Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Vikings set franchise low for time with the ball in loss to Bills
The Minnesota Vikings lost 23-6 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Minnesota had the ball for 17 minutes, 28 seconds, a franchise low across 1,064 games since the team began play in 1961.
The previous low was 17 minutes, 38 seconds, in a 41-0 loss to the New York Giants in the 2000 NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings’ offense struggled to keep possession, with two three-and-outs and a fumble on their first three drives.
The Bills held the ball for 42 minutes, 32 seconds and gained 22 first downs, while Minnesota managed nine.
The Vikings’ offense could not sustain drives, and the team will look to respond in its next game.
The Minnesota Vikings had a franchise-record-low 17:28 of possession in a 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The previous low was 17:38, set in the NFC Championship Game after the 2000 season.
The Vikings had only nine first downs, while the Bills had 22.
The Bills held the ball for 42:32, the second-highest time of possession in their franchise history.
- Who
- The Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
- What
- The Vikings lost 23-6 and set a franchise low with 17:28 of possession.
- When
- Monday night; the article was published November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The Vikings’ offense could not stay on the field, while the Bills sustained long drives.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Minnesota Vikings franchise began.
The Vikings set their previous franchise low of 17:38 in an NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants.
The Vikings lost 23-6 to the Bills and recorded 17:28 of possession.
- Vikings' possession
- 17:28
- Final score
- Bills 23, Vikings 6
- Vikings' first downs
- 9
- Bills' first downs
- 22
- Previous Vikings low
- 17:38, after the 2000 season
- Bills' possession
- 42:32
What people are saying
The Vikings’ time of possession of 17:28 in Monday night’s 23-6 loss to the Bills was their lowest in franchise history.