The Minnesota Vikings bounced back from a lackluster opening to the 2012 preseason with an encouraging 36-14 home victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings got on the board first thanks to a Christian Ponder touchdown pass and were only up eight points late in the fourth quarter, but rookie linebacker Audie Cole returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the span of 13 seconds to extend the lead to 22 points.
Ponder had an impressive game against a revamped Bills defense that should boast one of the top defensive lines in the AFC. In three drives, Ponder went 10-of-13 for 136 yards and one touchdown without turning the ball over. Back up QB Joe Webb was shaky through the air, but did lead the Vikings in rushing with 64 yards on two carries.
The Vikings defense held the Bills to 68 yards on 20 rushes and only 249 yards through the air on 45 attempts. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo's first round pick in 2011, had -8 yards on three touches.
The Vikings will be back on the field on Aug. 24 when they host the San Diego Chargers.
For more on the Vikings, visit The Daily Norseman. Get your inside scoop on the Bills at Buffalo Rumblings. For the rest of the action from Preseason Week 2, go to SB Nation NFL.
