Popular Pundit Pessimistic about Vikings for Week 5
CBS Sports‘ Pete Prisco believes the Minnesota Vikings’ nifty undefeated streak will end on Sunday.
Popular Pundit Pessimistic about Vikings for Week 5
Minnesota travels to London for a date with Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets and is expected to win by two or three points, per oddsmakers. But Prisco isn’t buying it, instead picking the Jets to win in a low-scoring affair, 19-16.
“The Vikings are undefeated and Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP level. But facing this Jets defense will be a real challenge,” Prisco wrote this week as the NFL enters Week 5.
“The Jets offense was lifeless last week in the loss to Denver, and Aaron Rodgers will face a tough test from Minnesota’s attacking defense. His line had issues last week and will again here. It’s close but low scoring as the Jets take it behind their defense.”
Kevin O’Connell’s team also puts another undefeated streak on the line — games in London. Including an exhibition game decades ago, the Vikings are 4-0 in England.
Prisco is actually in the minority, too, with the Jets’ prognostication. According to NFL Pick Watch, a website that logs all experts’ predictions by week, 75% have picked the Vikings to topple the Jets.
Storylines for Vikings-Jets? A few exist.
For the first time, Rodgers will face his former teammate, Aaron Jones. The two have a mutual admiration society for each other. Vikings-Jets will also pit two of the NFL’s best defenses against each other. Vikings QB1 Sam Darnold will face the team that drafted him third overall six years ago. He played against the Jets one other time, defeating New York as the Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback.
Minnesota also hopes to rebound from a near-collapse last weekend at Lambeau Field. The Vikings sprinted to a 28-point lead in the 2nd Quarter — and later won by just two.
Sporting News also picked the Jets over the Vikings, 20-17. “The Vikings are sizzling at 4-0 and living off a lot of takeaways to facilitate the efficient play of Sam Darnold. The former Jets QB isn’t seeing ghosts anymore, but across the pond, he will face the fog of a tough Jets defense,” SN’s Vinnie Iyer wrote. “Aaron Rodgers will do a better job of protecting himself and the ball against his old NFC North rivals. This also will be a key rebound game for Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and the running game in a defensive-minded escape.”
The Jets haven’t beaten the Vikings since 2010 and have lost three consecutive meetings against the purple team.
Former Viking Dropped by Patriots
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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