3 most monumental turning points for the Vikings in win over the Bills

Which moments from their Week 10 matchup on Sunday ultimately led to the Minnesota Vikings walking off the field with a win over the Buffalo Bills?

They did it. The Minnesota Vikings did what very few thought they were capable of and they got a big road win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

A 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter felt like a victory was out of reach for the Vikings. But Minnesota never lost hope, and they clawed their way back to an improbable win over a very talented Bills team.

Throughout the matchup, there were certain moments in which the Vikings were able to gain some momentum back in their favor, and eventually, this momentum propelled them to a victory. Some people would label these specific moments as turning points.

When it comes to all of the craziness that went down on Sunday in Buffalo, what were the three biggest turning points for Minnesota in their impressive win over a Super Bowl favorite?

Cook’s long touchdown run

After Bills kicker Tyler Bass hit a 45-yard field goal to give his team a 17-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, many felt the deficit was too large for the Vikings to overcome. Buffalo was on their way to an easy victory and Minnesota was going to have to answer to all of their critics after the loss.

But Vikings running back Dalvin Cook had other plans.

Cook took the handoff from the Vikings’ own 19-yard line and proceeded to run 81 yards for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. It was the spark that Minnesota needed.

Before this play, Cook hadn’t really done much on the ground during the matchup. But he proved, once again, with this long run in the third quarter, that he is capable of making a big, game-altering play any time he gets the football in his hands.

Cook’s score cut Buffalo’s lead to 10 points and a comeback no longer felt like something impossible for the Vikings. Minnesota had hope, and that’s all they needed.

Jefferson’s incredible 4th-down catch

Throughout his short career, we’ve seen Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson make some very impressive plays. But none might ever top what he did on Sunday in Buffalo.

With less than two minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, Minnesota needed a miracle to convert a 4th-and-18 from their own 27-yard line into a first down. Once he received the snap, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins decided to fire the ball in the direction of Jefferson, and the rest was history.

Somehow, someway, Jefferson hauled in the catch to give the Vikings a first down and keep their comeback hopes alive. This reception is easily one of the greatest in Minnesota’s franchise history, if not the greatest.

Once Jefferson made this catch, it felt like something else was on the Vikings’ side, and a victory was almost inevitable.

Unfortunately, Minnesota was unable to end this offensive drive with a go-ahead touchdown after they were shut down on the goal line. However, that failure led to the Vikings’ third and final gigantic turning point of the matchup.

Kendricks’ fumble recovery touchdown

The game was basically over. The Vikings failed to score a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute left in the contest, and the Bills were going to hold on for the win.

All Buffalo had to do was gain a few yards to run out the game clock. It seemed simple enough. But then something miraculous happened.

At first, the majority of people watching the matchup thought that Minnesota had earned a safety by tackling Bills quarterback Josh Allen in his own end zone. But then the outcome of the play turned out to be something even better for the Vikings.

Allen actually fumbled the snap inside Buffalo’s end zone and Minnesota linebacker Eric Kendricks wound up recovering the football to miraculously give the Vikings the lead.

No one thought a play like this was even possible. But, once again, Minnesota’s defense never gave up hope, and they were there to take advantage of the Bills’ huge mistake.

Without this moment, the Vikings don’t win the game.