AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Orchard Park, N.Y. -- For Buffalo Bills fans that watched their team struggle in the first two weeks of the season, Sunday's road upset win over the Minnesota Vikings was likely a shock to the system.

But now that the dust has settled a bit and we've had some time to digest exactly what happened in the Bills' 27-6 win over the Vikings it's only natural to wonder just who this Buffalo team really is.

Are the Bills the team that went on the road Week 1 and got dominated in every phase of the game by the Baltimore Ravens and traditionally mediocre quarterback Joe Flacco? Or are the Bills the team that went into U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in Week 3 - one of the toughest places to play in the NFL against one of the best defenses in the league - and managed to overpower the Vikings on both sides of the ball?

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle but here are eight takeaways from Sunday's game that could mean the Bills are for real.

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Khalil Mack and Jerry Hughes lead all edge defenders in total pressures so far this season. pic.twitter.com/gN3LCsoel6 — PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2018

Jerry Hughes is dialed in

Rookie quarterback Josh Allen is getting loads of headlines after his amazing performance in his first road start, and rightfully so, but defensive end Jerry Hughes may have been the Bills' best player on the field against the Vikings. When you have a defensive end mentioned in the same sentence as Khalil Mack it means you have one heck of a player. Hughes was a man possessed Sunday and made Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff look like a college-level offensive lineman. He was blowing past his blocks almost every play throughout the game. When it wasn't Hughes getting to Kirk Cousins it was his pressure that helped spring teammates. The addition of Trent Murphy on the other side and some new names on the interior to help Kyle Williams are already paying big dividends for the Bills.

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"It's the most unbelievable play I've ever seen in person."@JoshAllenQB and his teammates react to the hurdle. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/5aAbhpXhns — Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 24, 2018

Allen going to do whatever it takes to try to win

There weren't too many national pundits clamoring for Allen to be thrown into the fire early this season for the Bills with what was believed to be a suspect offensive line and a lack of big time playmakers around him. A road start against the vaunted Minnesota defense was reason enough for many experts to call for Allen to sit on the bench early in 2018. But Bills coach Sean McDermott had other plans after Nathan Peterman was awful in the opener and was benched after just two quarters. Allen's competitive spirit seems to have galvanized this entire team. Superstar running back LeSean McCoy is Allen's biggest fan; Allen's impassioned speech to the Bills' defense on the sidelines during the Chargers game seems to have earned him respect in the locker room. Then on the field Allen is showing what he can do with his big arm and his legs, which generated a bunch of big highlights in the win over the Vikings. Allen has suddenly turned into must-see TV every Sunday and may be playing the best football of any rookie quarterback after three weeks.

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AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Bills offensive line better than expected

Heading into the season there were actual headlines floating around the Internet calling the Bills offensive line maybe the worst in NFL history. The line didn't look great against the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason when Allen was sacked five times in just a half. But they've rebounded after a bad opener and have actually played some pretty consistent football. Ryan Groy replaced Eric Wood at center and struggled early on but he was replaced by Russell Bodine this past week and the former Cincinnati Bengal had a solid game in front of Allen. Vlad Ducasse earned high marks for his pass-blocking ability in the first two games and John Miller, Jordan Mills and Dion Dawkins seem to be blocking well on most plays in both phases of the game. If the Bills are going to score enough points in games this unit is going to have to give Allen as much time as possible and open up lanes for him to get out and run. They did a nice job against the Vikings tough front but Minnesota was without superstar pass rusher Everson Griffen. The Bills face Clay Matthews and the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.

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AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Bills pulled upset without best playmaker

LeSean McCoy was cheering hard on the sidelines for Allen and the rest of the offense Sunday. What might be the most impressive part of the unit's performance on the road is that it did it against one of the toughest defenses in the league without their best playmaker. McCoy is dealing with a rib injury and was game time decision against the Vikings. Expect him to be back next week against the Packers and that could mean even more big play opportunities for the Bills offense and another weapon for Allen in the short passing game, which worked so well against the Vikings. The Redskins beat the Packers last week with a strong effort from veteran Adrian Peterson and some good work in the short and intermediate passing game with veteran quarterback Alex Smith. Could be the blueprint for the Bills.

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Tre White sums up the day for #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/0kIe727ZXg — Thad (@thadbrown7) September 23, 2018

Bills have themselves a shut down corner

Usually when you don't hear a player's name on Sunday you wonder if they're contributing. BUt in the case of Tre'Davious White not hearing his name usually means he's shutting down the opposing team's top target. Stefon Diggs set the league on fire during the first two weeks of the season. Diggs scored three touchdowns and had over 150 yards receiving in the first two weeks. Against the Bills and predominantly White on Sunday? Diggs was targeted 10 times and made just four catches for 17 yards. That's tremendous work from White, who will get the assignment of Davante Adams of the Packers Sunday in Green Bay.

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.@buffalobills went to @vikings and took them behind the wood shed, took their lunch money and physically whipped. No exotic schemes, no fancy gameplans. This should send a MEMO around the league. This is how to play the game. ❤️🏈❤️🏈. #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/okTeETNRRD — Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 24, 2018

Bills linebacker unit could be really special

Lorenzo Alexander is flipping the script this season, his 13th in the NFL and third year in Buffalo. He's been the most consistent Bills defensive player through three games and turned in another standout performance against the Vikings. Through three week Alexander is ranked as the fifth-best edge rusher in the NFL behind JJ Watt, Trey Flowers, Khalil Mack and Kerry Wynn, according to Pro Football Focus. Alexander's veteran leadership has helped young prospects Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano shine at times this season. Milano had a career game last week, finishing with a sack, fumble recovery and an interception. Edmunds bounced back after a rough game against the Chargers in coverage to play well vs. the Vikings.

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Stephen Hauschka's scoring streak has been extended to 113 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the @NFL (trailing Matt Bryant--177). https://t.co/aPPLuNFStq — Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) September 23, 2018

Hauschka is money

Just look at the numbers. Bills could be in a lot of close games and as Stephen Hauschka proved last season, he's as clutch as they come.

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AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Trust the process

"The process" seemed to be in serious question with the way the Bills played to open the season and for most of the preseason. McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane basically put all their chips on the table after maneuvering to draft Allen and Edmunds in April. Both have had some struggles early on but Sunday's game was validation for the Bills' brass that this whole thing could be headed in the right direction. Allen looks like a stud, Edmunds is a freak athlete and the Bills finally seem to have some real stability and talent in the coordinator positions. Brian Daboll has been hailed as a "genius" and "mad scientist" since signing on to take over the offense this past offseason. Daboll called a masterful game Sunday and has some toys to work with in the backfield to help Allen get rid of the ball early and keep the defense off balance. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier seemed to be in the dog house against the Chargers when McDermott took away play-calling duties but the veteran coach earned a game ball against the Vikings after taking back the play sheet and shutting down Cousins and the potent Minnesota offense.

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