NFL Preview | November 9, 2026
Week 9 closes with two 6-1 teams and a quarterback swap. Buffalo has the NFL's highest-scoring offense, Minnesota has one of its best defenses, and Carson Wentz starts for the Vikings with Kyler Murray out. Kickoff is 8:15 PM ET on ESPN and ABC from U.S. Bank Stadium.
The NFL's Top-Scoring Offense Meets Minnesota's Defense
Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings | 8:15 PM ET | ESPN/ABC
KEY STAT
33.3
Points per game for the Bills, the highest average in the NFL. Minnesota's offense has averaged 20.0.
Buffalo is 6-1 and coming off a 36-10 win over Baltimore. Josh Allen has 1,793 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions, plus nine rushing touchdowns. The challenge on Monday is protection against Brian Flores's blitz-heavy defense, led by Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner: tackle Dion Dawkins (rib) did not practice all week and is questionable, along with lineman Alec Anderson (ankle), receiver Tyrell Shavers (knee), nose tackle Greg Gaines (calf) and defensive back Jordan Hancock (hamstring). Receiver Josh Palmer (hamstring) is out.
Minnesota is also 6-1 but is coming off its first loss, a 19-15 defeat at Detroit in which the offense managed 266 yards and five three-and-outs. Kyler Murray has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is out, so Carson Wentz makes his first start since Week 2. Receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) and running back Demond Claiborne (knee) are also out, and safeties Theo Jackson (quad) and Jay Ward (knee) are questionable. Wentz has Justin Jefferson to lean on and a defense that ranks at the top of the league in pressure rate, though this is the Vikings' first primetime game of the season.
Buffalo wins if Allen and the offense handle the pressure and the Bills' backups on the line hold up.
Minnesota wins if the defense disrupts Allen's rhythm and Wentz leans on Jefferson to produce enough to stay in range.
Lean Buffalo -3 (Toss-up), and lean the under 43.5 (Lean).
THE CARD · BUF @ MIN
The line BUF -3 · MIN +3 · total 43.5 · BUF -3.5 and 44.5 earlier in the week · DraftKings
This season BUF 5-2 ATS, 5-2 O/U · MIN 4-3 ATS, under in five straight as a home favorite
Rest & availability BUF 8 days, Palmer out, Dawkins, Anderson, Shavers, Gaines and Hancock questionable · MIN 8 days, Murray, Jennings and Claiborne out, T. Jackson and Ward questionable, Wentz starting
Lean BUF -3 (Toss-up) · Under ↓ 43.5 (Lean)
Driven by the matchup. Buffalo has the better quarterback and offense, but its line is banged up against one of the league's best pass rushes, and Minnesota is 5-0-1 against the spread in its last six Week 9 games, so the side stays close to even. Both defenses rank at the top of the league in pressure rate and Minnesota's games have been skewing under, which supports the under.
What to Watch For Monday Night.
Watch Dawkins' status, how Wentz handles Buffalo's pass rush in his first start since Week 2, and whether Allen can punish the Vikings with his legs when the pocket breaks down. That closes out Week 9. We'll have the recap Tuesday, with every card graded and the season record updated.
