The fourth and final preseason game is usually a pretty harum-scarum event … few of the starters will even dress for the game, meaning that it’s the very last chance for a lot of players to impress the coaches before the final cutdown deadline (which is 4pm Eastern time). With that “do or die” mentality, the chance for injuries goes up, because the difference between an amazing play that impresses the coaches and a bone-headed stunt that amazes the paramedics can be microscopic. Fortunately, neither the Buffalo Bills nor the Minnesota Vikings appeared to suffer any serious injuries at Ralph Wilson stadium on Thursday night.
Minnesota’s preseason MVP, quarterback Kyle Sloter, got the start and did … okay. Unlike his other appearances for the Vikings, he didn’t seem to electrify the team, although he only made one serious error that hurt the Vikings (his first-ever NFL interception). He finished the night with a stat line that wasn’t bad, but failed to achieve the gaudy levels he’s put up in the past: 16 of 24 for 163 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating was 82.5.
Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter prepares to receive the snap from centre Brett Jones during the first half of the last 2019 preseason game in Buffalo. The Bills won the game 27-23.
Screencapture from a YouTube video on the Minnesota Vikings official channel.
At Vikings Territory, Joe Johnson sums up the action on the field:
The Vikings dominated time of possession, something that has to make Zimmer happy despite the fact the Vikings lost the game, thanks to the strong run game across the board. De’Angelo Henderson led the running back group with 59-yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while Ameer “I’m Still Here” Abdullah had 21-yards rushing on five carries and a 15-yard touchdown completion. Mike Boone had 19 yards rushing on six carries and Khari Blasingame had 19-yards as well, though on one more carry than Boone. That helped the Vikings control the clock for over 36 minutes and outpaced the Bills in terms of first-downs (with 25 to their 15).
Despite that control, Browning and the Vikings were unable to convert late-game possessions to extend drives and keep the game out of reach for the Bills. That allowed the Bills to score three touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game to stun the Vikings third-stringers, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with under ten seconds left.
New Vikings kicker Kaare Vedvik missed a 37-yard field goal early in the game after starting the game with a made extra point. That was the third miss in a row to start his Vikings career for the new kicker (that the Vikings gave a 2020 5th-round pick for last weekend), and while he made his next kick, it was a gimme (outside of the 2015 Wildcard Round) of only 27-yards. Veteran kicker Dan Bailey most likely solidified his role as the-2019 kicker (with Chad Beebe most likely holding for him), which makes you wonder what the Vikings will do with Vedvik and punter Matt Wile.
