Patrick Peterson’s second interception for the Minnesota Vikings sealed a heart-stopping, 33-30 win in overtime against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
The play concluded a wild game in which both teams appeared to win in the final minute of regulation. Buffalo (6-3) seemingly won when it stuffed Kirk Cousins short of the goal line on a fourth-down quarterback sneak.
But on the ensuing play, the Bills botched the snap and Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks recovered the ball on the goal line for a touchdown that gave Minnesota a 30-27 lead with 41 seconds left.
Buffalo recovered with a quick-strike drive directed by Josh Allen. Five plays produced 69 yards to set up Tyler Bass’ third field goal of the game, a 29-yarder with two seconds left that sent the game to overtime.
On the opening possession of overtime, Minnesota drove for a go-ahead field goal, a 33-yarder by Greg Joseph with 3:42 left. That proved to be the game-winner.
It was the seventh straight victory for the Vikings (8-1) and the second time in as many weeks that they rallied from a double-digit margin in the second half.
Buffalo led by 17 points in the second half before Minnesota rallied. After being stuffed all game, Dalvin Cook triggered the comeback with an electric 81-yard touchdown sprint. Cook finished with 119 yards rushing on 14 carries.
In the fourth quarter, with Buffalo going for a potential game-clinching touchdown on a fourth-and-2 play, Peterson intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 39 yards.
Thirteen plays later, C.J. Ham scored on a 3-yard run to slice the deficit to 27-23. And it stayed that way as Joseph banged the extra-point attempt off the right upright.
Minnesota got the ball back and drove behind Cousins, who finished with 30 completions in 50 attempts for 357 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Justin Jefferson did his part as well, making a sensational one-handed grab for 32 yards on a fourth-and-18 play to keep the final drive of regulation alive. Jefferson finished with 10 receptions for 193 yards and a touchdown.
Until throwing his overtime interception, Allen had all the answers for Buffalo. He completed 29 of 43 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown. Allen also ran six times for 84 yards.
He showed no ill effects of his injured right elbow, which kept him out of practice all last week.
In the first quarter, Devin Singletary ran for two touchdowns as Buffalo took a 14-7 lead.
–Field Level Media
