Minnesota (6-4-1) at New England (8-3)
When: Sunday, December 2nd 2018
Where: Gillette Stadium,
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Time: 4:25 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: New England -4.5/48.5
The Minnesota Vikings quest for a postseason berth continues with a tough matchup in Week 13 with the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Minnesota really need a win last Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, and got a terrific effort on both sides of the ball to improve to 6-4-1, while at the same time, hurting their rivals chances at the playoffs. The Vikings are 2-2-1 on the road this season, with losses at Chicago and Los Angeles (Rams) – both division leaders and are 1-6 ATS versus teams that have a winning record. The win over Green Bay put the Vikings into the top Wild Card spot, but have several teams breathing down their necks. The Patriots returned from a bye week to handle the lowly New York Jets 27-13 and have almost wrapped-up another AFC East title. They will get a much tougher opponent this week in the Vikings, who rank fifth in the NFL against the pass (221.1), while Brady and the Pats rank 11th in passing offense. The teams have met only once since 2010 and that was a 30-7 Patriots win at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The Vikings seventh-ranked passing offense has two dangerous weapons on the outside in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, but the latter did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but insisted he will play against the Patriots. Thielen leads all of the NFL with 93 receptions and recorded his ninth 100-yard game of the season against the Packers after hauling in eight catches for 125 yards and a score. Quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks fifth in the league with 3,289 yards and has 22 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Minnesota is desperately trying to get the running game going, but its just not working, as they rank 30th in that category. The Vikings sacked Aaron Rodgers four times last week but star cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) could be a key injury come Sunday.
Being healthy on offense has been a problem for New England this season, but rookie running back Sony Michel returned in the week before the bye, tight end Rob Gronkowski was back last week and running back Rex Burkhead is expected to be ready Sunday for the first time since Week 3. Brady had his best game of the season last week against the Jets, throwing for 283 yards with a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions. Michel rushed for a season-high 133 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Gronkowski had three catches for 56 yards. Look for Cousins to try and exploit the Patriots 25th-ranked passing defense on Sunday.
We know the New England offense is hard to stop, but this Minnesota defense can get after Brady and disrupt him enough to have an off game. I really think the difference in this one is with Cousins. I believe he will have a big game against a suspect Patriots defense and the Vikings will keep this one close.
Pick: Vikings +5.5
Betting Trends:
- Vikings are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 13.
- Vikings are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games in December.
- Vikings are 37-15-1 ATS in their last 53 games on fieldturf.
- Vikings are 28-13 ATS in their last 41 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Vikings are 36-17-1 ATS in their last 54 games following a ATS win.
- Vikings are 48-23-1 ATS in their last 72 games overall.
- Vikings are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
- Vikings are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 1-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Patriots are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games in December.
- Patriots are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Patriots are 22-6-1 ATS in their last 29 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Patriots are 25-9-2 ATS in their last 36 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.
- Patriots are 15-6-2 ATS in their last 23 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Patriots are 17-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Patriots are 36-15-2 ATS in their last 53 home games.
- Patriots are 36-15 ATS in their last 51 games overall.
- Patriots are 23-11 ATS in their last 34 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Patriots are 35-17-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up win.
- Patriots are 82-40-2 ATS in their last 124 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Patriots are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games in Week 13.
- Over is 6-1 in Vikings last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 road games.
- Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games in December.
- Under is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 4-0 in Patriots last 4 games overall.
- Under is 6-1 in Patriots last 7 games in December.
- Over is 4-1 in Patriots last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-2 in Patriots last 9 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3 in Patriots last 12 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Patriots last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Patriots last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
