The Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings will face off at U.S. Bank Stadium for a Week 8 NFC showdown on Thursday night. The game will mark the 27th meeting in a series that’s tied 13-13. The most recent game between the teams unfolded Nov. 12, 2017 at FedEx Field, a contest the Vikings won by a 38-30 score. Current Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, then in his final Redskins season, threw for 327 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the losing cause.
The projected advantage for a consistently improving Vikings team has grown two full points since the open, now sitting at 16 points. Minnesota has earned the public’s trust by demonstrating that its passing game is alive and well and that Cousins still knows how to play football. Cousins will come into Thursday’s game with three straight 300-yard performances and a sparkling 10:1 TD:INT over that span. He should also have a bit of extra motivation playing his old team.
The line has climbed even with Adam Thielen, one of Cousins’ biggest passing game weapons, very possibly set to miss Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. However, even if he does sit, there’s apparently enough faith in Minnesota’s well-stocked arsenal of other weapons led by Dalvin Cook and Stefon Diggs. Diggs’ recent reemergence especially engenders confidence Minnesota can survive a game against inferior competition without Thielen if necessary.
The projected total for this game is in the low 40s partly due to Thielen’s uncertain status. However, it’s also a reflection of the Redskins’ general inability to sustain drives irrespective of who’s under center, as well as the prospect of facing a talented Minnesota defense on its home turf.
Vikings vs. Redskins game matchup
The Redskins weren’t able to carry over any of the momentum gained from a slim 17-16 win in Miami in Week 6 when they took on an undefeated 49ers squad in a rain-soaked Week 7. The 9-0 loss would’ve likely been much worse had normal weather conditions applied. Both offenses were significantly hampered by an extremely slippery field, but San Francisco’s defense would have almost certainly overwhelmed Washington under any circumstance.
The matchup doesn’t get much better for the Redskins in Week 8. The Vikings are allowing just 15.3 points per game at home and already have a solid 19 sacks overall on the season. Meanwhile, the Redskins are averaging just 15.7 points per road contest and have surrendered 18 sacks overall, almost mirroring Minnesota’s numbers. The Vikings have been opportunistic against the pass as well with seven interceptions, and they’re allowing a stingy 89.7 rushing yards per contest. Therefore, sustained success could once again be an issue for the ‘Skins against a Vikes defense surrendering the 10th-fewest yards (30.2) and sixth-fewest points (1.5) per drive. Both Case Keenum and Adrian Peterson should also have a little bit of extra juice in this game in their respective returns to Minnesota, but those numbers indicate they’re more likely to be stonewalled than succeed over the course of the game
On the other side, the Vikings essentially will have their pick on how to attack. The Redskins do allow a respectable 236.0 yards passing per game, but they’ve also surrendered 14 touchdown passes. They’ve also partly benefited statistically from having played the Dolphins. On the ground, Washington has been much more vulnerable. The Skins check in surrendering the sixth-most rushing yards per game (134.4). That naturally could spell bad news against Cook and impressive rookie Alex Mattison. In terms of a possible Thielen absence, rookie Bisi Johnson appears ready to step in. The 2019 seventh-round pick already has a 13-134-1 line in part-time duty, including a 4-40-1 tally in Week 7 after Thielen went down.
KEY MATCHUP: Redskins rush defense vs. Vikings rushing attack. Minnesota comes in averaging the third-most rushing yards per game (160.0), with Cook and his 5.5 yards per carry leading the way. Washington’s only chance for multi-quarter success in this game would involve them slowing Cook down enough to get Minnesota’s offense off the field consistently. That would give the ‘Skins defense a chance to hold up and Keenum and company an opportunity to make inroads against Minnesota’s stingy home defense. However, if Cook has his way, as has often been the case this season, Cousins and the short-handed receiving corps won’t be tested much and Minnesota would likely cruise to a double-digit victory.
Thursday Night Football Betting breakdown
The series between the teams is tied 13-13. The Vikings have won five of the last seven meetings dating back to the 2010 season, with their most recent win having come in the aforementioned November 2017 meeting at FedEx Field.
The Redskins are 2-5 (28.6 percent) against the spread this season, including 1-1 (50.0 percent) as an away underdog. Then, the Over is 3-4 (42.9 percent) in the Redskins’ games this season, including 1-2 (33.3 percent) in their away games.
The Vikings are 5-2 (71.4 percent) against the spread this season, including 3-0 as a home favorite. Then, the Over is 3-4 (42.9 percent) in the Vikings’ games this season, including 2-1 (66.7 percent) in their home games.
Early Pick: Redskins +16
EARLY PREDICTION: Vikings 20 Redskins 9
