Minnesota’s dream start is unraveling, and the trade deadline is less than a day away. A miserable night on offense has left the team facing a big decision at quarterback.
Carson Wentz posted the worst quarterback performance of the NFL season as the Minnesota Vikings lost 23 to 6 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football on Nov. 9, 2026.
How bad was Carson Wentz’s night?
Wentz completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions, and a third was dropped. His total quarterback rating of 2.3, a measure on a scale of 0 to 100, was the lowest by any starter this season.
It was the worst by a Vikings quarterback since Tarvaris Jackson posted 1.8 in 2006 and the lowest on Monday Night Football since Sam Darnold’s 1.1 in 2019, the game in which Darnold was heard saying he was seeing ghosts.
Carson Wentz said he had not made many starts in recent years but that this one felt terrible and was not his favorite. He did not make excuses for the performance.
What did the Vikings coach say?
The coach said he tried several ways to get Carson Wentz going after early misses on easy throws. He said he wanted a balanced offense but admitted that was a mistake, saying he should have run the ball more and lived with the results on third downs.
Running backs Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason combined for just 11 carries on 46 plays. Asked whether calling plays has ever felt this hard, the coach said no.
Many of Wentz’s throws were off target, with about 38% missing their mark. That was one of the highest rates of the season.
Will the Vikings add a quarterback?
The coach deferred questions about replacing Carson Wentz through a trade to the general manager but said the team has discussed several positions and will get to work quickly ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Minnesota could also stick with its current group of Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer for the rest of the season.
The Vikings started with six straight wins but have lost two in a row, including a 19 to 15 loss to the Detroit Lions last week. The losses have cooled the excitement around one of the league’s best starts.
Why has the offense stalled?
It was the third game this season in which the Vikings failed to score a touchdown. Their 11 touchdowns are tied with the winless Los Angeles Chargers. That puts them among the least productive offenses in the league.
Minnesota is the first team since 1925 to win at least six of its first eight games while being held without a touchdown in at least three of them.
The Vikings held the ball for less than 18 minutes against Buffalo as Carson Wentz struggled, wasting strong play from the defense and special teams. A week earlier, they held the ball for just over 24 minutes against Detroit.
What are Vikings players saying?
A Vikings tight end paused for three seconds when asked whether a quarterback on the roster could turn the offense around, then said he believes in the group and that the team just needs to make plays on Sundays.
The team’s star receiver, who skipped interviews after last week’s loss, said the Vikings should simplify the offense so players can play fast without overthinking. He said the talent is there.
For Carson Wentz and the Vikings, the next 24 hours could decide who leads the offense for the rest of the season. Fans in Minnesota will be watching closely to see what the front office decides.
