Latu Scores First TD as Bills Beat Vikings

Buffalo's tight end caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen in a 23-6 Monday Night Football win in Minneapolis.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Football

Latu Scores First TD as Bills Beat Vikings

Buffalo Bills tight end Keleki Latu caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen with 44 seconds left in the first half, giving the Bills the lead for good in a 23-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The win improved Buffalo to 7-1, tying the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL's best record.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Bills among the league's top teams and provides a boost for a depth player who has spent most of his two seasons in Buffalo as a blocker and special-teams contributor. Latu's score was his first NFL touchdown catch and first reception of the season.

Latu, a 6-foot-6, 249-pound tight end, had caught 4 passes for 35 yards in five games as a rookie before this season's score. The touchdown came on a 25-yard throw from Allen with 44 seconds left in the first half.

The players

Keleki Latu

A Buffalo Bills tight end and younger brother of Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent after a single season at Washington.

Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills quarterback who threw the 25-yard touchdown pass to Latu, extending his role as one of the league's most prominent passers.

The details

Latu worked his way to the end zone and was wide open when Allen found him for the score. Latu signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent after playing only the 2024 season at Washington, where he caught 40 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown as a 12-game starter.

2024 season: Latu played his only college season as a starter at the University of Washington.
2025 season: Latu spent most of the year on the Bills' practice squad before being elevated.
Nov. 9, 2026: Latu caught his first NFL touchdown in the Bills' win over the Vikings.

Season Trajectory

The 7-1 start places Buffalo in a tie with San Francisco for the league's best record through the first half of the season. Latu's breakout moment adds depth to a contender that has relied on its established offensive stars.

Latu's emergence as a receiving option gives Bills fans and fantasy managers a new name to track in the tight end rotation. The touchdown also shows Buffalo has depth beyond its starters when the offense needs a different target.

The takeaway

Depth players who contribute on special teams can become meaningful offensive options when an opportunity arises. Latu's score shows how a practice-squad elevation can turn into a defining moment for a contending roster.