3 worst moments from the Vikings’ loss to the Bills in Week 3
By Adam Patrick
1. Barr gets embarrassed by a rookie
As one of the few talented young players that didn’t get a contract extension from the Vikings this year, the 2018 season is pretty important for the future of linebacker Anthony Barr in the Twin Cities.
Well, when his agent may want to burn the tape of Sunday’s game against the Bills before getting into any contract negotiations with Minnesota or any other team next year. Barr certainly had a performance to forget this week.
Known as a player that does a pretty good job at containing opposing quarterbacks, the Vikings linebacker was embarrassed by Buffalo rookie signal-caller Josh Allen on more than one occasion on Sunday.
On the Bills’ first offensive drive of the game, Allen was able to outrun Barr to the left pylon in the end zone and score Buffalo’s first touchdown of the day. Okay, that was fine. Plays like that happen sometimes.
But later in the first quarter, with the Bills up 17-0, the young Buffalo quarterback took off running. Allen was headed straight at Barr and it appeared as though he was about to be tackled by the Minnesota linebacker.
Minnesota Vikings
Nope, that’s not what happened.
Instead of Barr wrapping up the Bills quarterback for an easy tackle, Allen hurdled over the Vikings linebacker and gained enough yards for a first down. Good luck to Barr trying to forget about that play too as every sports network will likely be replaying that highlight over and over again this week.
Four plays later, the Minnesota defender had another chance to wrap up Allen. Facing a 2nd and Goal from the Vikings’ 18-yard line, the Buffalo quarterback took off running again and was headed out of bounds for a small gain.
However, the short gain quickly turned into a big one after Barr was flagged for a horse collar tackle on Allen and Minnesota was penalized 15 yards.
The Bills ended up getting into the end zone shortly after Barr’s penalty and the Vikings found themselves down 24-0 early in the second quarter.
Sunday was definitely a day to forget for the talented Minnesota linebacker and the rest of his teammates.