Minnesota (1-3) at Seattle (4-0)
When: Sunday, October 11th, 2020
Where: CenturyLink Field,
Seattle, WA
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Seattle -9/57.5
With the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears cruising at the top of the NFC North standings, the Minnesota Vikings know the time is now to put together some momentum. Minnesota is coming off their first win of the season a week ago, but will face the undefeated Seattle Seahawks on NBC’s Sunday Night Football contest. The Vikings earned a hard-fought 31-23 at the Houston Texans last Sunday and are three games behind the Packers in the division. Dalvin Cook, the league’s leading rusher at 424 yards, had 130 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over the Texans. The Seahawks are off to their best start since winning the Super Bowl in the 2013 season and have won their past six meetings against Minnesota. Seattle’s Russell Wilson has 16 touchdown passes, tying Peyton Manning (2013) for the most in NFL history through the first four games of a season. Despite missing key defensive players last week, the Seahawks forced the Dolphins into five field goals in a 31-23 victory.
Seattle is 5-1 against the spread in its last six games dating back to last season, including a perfect 4-0 this year. Minnesota is just 1-5 ATS in its previous six visits to Seattle. Totals have been flying over in recent weeks around the league and the oddsmakers have set this one at 57.5. The Vikings have converted the Over in six of their last nine games away from home and are 7-1 to the Over in their last eight games against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Minnesota rookie Justin Jefferson continues to look like the next great NFL wide receiver and was key in the win over Houston last week. Jefferson caught four balls for 103 receiving yards, while Adam Thielen led the team with 114 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. It was just the second time two Vikings players recorded 100+ receiving yards in the same game since 2000 when Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Robert Smith did it. Jefferson, the 22nd pick in this year’s NFL draft, is third in the league with an average of 21.8 yards per catch. Dalvin Cook rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries against the Texans. Cornerback Mike Hughes returned to practice as a full participant this week after missing two games with a neck injury. Fellow defensive backs Holton Hill (foot) and Kris Boyd (hamstring) were limited. The Vikings will host the Atlanta Falcons next week.
The Seattle offense continues to put up big numbers behind Wilson, but they would love for receiver D.K. Metcalf to stop dropping balls. Metcalf enters Week 4 as the league co-leader in receiving yards (403), he has dropped five of the 28 passes thrown to him. That is a 17.9 percent drop rate. Wilson is undefeated in six games in his career against Minnesota and has thrown 11 touchdown passes against just three interceptions with a quarterback rating of 104.6. Last week, Wilson went 24-of-34 for 360 passing yards and two touchdowns with a pick in the 31-23 road win over the Miami Dolphins. The Seahawks defense allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for over 300 yards, but did intercept the veteran twice. The Seahawks, who have a bye next week, have already ruled Quinton Adams (groin) out for Sunday’s game, with rookie linebacker Jordyn Brooks (knee) doubtful to play. Jamal Dunbar (knee) is expected to return, while running back Carlos Hyde (shoulder) is questionable.
The Vikings are starting to play better and their offense should have a field day Sunday night against this poor Seattle defense. Wilson will get his yards, but Cousins will do enough to keep this one close.
Pick: Vikings +7
Week 5 Staff Selections
