GameScope NFL research

BUF at MIN uncertain forecast

Mon, Nov 9 at 8:15 PM ET · U.S. Bank Stadium

Most likely outcome
MIN wins — 55.4%
BUF win
44.6%
MIN win
55.4%

Expected score: BUF 21.8 – MIN 24.4

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): BUF 2.24 · MIN 1.8

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): BUF 1590.2 vs MIN 1563.1. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

BUF (5-1) — 22 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (2 straight wins)

Oct 18, 2026LVW33-30
Oct 12, 2026LARW37-34
Oct 4, 2026NEL26-29
Sep 27, 2026LACW24-16
Sep 17, 2026DETW41-31

MIN (6-0) — 15 days rest

Last 5: 5-0 (5 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026INDW16-10
Oct 11, 2026NOW23-13
Oct 4, 2026MIAW15-10
Sep 27, 2026TBW23-16
Sep 20, 2026CHIW9-3

Head-to-head contextual research MIN 0 - BUF 0

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
No meetings in coverage period

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — availability for Week 9 unknown. These designations were published for Week 8's games. They are the latest available report, kept as dated context; they do not say who will be available in Week 9.

BUF

Dalton KincaidQuestionableKincaid (chest) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
DJ MooreQuestionableMoore (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Joe AndreessenQuestionablequestionable
Ray DavisQuestionableDavis didn't participate in Thursday's practice due to an illness, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
Tyrell ShaversOutThe Bills designated Shavers (knee) to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, but he will not play against the Ravens on Sunday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
TJ ParkerQuestionablequestionable
Bradley ChubbQuestionablequestionable
Dee AlfordQuestionablequestionable
Spencer BrownQuestionablequestionable
Show all 25 (16 more)
C.J. Gardner-JohnsonSuspensionreserve-sus
Ed OliverActiveOliver (knee) was a full participant at the Bills' practice Thursday.
T.J. SandersActive
Sam Franklin Jr.ActiveThe NFL reduced Franklin's discipline from a one-game suspension to a fine of $14,926, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Dorian WilliamsActiveWilliams logged five tackles (three solo) and one pass defensed for an interception in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Davison IgbinosunActiveDefensive coordinator Jim Leonhard praised Igbinosun's play earlier this week and plans to keep giving the rookie a good amount of playing time, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports. Said Leonard, "I think what he's done the last couple weeks, he's definitely earned a high majority of the snaps at the corner position. I know what I'm getting, play in and play out."
Dawson KnoxActiveKnox caught his only target for no gain during Sunday's 33-30 win at Las Vegas.
Tyler BassActiveBass converted all four of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries during Buffalo's win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Ty JohnsonActiveJohnson logged a three-yard carry and caught both of his targets for 24 yards during the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Joshua PalmerActivePalmer caught one of two targets for 37 yards during Buffalo's 33-30 win over Las Vegas on Sunday.
Mike DannaActive
Jude BowryActive
Ar'maj Reed-AdamsActive
Keon ColemanActiveColeman brought in four of six targets for 59 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Khalil ShakirActiveShakir brought in four of six targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Josh AllenActiveAllen completed 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed five times for one yard in the Bills' 33-30 win over the Raiders on Sunday.

MIN

Aaron Jones Sr.QuestionableJones (knee) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Gavin BartholomewQuestionablequestionable
Show all 25 (23 more)
Brian O'NeillActive
Joe HuberActive
Blake CashmanActiveCashman recorded 12 tackles (8 solo) including 2.0 sacks and four passes defensed during Sunday's 16-10 win versus the Colts.
Harrison SmithActiveSmith recorded four tackles (two solo) including 0.5 sacks and an interception during Sunday's 16-10 win versus the Colts.
Elijah WilliamsActive
Demond ClaiborneActive
Caleb TiernanActive
Charles DemmingsActive
Jakobe ThomasActive
Max BrosmerActive
Jauan JenningsActiveJennings caught two of three targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
T.J. HockensonActiveHockenson caught four of five targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Jordan AddisonActiveAddison caught two of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He added three yards on his lone carry.
Jordan MasonActiveMason carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He failed to catch either of his two targets.
Kyler MurrayActiveMurray completed 14 of 24 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts. He added 39 rushing yards on five carries.
Justin JeffersonActiveJefferson caught four of seven targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Will ReichardActiveReichard went 3-for-4 on field-goal attempts and made his only PAT during Sunday's 16-10 win over the Colts.
Myles PriceActivePrice (head) was back on the field for the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Colts, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Christian DarrisawActiveDarrisaw (concussion) does not have any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
James PierreActive
Michael JurgensActiveJurgens (elbow) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Ben YurosekActiveYurosek (ankle) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Saints, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Brett ThorsonActiveThorson (hamstring) was a full participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

n/a — indoor venue

Travel (BUF): ~736 miles, 1h time-zone shift west

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.