Both the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles enter Sunday’s matchup coming off wins that put them at 3-2. It’s a home game for the Vikings, and Minnesota is a three-point favorite coming in.
The most significant factor in deciding this game will be who wins the battle in the trenches. The Vikings have a very run-heavy offensive attack, while the Eagles’ strength defensively is their ability to stop the run and get off the field on third down. On the offensive line, the Vikings create holes that allow Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison to make big plays. Cook is second in the NFL in rushing yards with 542, only behind Christian McCaffrey.
The Eagles have a very strong front seven, and they’ve only allowed 63.0 rushing yards per game, which is best in the NFL. Le’Veon Bell was held to just 43 yards on 15 carries in Week 5 while Aaron Jones had only 21 yards on 13 carries in Week 4. This battle up front will be a deciding factor in Sunday’s game.
Just as the passing attack is the Vikings’ weakness on offense, the Eagles’ biggest weakness defensively is their secondary. Before playing much better in Week 5 against the Giants, Kirk Cousins had been a massive disappointment for the Vikings this season. Too often, Cousins opts for short check-downs on third and long, and that has hurt the Vikings as they try to move down the field. It has also led to discontent from top receivers, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. There have been trade rumors surrounding Diggs’ name, and Thielen was upset after he had just two catches for six yards in Week 4.
As much as Cousins has struggled, the Eagles’ secondary poses an opportunity for Cousins to play better. Ronald Darby, Sidney Jones, and Avonte Maddox, the three Week 1 starters, have all struggled this season and are all questionable with injuries. The Eagles are allowing 271.2 passing yards per game, which ranks 27th in the NFL, and if it weren’t for a matchup against Luke Falk’s Jets, their numbers would be much worse. Orlando Scandrick was signed after Week 4 and played well last week in his first game with the team. Jim Schwartz needs his secondary to step up and stop the Vikings’ receivers.
In their Week 5 matchup last season, the Vikings got revenge for their defeat in the 2017 NFC Championship Game and beat the Eagles by a score of 23-21. Big-man Linval Joseph turned on the jets and ran back a 64-yard fumble for the score. Kirk Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen 17 times for 207 yards and a touchdown between the two receivers. The all-time series is tied at 14 apiece.
Game Info:
Date: October 13, 2019
Start time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Betting Odds:
Point Spread: PHI +3 (-110) | MIN: -3 (-110)
Moneyline: PHI (+130) | MIN: (-150)
Over/Under: 44 … Over (-110) | Under (-110)
Prediction:
The Eagles need Carson Wentz to play better, and he should be able to meet these expectations this week. The Eagles’ run defense can help limit Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ run-heavy attack. The Eagles should come in and get an enormous road win.
Final Score: Eagles 27, Vikings 20
