FINAL: The #Vikings fall to the Bills 17-16. pic.twitter.com/8pWmR3tQzD
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 19, 2014
Kyle Orton isn’t former Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, but Orton delivered a masterpiece on the final drive of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, leading the Buffalo Bills down the field for the game-winning touchdown pass to rookie Sammy Watkins with one second left in the game.
Final score: Bills 17, Vikings 16
The winning drive featured a fourth-and-20 first-down conversion to tight end Scott Chandler and a third-and-12 conversion to Watkins. After an intentional grounding penalty backed the Bills up 10 yards to the 30-yard-line, Orton connected with Chris Hogan for a 29-yard gain to the Minnesota one-yard line.
Buffalo raced to the line-of-scrimmage and spiked the ball with five seconds to play. Moments later, it was Orton hitting Watkins along the sideline for the winning two-yard score.
The Buffalo Bills are now 2-1 with Kyle Orton as starting QB. http://t.co/F2CsnkGII5 pic.twitter.com/2JZ2DzQCC0
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 19, 2014
Watkins finished with nine receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Minnesota’s lone touchdown was a five-yard pass from rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. The rest of the points came on field goals by Blair Walsh, including a 55-yard hit late in the first half.
That is the team's first passing touchdown since Week 2 and first touchdown reception by a wide receiver since the opener. #Vikings
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) October 19, 2014
Bridgewater finished 15 of 26 for 157 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times. Viking quarterbacks have been sacked 19 times the past three games.
Minnesota’s defense was outstanding before faltering on Buffalo’s final drive (15 plays, 80 yards). They forced four turnovers and sacked Orton six times. Everson Griffen finished with three sacks while Tom Johnson, Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph each had a sack. Rookie linebacker Anthony Barr had 10 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Game notes
Mike Zimmer coached the game in pain. He missed practice on Friday for a minor procedure, which was related to kidney stones. Zimmer will undergo a procedure on Tuesday to relieve the pain.
As I reported pre-kickoff here, Mike Zimmer is coaching today with kidney stones. Procedure to remove scheduled Tuesday in Minn. @nflonfox
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) October 19, 2014
After missing three straight games with broken ribs, linebacker Chad Greenway started and made an impact on the Bills’ opening drive of the game, forcing a fumble for a turnover.
The Vikings lost center John Sullivan and right guard Vladimir Ducasse to injury on the same play late in the first quarter. Neither returned. Sullivan was diagnosed with a concussion, according to FOX 9’s Dawn Mitchell.
The Bills lost starting running back Fred Jackson to a groin injury and backup running back C.J. Spiller to a shoulder injury. Neither played in the second half.
