Bills Vs. Vikings Final Score: Minnesota Defeats Buffalo 36-14

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Buffalo Bills 36-14 in a Week Two exhibition game Friday night at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Vikings opened scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Christian Ponder connected on a one-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jerome Felton. A 22-yard Blair Walsh field goal -- the first of five Walsh field goals in the contest -- gave Minnesota a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Donald Jones early in the second period to bring the Bills within three points, but Buffalo never led in the contest. Audie Cole, a Minnesota seventh-round draft pick, intercepted two passes late in the fourth quarter and managed to return them both for touchdowns, extending the Vikings' final margin of victory to 22 points.

Buffalo starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played well into the second quarter, completing eight of eleven pass attempts for 58 yards and a touchdown. Backup Vince Young put in a solid performance, going 8/14 for 123 yards. The Bills managed just 68 yards rushing, though Fred Jackson was able to break a 20-yard run in the second quarter. Naaman Roosevelt caught six passes for 60 yards.

Much of the focus for the Vikings was on who was not playing: Halfback Adrian Peterson returned to practice this week, but was unavailable for tonight's game. Jared Allen and Percy Harvin returned to action after sitting out last week's game in San Francisco, with Harvin catching one pass for 21 yards. Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder completed ten of his thirteen pass attempts for 136 yards and a touchdown, though he was sacked twice. Backup quarterback Joe Webb was just 7/15 passing, but did manage to lead the team in rushing (64 yards on just two carries).