The Buffalo Bills will visit the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on "Monday Night Football" with an important win on the line. Come the end of the season, these cross-conference victories are handy to have.

For this battle between Joe Brady's Bills (6-1) and Kevin O'Connell's Vikings (6-1), it will be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are Bills Wire's three key matchup to watch between the Bills vs. Vikings matchup in Week 9:

RB James Cook vs. LB Blake Cashman

The Vikings defense is all-around strong. In order to beat them, the Bills will need to have an offense that respects both the pass and run.

Quarterback Josh Allen will play a part here, but this can't be a game where only him or Cook thrives. Both need to and that means Cook and the Bills will need to scheme how to beat Cashman, who is graded by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's second-best linebacker currently with a mark of 85.6.

WR Khalil Shakir vs. DB Josh Metellus

DJ Moore getting healthy has had a trickle-down for the Bills on offense. Shakir has thrived because opposing defenses key in on Moore a little more.

That should allow Shakir to keep heating up against Metellus. PFF grades Metellus a brutal mark of 43.6 overall so far this season.

DE Greg Rousseau vs. OL Brian O'Neill

The Vikings have not been much of a threat on offense. Minnesota still has Justin Jefferson.

The best way for the Bills to defend him is by getting into the opposing backfield. That's where Rousseau comes in. Buffalo will hope backup quarterback Carson Wentz starting for Minnesota will help the Bills get to the QB easier.