They should pull off a win if they play to their capabilities
Game Day! I am picking the Vikings, obviously, but not because I am a homer. I think they are just the better team. I do think that the Rams will pass the ball on the Vikings with Cooper Kupp back. The Viking secondary is suspect, IMO. It would be nice if they pulled off a trade for a good young corner who is under contract for 2025 at the very least.
First things first though. Got to stack a win tonight!
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings at Rams Week 8 Game Preview
Because the Rams are choosing to wear white jerseys, the Vikings will feature purple jerseys on white pants, a look usually sported in home games.
4 Storylines
1. Battle of the brains
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and Sean McVay of the Rams won Super Bowl LVI together. Their great friendship is well documented, but there’ll be nothing friendly about trying to outsmart the other.
2. National audience
The Vikings are the best surprise of 2024 so far.
They were widely picked to finish last in the NFC North. Their quarterback was viewed as a bridge to the future, not a player capable of sparking MVP consideration like he’s done. There were doubts even about the defense, particularly its cornerbacks after the tragic death of Khyree Jackson and Mekhi Blackmon’s season-ending injury. Now there’s an expanding bandwagon that believes Minnesota is made of the right stuff.
3. Balancing rest and readiness on short week
That’s some of what it takes to play two NFL games less than 100 hours apart.
“My best thing is to get moving on Monday [and Tuesday] then relax Wednesday, the day before the game, and really just treat it like you’re getting ready for Thursday practice,” safety Camryn Bynum said. “Thursday practices are normally tough days anyways, so you just have to move your mindset to that.”
It means sacrificing time usually allotted for practice and time with family, as well.
“First things first, Sunday night after the game, I let the wife know I won’t be around much,” defensive lineman Harrison Phillips said, explaining his routine. “There’s not a lot of time. So even though on other weeks I might have a 90-minute or two-hour massage where I can kind of relax and meditate or pray, [Tuesday night] I’ll be watching two hours of film during my massage just trying to double-up the time.”
4. Justin Jefferson on brink of breakout
Since gaining the bulk of his lone 100-yard receiving game this season on a 97-yard catch-and-sprint touchdown in Week 2 against San Francisco, Vikings star wideout Justin Jefferson has topped out at 92 yards over his last four games. He’s averaged 84.8 yards on 6.3 catches and 9.5 targets in that stretch.
A monster game could be on the doorstep for “Jets.”
“It’s right there. It’s right there,” Jefferson expressed confidently. “I’m definitely sick of having these 80-, 90-yard games. I’ve definitely got to get over that hump of 100 yards. That’s definitely my plan. But if you see it on tape, the explosive plays are all over the field – not just me – just all over the field.”
Vikings-Rams Week 8 score predictions from the Vikings On SI staff
Will Ragatz: Vikings 30, Rams 16
The Vikings are pretty clearly the more talented of these two teams, and they’ll be fired up to bounce back from Sunday’s frustrating defeat. I’m expecting big games from Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones against a Rams defense that’s been bad this season. On the other side of the ball, LA’s offensive line is rather weak, so look for Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel to be in the backfield all night. Those who haven’t watched the Vikings play much this year are about to learn why this team started 5-0 before their bye.
Joe Nelson: Vikings 34, Rams 20
Nolan O’Hara: Vikings 27, Rams 20
Jonathan Harrison: Vikings 35, Rams 10
Tony Liebert: Vikings 31, Rams 20
Vikings trade rumors: Rounding up the latest buzz with deadline in two weeks
CB Akayleb Evans floated as a candidate to be traded
Titans reportedly don’t plan on trading Simmons
Broncos DT named as player Vikings should target
The Stafford rumors aren’t worth your time
Nobody wants Evans. It was always doubtful that the Giants or Titans would trade their top young DT and the Broncos are still in it so why trade Jones?
The Stafford “rumors” are foolish and proves that all it takes is for one nimrod to come up with an idea and then you have a lot of other nimrods running with it.
Could the Minnesota Vikings offer up their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to get a player at the trade deadline? SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson believes that could be the case.
“I’m telling you, they are absolutely having discussions. I will be shocked if I hear otherwise. I’m going to believe this that at least have to consider putting that first round pick on the table.”
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the Vikings would be willing to give up their first-round pick for two reasons:
They will likely target a long-term answer over a rental
This year’s NFL Draft doesn’t have a lot of high-end talent
Vikings Emerge as Trade Spot for Patriots CB
Currently a starter for the Patriots, Jones does not appear to fit the long-term goals for New England. Moving him now and getting value for him would be a wise decision.
Drake Maye has given the franchise hope for the future. However, that future is simply not now. It will likely be a few years before the Patriots get back to being a serious contender in the AFC.
With Jones being 31 years old, that timeline will not fit for him. New England should get the best draft pick value that they can get for him and move on.
Keeping that in mind, Chad Graff of The Athletic has suggested a trade that would send Jones out of town. He thinks the Patriots should ship Jones to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
This kind of move is what is likely going to happen because it is doubtful other teams give up a really good player.
Can Vikings reach Super Bowl 59? Why Minnesota is a serious contender to win NFC in 2024
The Minnesota Vikings have been to four Super Bowls, losing all of them, but they haven’t won the NFC title in 48 years. At 5-1 over the first six games of the 2024 NFL season, they’re hoping they finally have the team to end that conference championship drought.
The Vikings have been to six NFC title games, with the last coming in 2017 when they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles seven years ago. In 2022, they went 13-4 in the first year of current head coach Kevin O’Connell, only to get upset as the No. 3 seed at home by the No. 6 Giants.
Per Caesars Sportsbook’s NFL Futures Odds, the Vikings have the sixth-best odds in the league to win Super Bowl 59. They’re at +1200, or 12-1. The Chiefs are a heavy favorite at +425. In the NFC, only the Lions at +700 and 49ers at +1000 have better Super Bowl-winning odds than Minnesota.
In terms of odds of winning the NFC championship, the Vikings (+600) are also behind the Lions (+360) and 49ers (+475). They remain ahead of the Packers and Eagles, tied for next at +700.
The Vikings so far have the No. 6-ranked scoring defense, allowing only 17.8 points per game on average, just behind the Chiefs, who are at 17.2. They have forced 14 takeaways, second in the league to the Packers’ 17. They are No. 7 in turnover margin at +4.
The Vikings are also No. 6 in scoring offense, averaging 28 points per game. They are only No. 13 in total offense and No. 19 in total defense. However, the Titans are No. 1 in total defense with a 1-5 record to show for it, so stats aren’t everything at this point in the season. That offensive ranking is bound to improve with TE T.J. Hockenson set to return and join Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in a talented receiving corps.
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