The Atlanta Falcons (6-6) have lost three straight as they visit Minnesota to play the Vikings (10-2). Our Falcons vs Vikings prediction is for underdog Atlanta to cover the 5.5-point spread.
After winning six of its first nine games, the Falcons looked like they were cruising to the NFC South title. Now, at 6-6, they are tied with Tampa Bay in the standings with only their two victories over the Buccaneers keeping them in the top spot.
Minnesota has won five straight, keeping the pressure on first-place Detroit in the NFC North.
Head-to-head, Minnesota leads Atlanta with a 21-12 record.
Offshore Odds: Vikings Favored by 5.5 Points at Home
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | +5.5 (-105) | +215 | O 46 (-105) |
| Vikings | -5.5 (-115) | -255 | U 46 (-115) |
Atlanta’s Playoff Spot is in Jeopardy
After its Week 9 win over Dallas, Atlanta looked ready to roll to the AFC South title. However, they were upset by New Orleans, got blown out by Denver, and lost a close battle with the Los Angeles Chargers.
There is a reasonably good chance that by Sunday night, they will be in second place behind Tampa, below .500, and one game ahead of New Orleans.
In their 17-13 loss to Los Angeles, they were the superior team in every category except for turnovers. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was intercepted four times. In their prior game, the Broncos held him to 173 passing yards in the 38-6 beating.
Minnesota’s defense is first in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards per game. They are 28th against the pass. Expect Cousins to push the ball downfield early.
Three of their final four games are against teams well below .500, so they can still salvage the season even with a loss.
Minnesota’s Heart is Still Beating for the Division Title
Minnesota is right on Detroit’s heels. It hasn’t always been pretty. In Week 12, Chicago scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds to force overtime, but Minnesota won on a field goal. Then they overcame a 19-6 deficit to Arizona late in the third quarter and won 23-22 on a Sam Darnold pass to Aaron Jones with just over a minute remaining.
They still have a chance to overtake Detroit — their last game of the season is against the Lions — but they need to take care of their own business. Their schedule is rough with the final three games of the season against Seattle, Green Bay, and Detroit.
Minnesota’s key to beating Atlanta is to pressure on Cousins and force turnovers. Led by linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota is fourth in the league with 39 sacks.
Falcons vs Vikings Prediction: Minnesota Faces Another Tight Battle
Both teams need this win, but Atlanta is desperate. They are also due for a little better luck than they’ve had in recent weeks. Although the Falcons might lose, they will keep the game close, within the 5.5-point spread.
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