In no way, shape or form was tonight acceptable,
Kevin O’Connell said. Put 100 percent on me.
The Minnesota Vikings fell 23-6 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium, exposing offensive struggles ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Carson Wentz completed just 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions, finishing with an 8.9 passer rating, according to Pro Football Network.
23-6 FINAL. All fears about the offense appear justified. The Vikings defense was on the field for a whopping 42:32. Carson Wentz's 8.9 passer rating was the lowest for an NFL QB since Sam Darnold's "seeing ghosts" game in 2019. They've lost 2 in a row since a 6-0 start.
Wentz’s performance matched the lowest passer rating by an NFL quarterback with at least 25 attempts since Jets Sam Darnold in 2019, Yahoo Sports noted. Max Brosmer added 58 passing yards in garbage time after replacing Wentz late in the game.
The loss dropped the Vikings to 6-2 despite holding an elite defense, Pioneer Press reported. Kyler Murray missed the contest due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain sustained in practice, leaving the team thin at the position.
Need to be more consistent in staying on the field and keeping our defense off the field. pic.twitter.com/juk6uh2ycQ
NFL insiders have linked the franchise to potential quarterback additions before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. ESPN Adam Schefter reported that the Vikings are watching the quarterback market closely, while Amazon insider James Palmer indicated the team is open to a trade.
Potential trade targets include Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, NBC Sports reported. Jones signed a two-year, $88 million extension in the offseason, while Cousins has experience in Minnesota’s offensive scheme.
Some trade talk on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown: pic.twitter.com/C7yHaLsInz
General manager Nolan Teasley must decide on trades before the NFL deadline. The front office holds draft capital including its own first-, second-, and third-round picks in upcoming drafts.
Minnesota’s offense sputtered early against Buffalo’s defense, failing to record a single first down via a scrimmage play until the second quarter when a defensive holding infraction bailed out the unit.
The offense managed just 35 total yards across its first 18 plays and six total possessions. For the game, the Vikings went 0-for-8 on third-down conversions, while Wentz lost a fumble in addition to his two interceptions before Max Brosmer took over in the fourth quarter.
The team’s defensive unit repeatedly gave the offense favorable field position in the first half, starting drives at the Minnesota 47-yard line, the 45-yard line, the 42-yard line, and the Buffalo 34-yard line.
"I feel like we should win every game. That's just the mindset, that's the expectations that I have every time I step foot out there on the field." – @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/EQkg3esiKu
The offense converted those gifts into a mere three points, mirroring the stagnant script from the previous week’s loss in Detroit. Brian Flores’ defense held Josh Allen and the Bills to 13 points through the first three quarters, but eventually wore down after spending over 42 minutes of game time on the field.
Analysts and observers have pointed out that carrying out the remainder of the campaign with the current quarterback room could waste an elite defensive unit capable of winning in January. Other signal-callers mentioned across the league as theoretical possibilities include Geno Smith, Mac Jones, and Justin Herbert, though acquiring players like Herbert involves considerable complications.
Daniel Jones has familiarity with the organization from his brief stint on the practice squad in 2024, and the franchise previously attempted to sign him before he joined Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins spent several years directing Kevin O’Connell’s offense before departing for Las Vegas, where he has started this season ahead of rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Whether Teasley decides to pull off an aggressive trade or stand pat with Murray, Wentz, and Brosmer remains the central question as the trade deadline approaches. CT deadline arrives.
Appropriately, the Vikings get their first first down on a play where Carson Wentz was sacked. Defensive holding on the Bills.
More on Buffalo Bills
According to @jayglazer the Giants offered a 2nd and a 5th for Jonathan Taylor. Glaze says that offer is “off the table … unless the Colts (price) comes down.” pic.twitter.com/E3th3TSL0n
A different approach to sharing information today: pic.twitter.com/eTwemHtw1B
Kevin O'Connell, asked by @SeifertESPN if the Vikings will consider adding a QB before the trade deadline: "I'll defer to Nolan on that. We've had dialogue about a lot of different positions. Tight turnaround, obviously, playing the Monday night game before that. We'll get right…
Whether it's Cousins, Smith, Jones, Herbert, or anyone who might be out there, the Vikings must trade for a starting quarterback by 3 p.m. on Tuesday to give their all-world defense a shot. More: https://t.co/bYaNahkKuc
