A Handful of Folks Picking Vikings to Beat Chiefs

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The Minnesota Vikings have not had luck historically against cream-of-the-crop quarterbacks from the AFC.

In 10 games versus Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, the Vikings fired up an 0-10 (.000) record in the last quarter century.

A Handful of Folks Picking Vikings to Beat Chiefs

And because Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs feels like Brady or Manning all over again — he might be considered better when his career is complete — most don’t believe the Vikings will find a victory this weekend against Mahomes and Co.

Handful of Folks Picking
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There are a few, however, who see the light at the end of the tunnel for a Minnesota victory, although the number is teensy.

According to NFL Pick Watch, a website that logs experts’ weekly picks, just 6% of pundits forecast a Vikings triumph over the Chiefs. Kansas City is the overwhelming favorite despite a somewhat modest four-point spread.

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As of Thursday evening, these are the notable folks predicting a Vikings win at home this weekend:

Jay Biggerstaff -USA TODAY Sports.

Here’s what The Athletic published about the Vikings-Chiefs matchup, with three writers from the site picking Minnesota, “Minnesota will also be looking for improvement on offense this week. The Vikings continue to cost themselves with turnovers and will have to clean up the mistakes to upset Kansas City. Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions last week, including a pick six at the goal line on Minnesota’s opening drive. Cousins has thrown a league-leading three interceptions inside the red zone, and the Vikings’ 11 turnovers are the most in the NFL.”

Per DVOA, the Chiefs are considered the league’s eighth-best team, with the Vikings checking in at No. 14 after four weeks.

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“If both offenses play to their full potential, there is a chance for plenty of scoring in a matchup that features the highest point total of any game this week,” The Athletic added about Vikings-Chiefs.

VikingsTerritory writers, on the whole, are less optimistic about Minnesota’s win probability, picking Kansas City to prevail 31-24.

Sunday marks the Chiefs first regular season trip to U.S. Bank Stadium, the final NFL team to visit the venue after erection in 2016.


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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.