The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings met for the first time since a trade between the teams brought WR Stefon Diggs to Buffalo.
For trades to be considered successful, they should offer an exchange that mutually benefits both teams involved.
In this deal, it’s hard to argue that either team didn’t benefit.
The Vikings used the first-round pick that came to them in the swap with Buffalo to select receiver Justin Jefferson, who has become a star in his own right.
The two wideouts both had a big game, with each turning in highlight-reel performances including catch-of-the-year caliber receptions.
Jefferson and Diggs in the same game. Poetry. @JJettas2 @StefonDiggs pic.twitter.com/Kfx7ojnR5V
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022
Diggs reeled in a 25-yard one-handed catch on a pass from Allen and finished the day leading all Bills receivers with 128 yards, and 12 catches on 16 targets.
The Bills, however, would lose to the receiver’s former club 33-30 in overtime.
Buffalo committed penalties and turnovers that ultimately proved costly in the loss. Diggs was among those Bills players responsible.
With 2nd and 15 just under 4 minutes left to play in regulation, the WR was penalized five yards for a false start. They would not regain the yards and would punt a few plays later.
“We’ve got to continue to play sharp,” Diggs said to the press postgame. “I mean, I feel like we’re coming out in the first half, minds sharp, getting after it, and then we somewhat hit a little lull and then kind of got to get back in the groove. It seemed like when we’ve got to get in the groove, it’s always crunch time. And we always manage to kind of figure it out and make a way, but it’ll save us if we don’t take that lull, don’t take that little gasp of air. Von always say don’t blink and I feel like we might be blinking a little bit, especially when we come out trying to figure it out… This game has its ebbs and flows along with the season. I mean, we can’t ride a roller coaster, so chin up.”
He went on to talk more about his offside call specifically.
“No, I mean, if you look at the score, the score was still tight,” Diggs added. “When I think about a lull I feel like it’s more so not being as sharp. For example like me jumping offsides.”
“That’s more so like a lull, not so much about the other team because like I said every week the other team will give you their best shot and they’re always going to give us that. So all heavily anticipated never a lull, more so looking inward than anything.”
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