1 - Matt Milano credits teammates for career day
Minnesota entered its Week 3 contest with the Buffalo Bills with the league's fifth-best offensive unit. However, the offense struggled to get anything going against Buffalo's stout defense, gaining just 45 yards in the first half and scoring six total points.
Linebacker Matt Milano was perhaps the Bills' standout defensive player in the victory. The sophomore made an impact in nearly every possible way. He recorded a sack. He deflected two passes. He even intercepted a pass while laying on his back.
Milano's performance in Buffalo's victory was extremely impressive. However, the former Boston College Eagle isn't willing to take full credit for his strong outing.
"It felt good," Milano said. "You know, just playing together as a team. Without Tremaine [Edmunds], I wouldn't have had that pick. Without whoever else, I wouldn't have had that sack. It just feels good to finally get a win under our belt."
“Obviously he did a great job of that flying around today. Getting a sack, an interception. He’s just causing a lot of havoc out there.” Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander
Veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander feels as though Milano had a huge impact on Sunday's game, suggesting that he was a nightmare for Minnesota's offense.
"Anytime Matt is playing with confidence, he's out there making plays," Alexander said. "Obviously he did a great job of that flying around today. Getting a sack, an interception. He's just causing a lot of havoc out there."
“Yes, they are a great defensive front. Great defense, well-coached, great scheme. They have legitimate players at a lot of positions." Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins
2 - Kirk Cousins thinks Josh Allen and the defense played 'a great game'
It's not often that a rookie quarterback outplays a passer who was once the highest paid player in the league, but that's exactly what happened on Sunday.
Rookie Josh Allen led the Bills to a shocking Week 3 victory over Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. Allen played well in what was just his second career start, completing 68 percent of his passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. Although Cousins threw for 100 more yards than Allen did on Sunday (296), he did so on 40 completions, compared to Allen's 15. Most of Cousins' passing yards were picked up in the second half when the Vikings were down by more than three scores.
After the conclusion of the game, Cousins praised Allen's performance, stating that Allen and Buffalo's offense took advantage of his mistakes.
"The little bit I observed from the sideline I thought he played a great game – protecting the football
and they moved the football," Cousins said. "I didn't help anybody by giving them a short field a couple of times and asking so much of our defense by not converting third downs and sustaining drives. We have to play complementary football and I don't know our offense – myself, starting quarterback, I don't know if I complemented the special teams, defense well enough today to give those guys a chance.
Cousins also praised Buffalo's defensive front seven, the unit that forced him into making the mistakes that Allen and company capitalized on.
"Yes, they are a great defensive front," Cousins said. "Great defense, well coached, great scheme. They have legitimate players at a lot of positions. They showed that today and they played a really good game defensively."
3 - Bills defy the odds in win vs. Vikings
The Bills were the underdogs in their Week 3 matchup with the 1-0-1 Minnesota Vikings.
Actually, the term 'underdogs' may be too kind. With the spread set at 16.5 points, oddsmakers weren't even giving Buffalo a chance. According to ESPN's Bill Barnwell, a spread of 15 or more points has only been set for 95 NFL games since 1990. The underdog has only won in four of those contests.
Somebody seemingly forgot to tell the oddsmakers that the Bills operate with an underdog mentality, that they thrive when they're heavily doubted.
Buffalo won its Week 3 matchup with Vikings, scoring 27 first-half points en route to a 27-6 victory. With the win, the Bills became just the fifth team since 1990 to win a game in which they were a 15-plus point underdog.
Buffalo made a little bit of additional history on Sunday, as well. According to Barnwell, no 15-plus point underdog had ever won a game by more than seven points. The Bills won by three scores.
Buffalo opens Week 4 as 10.5 point underdogs against the 1-1-1 Green Bay Packers.
