The Folks Picking the Giants over Vikings
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings (11-3) are four-point favorites two days before a showdown with the New York Giants (8-5-1) in Week 16.
The Giants toppled the Washington Commanders in Week 15, 20-12, granting New York a rather favorable path to the playoffs. The Vikings stunningly erased a 33-point lead to defeat the Indianapolis Colts.
According to NFLPickWatch, a website that logs NFL experts’ weekly picks, about 88% of folks believe Minnesota will take down New York at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Vikings have a 17-12 (.586) all-time record against the Giants.
The Folks Picking the Giants over Vikings
A couple of notable personalities forecast a Giants win over Minnesota, though, as the Vikings will experience a Giants team that has overachieved in 2022. Vegas oddsmakers pegged New York for about seven wins this season (back in August), and the Giants have eight through 14 games.
As of Thursday, these individuals predict New York sending the Vikings to an 11-4 record:
- Bleacher Report
- James Bryer of Gridiron Experts
- Jeff Feyerer of CFN
- Pete Fiutak of CFN
- Jay Morrison of The Athletic
- Big Game Ben Niewoehner of CFN
- Conor Orr of SI.com
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports picked the Vikings in Week 16 and noted, “The Vikings have clinched their division, while the Giants are playing for a wild card spot. The Giants are playing consecutive road games, while the Vikings got an extra day of rest. The Minnesota defense is a major issue, though, which is why the Giants will hang around in this one. It’s close, but the Vikings take it.”
Bleacher Report wrote about the matchup, “If the Vikings start off flat as they did last week, don’t expect another miracle in Minneapolis. Half of our panelists have a skeptical eye on Minnesota because the club fell behind by 33 points against a bottom-tier Indianapolis Colts squad.”
Cole Huff and Adam Gretz from The Athletic mentioned about the Vikings, “Minnesota remains one of the strangest 10-win teams in NFL history, entering Saturday’s game with only a plus-two point differential on the season. The Vikings are a perfect 10-0 in games decided by eight points or less this season, winning four by three points or fewer.”
The Vikings must win over the Giants to keep hold of the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The San Francisco 49ers have rarely lost after landing Christian McCaffrey via trade and could easily snag the two-seed if Minnesota falters.
Justin Jefferson also resumes his quest for 2,000 receiving yards, a feat never achieved in NFL history. He needs just over 125 yards per game to accomplish the mark and must avoid quiet games versus the Giants, Packers, and Bears.
If the Vikings are triumphant, they’ll be 12-3 in a season for the first time since 2017.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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