Bills Defense Shuts Down Ravens, Vikings
Buffalo's defense held Baltimore and Minnesota under 200 total yards in consecutive wins with no passing touchdowns allowed.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Football
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 8 and the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 9. Neither opponent threw a passing touchdown, and both were held under 200 total yards.
Why it matters
The back-to-back performances mark a sharp turnaround for a defense that had allowed 28.0 points per game before the Week 7 bye. The stretch strengthens Buffalo's standing in the AFC race as the team looks to extend the run.
The Ravens were held to 91 passing yards and the Vikings to 139, with both opponents under 50 percent completion and multiple sacks and three or more takeaways recorded in each win. Lamar Jackson played only one offensive play for Baltimore in Week 8.
The players
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football franchise in the National Football League's AFC East division, based in Buffalo, New York.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football franchise in the NFL's AFC North division, based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football franchise in the NFC North division of the NFL, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The details
Edge rusher Greg Rousseau and second-round rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun stepped up in recent performances. The defense generated multiple sacks and at least three takeaways in each of the two wins, and no passing touchdowns were allowed in either game.
Timeline
Early October: Defensive coordinator Leonhard challenged the unit to become good at something.
Week 7: Bills played their bye week.
Week 8: Bills defeated the Ravens at home.
Week 9: Bills defeated the Vikings on the road.
Next game: Bills face the New York Jets.
Season Trajectory
The stretch recalls the 1985 Chicago Bears defense, which powered a Super Bowl XX title over New England, and marks the first comparable defensive run in roughly 40 years. For Buffalo, the wins tighten its position in a competitive AFC playoff picture.
A third straight stingy defensive outing against the Jets would strengthen the Bills' AFC standing and keep the unit's sack and takeaway numbers high for fantasy defense rosters. The result will show whether the recent form is sustainable for the rest of the season.
The takeaway
Buffalo's back-to-back wins show that a defense can reverse a season-long struggle quickly when pressure and turnovers return. Watching whether the unit keeps the passing game in check against the Jets will show how durable the change is.
What happens next
Buffalo next faces the New York Jets, and a win would extend the defense's streak to three consecutive games.
Further reading
For more on the team's recent progress, see Buffalo Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
