Predicting the Final Score of Vikings vs. Bills

By Keith Alrick @Kramerica100 on October 18, 2014

The Minnesota Vikings take on the Buffalo Bills this week in what might be an elimination game for each team. Both teams have to look at this game as a must-win for their playoff chances. Each team is coming off of a game they would like to forget, but are still in the postseason consideration. And just like everyone thought, it is Teddy Bridgewater versus Kyle Orton.

Bridgewater showed his rookie stripes last week against the Detriot Lions. A lot of the credit has to go to Detroit’s defense, but at some point you have to be able to move the ball a little bit. Bridgewater and the Vikings were never able to figure it out and were stuck in reverse the entire game. Minnesota’s head coach, Mike Zimmer, was especially frustrated with the Vikings’ 17-3 loss to Detroit. Probably because it felt like the most lopsided 14-point game of all-time.

The Vikings have to be able to run the ball to be effective on offense. The problem is they are going against the No. 1 ranked run defense in the league this week. Buffalo is giving up just 67 yards per game on the ground. That is going to make life difficult for Bridgewater, who is making his first career road start.

Kyle Orton will be asked to do a lot less than his counterpart. Orton just needs to avoid mistakes and let the defense do the rest. I would expect Fred Jackson to get a lot of work this week against Minnesota’s mediocre run defense.

I think the future is bright for Minnesota with Bridgewater, but this is going to be another rough week. It’s just not a good matchup for the Vikings because of how good the Bills’ run defense is. I have Buffalo winning this one 17-6.