Washington (1-6) at Minnesota (5-2)
When: Thursday, October 24th, 2019
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Minnesota -13.5/40
The NFL gives us three prime time games a week featuring every NFL team at least once. In some cases, you can get a terrible matchup like we have this week in the Thursday and Monday night games. First up is Thursday, where the 1-6 Washington Redskins come in as 15.5-point underdogs against the surging Minnesota Vikings to kick off Week 8. This will mark the return for Redskins running back Adrian Peterson, who won three NFL rushing titles during nine-plus seasons with Minnesota. Peterson suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s 9-0 home loss to unbeaten San Francisco, but feels a lot better and should be good to go. The bigger story might be that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will be facing his former Redskins team. Cousins was a fourth-round pick by Washington in 2012 and eventually took over as the team’s starter for ex-NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, who was taken in the first round of the same draft. Cousins left Washington after the 2017 season and singed a historic three-year, $84 million deal with Minnesota. The Vikings are coming off a 42-30 win in Detroit and trail NFC North-leading Green Bay by one game heading into this week’s action. The teams last met in November 2017 with the Vikings winning a 38-30 road contest. That Vikings teams went on to reach the NFC title game. Cousins threw for 327 yards, a TD and an interception in the loss, while Case Keenum threw for 304 yards and four scores for Minnesota, and he’s now with Washington. The Vikings have covered six of the last 10 meetings and the over has hit in six straight.
Washington managed just 154 yards and 10 first downs in the 9-0 home loss to San Francisco last week and Keenum threw for 77 yards but interim head coach Bill Callahan says the veteran remains his starter. Washington’s rushing attack ranks 24th in the league (84.7) and now backup Chris Thompson (turf toe) sat out of Tuesday’s practice after missing Sunday’s loss. The defense has been a little better, but cornerback Josh Norman and safety Montae Nicholson are both questionable for Thursday’s tilt in Minneapolis. Washington ranks 21st overall on defense, but are 12th against the pass (236.0). The Redskins, who are 2-5 ATS in its past five Thursday games, will be at Buffalo next week before entering their bye.
Minnesota has now won three straight and Cousins has a lot to do with that after a rough start to the season. The veteran completed 70.6 per cent of his throws against a good Lion defense with four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Cousins is the fifth quarterback in franchise history and first since 2004 with consecutive games of at least four TD passes. He lost top receiver Adam Thielen to a hamstring injury in the first quarter and he isn’t likely to play Thursday. NFL rushing leader Dalvin Cook had his fifth 100-yard game of the season with 142 and two touchdowns on 25 carries and boasts 725 yards rushing on the season. The Vikings still have a solid defense, ranking sixth overall (327.9) and sixth in points allowed (17.6). They are 4-1 ATS in their past five Thursday games and will be at Kansas City next week.
This looks like a complete mismatch on paper, and might be, but Washington can play good defense at times. A lot of teams this year that are getting 15+ points are coming through. I expect Keenum to be better than last week – how could he not – and will keep the Redskins team in it. Peterson will be extra motivated as well going up against his old team. I just don’t like to lay this many points in an NFL game. This is one of my least favorite games this week, and if you don’t have to play it, don’t.
Pick: Redskins +15.5 (More Week 8 Free Picks)
Redskins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Redskins are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Redskins are 6-16-4 ATS in their last 26 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
Redskins are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Redskins are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. NFC.
Redskins are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Redskins are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
Redskins are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Vikings are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Vikings are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Vikings are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Vikings are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games in October.
Vikings are 39-14-1 ATS in their last 54 games on fieldturf.
Vikings are 19-7-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Vikings are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Vikings are 39-16-1 ATS in their last 56 home games.
Vikings are 23-10-1 ATS in their last 34 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Vikings are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Redskins last 4 games overall.
Under is 6-0 in Redskins last 6 games in October.
Over is 7-1 in Redskins last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 5-1 in Redskins last 6 games following a ATS win.
Over is 9-2 in Redskins last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-1 in Redskins last 5 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 7-2 in Redskins last 9 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Over is 13-5-1 in Redskins last 19 games in Week 8.
Under is 7-3 in Redskins last 10 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
Under is 9-4 in Redskins last 13 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Vikings last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 8-2 in Vikings last 10 vs. NFC.
Under is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games in Week 8.
Under is 6-2 in Vikings last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 6-2 in Vikings last 8 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Vikings last 11 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 39-17 in Vikings last 56 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 9-4 in Vikings last 13 games overall.
Under is 9-4 in Vikings last 13 games on fieldturf.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Minnesota.
Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
Home team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
Redskins are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
