leaping 23 yard catch that set up a touchdown in the third quarter. He finished the game with four receptions for 43 yards and the second leading receiver for the Bills.

WR Roscoe Parrish, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (6 targets)

Parrish cooled off from last week’s 100 yard performance with just three catches for 25 yards. He did get an end zone target in the second quarter but the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. His longest catch was a deep pass over the middle that went for a 16 yard gain.

TE Robert Royal, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (3 targets)

On his 13 yard receptions, his only of the game, Royal was brought down inside the red zone at the Vikings’ five yard line. Royal also had a key block on Peerless Price’s touchdown reception.

TE Kevin Everett, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets)

Back up tight end Kevin Everett made his first career reception for a one yard gain.

PK Rian Lindell 1 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Lindell missed his first field goal attempt in the game from 44 yards away, wide right, which clearly was effected by the wind. He made his second, a 28 yard attempt in the fourth quarter. Lindell made both extra point attempts.

BUF Rush Defense

The Bills’ defense smothered the Minnesota running game and held them to just 63 yards for the game. The longest run on the game for Minnesota was just 11 yards by Chester Taylor. Buffalo held Chester Taylor to just 23 yards on ten carries and did not allow Minnesota to find the end zone on the ground.

BUF Pass Defense

The Bills’ pass defense did not blitz often and put little pressure on Brad Johnson which resulted in no sacks for Buffalo. They allowed 267 passing yards and a late fourth quarter touchdown but played a very solid throughout the game. Linebacker Angelo Crowell led the Bills’ with seven tackles and an interception. Veteran linebacker London Fletcher also added an interception for Buffalo.