Week 3 Ups and Downs: Minnesota Vikings vs Buffalo Bills

(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) Kirk Cousins
(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) Kirk Cousins
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 23: C.J. Ham #30 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled with the ball by Eddie Yarbrough #54 of the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: C.J. Ham #30 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled with the ball by Eddie Yarbrough #54 of the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

The Good Stuff vs Bills

  1. It wasn’t a shutout! For a while, it looked like this game was going to be as painful as the 0-41 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants on Jan. 14, 2001, but at least the Vikings got on the board to save what could have made a humiliating game even more embarrassing.
  2. A 70-yard punt! Matt Wile offered one of the few highlights for the Vikings in the first half by booming a late second-quarter punt nearly all the way down the field. It was a great kick that put Minnesota in position to control field position.
  3. Filling in. Stephen Weatherly did a solid job filling in for Everson Griffen, notching a sack, two quarterback hits, and leading the team in tackles with seven (five solo). The Vikings should feel good if he needs to fill in as a starter in the future. Plus, Tashawn Bower was good as well, adding six tackles (four solo), one for a loss.
  4. Some redemption! Laquon Treadwell looked bad last week, dropping some key passes that could have been game-changing. This week, the receiver hauled in all four of his targeted passes for 33 yards. This is the player the Vikings need on a more regular basis.
  5. More than a blocker. C.J. Ham got to be more than a blocker during the game, showing plenty of toughness as well as some good hands as a pass catcher. Hauling in five of the six passes thrown his way totaling 47 yards, Ham ended with the third most receiving yards on the squad.

Schedule