1. Barr's reach grows
A lot of outstanding performances went overshadowed when the Bills scored with 1 second left to win 17-16. No player was more of a head-turner than Vikings strongside linebacker Anthony Barr. Barr had a game-high eight solo tackles and 10 overall. But it was his second career pass defense that we'll look at for this Extra Point. Bills receiver Sammy Watkins, as you may have noticed, destroyed the Vikings. But not on the slant pass that was called for him on second-and-6 from the Vikings 11 with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left in the second quarter. That's because Barr was able to alertly diagnose the play and extend his long frame to bat away what could have been a touchdown. "Watkins was in my zone, and I was able to get my eyes back to the quarterback in time to see," Barr said. "And, yeah, long arms helps." They also forced the Bills to kick a field goal.
2. Running behind … Berger & Harris
On one seemingly harmless snap at the 3:49 mark of the first quarter, the Vikings lost two offensive linemen for the game when center John Sullivan (concussion) and right guard Vladimir Ducasse (knee) were injured. "We've had two linemen go down in a game before, but both on the same play?" backup center Joe Berger said. "That's a new one for me." On one snap, the Vikings were down to Berger and third-stringer Mike Harris, who replaced Ducasse, who has started the past four games since Brandon Fusco went down. There didn't appear to be any major malfunctions on the interior line with Berger and Harris in the game. Running back Jerick McKinnon had 14 of his 19 carries and 74 of his 103 yards rushing after Sullivan and Ducasse left. The Bills came into the game with the league's No. 1-ranked run defense and hadn't allowed a 20-yard rush until McKinnon broke two tackles on a 29-yard run in the third quarter. McKinnon ran nine times for 60 yards (6.7) behind Berger and Harris. He ran twice for 11 yards (5.5) behind Sullivan and Ducasse.
3. Flags burn Kalil's day
Embattled left tackle Matt Kalil was penalized twice for 15 yards. He false-started on the first snap of the second possession and was called for illegal use of hands while pass blocking Jerry Hughes late in the third quarter. Kalil has a problem with the latter call, which cost the Vikings 10 yards on second-and-7 from the Buffalo 37. "It's the referee's call, but I don't know," he said. "It's hard for me to accept when I go to block and [Hughes] dips his face down into my hands." Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater also drew two penalties, both for delay of game, including one on third-and-2.
4. Teddy's pocket getting tighter
One could hardly blame Bridgewater if the sack clock in his head has been accelerated during his first four NFL games. After all, the guy has taken 15 sacks, including 13 the past two games. For the most part, this doesn't appear to be a big problem for Bridgewater. However, there was a second-quarter deep ball to Cordarrelle Patterson in which Bridgewater appeared to rush his throw when he had time to make a better one. It came on second down from the Buffalo 38. The ball was incomplete to Patterson, who was covered fairly well near the goal line. "I just have to be better with my ball placement," Bridgewater said. "I don't have to feel the rush or anything. I know there is a time clock going off in my head. But at the same time I just have to put my ball where he can make them pay."
5. Teddy feeling phantom pressure?
Until the protection melted down late in the game, we saw a little bit of what offensive coordinator Norv Turner's offense can do with an effective running game and some acceptable protection. The running game posted 158 yards on 29 carries (5.4) against the NFL's No. 1 run defense. The running game allowed Bridgewater to take five shots down the field. He went 2-for-5 on throws that traveled 20 yards or farther. He went 1-for-2 for 38 yards to Greg Jennings, 1-for-1 for 28 yards to Jarius Wright and 0-for-2 to Patterson.
