SACK ATTACK
Vikings defence takes down Lions QB Matthew Stafford a franchise-record 10 times
Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter, right, celebrates with teammate Everson Griffen after sacking Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday in Minneapolis. Hunter had 3.5 sacks as Minnesota beat NFC North rival Detroit 24-9 to improve to 5-3-1 on the season.
Linebacker Khalil Mack broke into a wide grin when it was pointed out the Chicago Bears defence didn’t need him for a second straight week.
“Ha, I might be looking for another job here soon,” Mack told The Associated Press.
Sidelined by a right ankle injury, Mack had plenty of reason to joke.
He had just finished watching his teammates force four turn- overs, including two returned for touchdowns 31⁄ 2 minutes apart in the second quarter of a 41-9 rout over the Bills in what proved to be another comedy of errors for Buffalo’s anemic offence on Sunday.
Sandwiched between Jordan Howard’s two touchdown runs, Eddie Jackson scored on a 65yard fumble return and Leonard Floyd returned a tipped pass during Chicago’s decisive 28point second-quarter surge.
The only disappointment, perhaps, was becoming Buffalo’s first opponent in three weeks to give up a Bills touchdown. It didn’t happen until quarterback Nathan Peterman scored on a 1-yard run with 5:41 left.
It was the first TD run the Bears have allowed this season, and it ended the Bills’ touchdown drought at 187 minutes and 19 seconds — dating to Peterman’s 16-yard pass to Zay Jones in a 20-13 loss at Houston on Oct. 14.
The Bears, coming off a 24-10 win over the New York Jets, won their second in a row and improved to 5-3.
The Bills are going from bad to worse in losing their fourth straight, and dropping to 2-7, their worst start since 2010.
“I’ve never been on a losing streak like this,” Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin said.
“I’m frustrated now. I’m going to go home and be frustrated, but tomorrow once I come back in, try to brush it off my shoulders and get ready for the Jets.”