Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings rekindled their winning ways in Week 9, chipping off the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football and carrying that momentum into Week 10 by sloppily defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
Next up is the Tennessee Titans, a club showcasing a stinky 2-7 record.
Minnesota’s injury report actually looks decent, all things considered, if one subtracts season-ending injuries to J.J. McCarthy, Mekhi Blackmon, and Christian Darrisaw.
Overall, the Vikings are decently healthy at this point on the calendar, a tendency that isn’t necessarily prevalent around the league.
These are each team’s injured players one day before Week 11.
Aaron Jones (RB), Josh Oliver (TE), Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB), Blake Cashman (LB), Sam Darnold (QB), Theo Jackson (S), Ivan Pace Jr. (LB), and Cam Robinson (LT) were sprinkled a bit on the injury report this week but carry no injury designation to Week 10.
Long-term Injuries
Arden Key (OLB), Roger McCreary (CB), Tony Pollard (RB), and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (DB) were limited in practice this week but will enter Sunday with no injury designation.
The Vikings are six-point favorites to defeat the Titans in Week 11. Minnesota has a sweet 9-5 (.642) historical against Tennessee (and Houston Oilers) all-time.
The Vikings remain in second place inside the NFC North, one game back of the Detroit Lions, a club that almost lost last weekend but mounted a valiant comeback over the Houston Texans.
Minnesota’s Super Bowl probability has climbed from +8000 to +2500 in the last three months, a signal that oddsmakers are beginning to buy what the purple team is selling. Nobody anywhere predicted Minnesota to be 7-2 at this point on the calendar. Instead, most would’ve guessed 2-7 if forced to predict.
The Titans have lost six games to the Vikings in eight matchups over the last 35 years,
Tennessee ranks tops in the NFL on defense per yards allowed but fourth-worst in points surrendered. A bizarre stat, to be sure.
Minnesota probably needs three wins in the next eight games to clinch a playoff spot.
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 MIN 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.