3 Fearless Predictions for Vikings at Browns
With a shorthanded roster due to injury, the Minnesota Vikings hope to avoid a two-game losing streak across the pond, taking on an old friend, Kevin Stefanski, and his Cleveland Browns.
The European trip will wind down for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, taking on the Browns in London. Consider these bold predictions for the event.
The purple team is expected to prevail by three or four points, according to oddsmakers, and to get you thinking about the showdown, consider these three bold predictions for the contest.
Remember: Bold predictions are designed to be thought-provoking, “out there,” and well, bold.
Vikings-Browns Predictions: The Bold Stuff
Outside-the-box prognostications for CLE-MIN.
1. The Vikings’ Patchwork Offensive Line … Holds Up
We know what you’re thinking: the Vikings are cooked because of the patchwork offensive line of Justin Skule, Will Fries, Blake Brandel, Joe Huber, and Christian Darrisaw. It’s going to fold like a chair at the beach, right?
But let’s be bold and assert that, for once, Minnesota trots out and against-all-odds group of offensive linemen, and by the time the game is over, onlookers look around and think, “Oh my goodness. That actually worked.
The task is grim: Myles Garrett, Mason Graham, Maleik Collins, and Isaiah McGuire won’t take it easy on the piecemeal fivesome. But when the rubber hits the road, fans will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Less than three sacks will be the result.
Kevin O’Connell said about the offensive line this week, “Yesterday was a little bit more of a physical practice. And you’re watching Joe in there during the reps he was in, and he just feels so rooted and strong. He’s got some pretty unique power to him.
“And then enough movement skills and athleticism to pair that together and still use the power, even when he gets out of position at times, which is gonna happen.”
O’Connell on Huber specifically: “He was able to show that skill set in the preseason. Joe was one of those guys that probably — I don’t always tell you guys this — but he probably made the team a heck of a lot earlier than the cutdown day, at least in my mind, with what you could not only see in the present with the player, but where we think he can go in the future.”
“He’s done nothing but enhance a lot of those opinions with his time leading up to now, and he’s gonna get an opportunity to show us where he’s at on Sunday.”
2. Ivan Pace Jr. Scores a Defensive Touchdown
Cleveland is starting 3rd-Round rookie passer Dillon Gabriel in place of Joe Flacco, which it probably should have done to start the season, because Flacco was never a wise QB1 solution for a skipper in Kevin Stefanski, who’s potentially coaching to save his job.
Sunday will mark Gabriel’s first-ever start, and he will make some mistakes. One of them will be taken to the house for six points by linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.
The third-year Viking has produced a quiet campaign through four games, and he’ll use London to bust out of his funk.
Pace Jr. takes a fumble or interception back for a touchdown.
The Viking Age‘s Ryan O’Leary noted on Pace Jr. last week: “The Vikings need the 2023 version of Pace in the second level of their defense, especially with Blake Cashman currently on injured reserve. There were some obvious red flags in the Falcons game, with Pace going high on multiple occasions and bouncing off running back Bijan Robinson’s shoulder pads. He was back to filling gaps and wrapping up ball carriers against the Bengals.”
“With three QB hits, four run stuffs, and just two yards allowed in coverage, he might have been the Vikings’ best defensive player on the field not named Rodgers; PFF graded him 76.2 overall for the game, and he probably deserved better. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. If Pace can rediscover the speed and confidence he played with as an overlooked rookie, Minnesota’s already stacked front seven will be even scarier as the calendar flips to October.”
3. The Vikings Win by 17
We predicted something similar last weekend — and got burned.
Remaining fearless, however, let’s lean into the fact that Cleveland will start a 3rd-Round rookie quarterback — who is about Kyler Murray’s height without Kyler Murray’s speed — against Brian Flores’ defense. All signs point to that turning ugly for Cleveland.
Minnesota won’t play perfect ball, but it will stifle Gabriel and find a way to put the clamps on running back Quinshon Judkins, to an extent.
The Vikings win 27-10, and fans will think afterward, “Was I really worried about a team led by Dillon Gabriel in his first start?”
Of course, if the Vikings lose, the outlook for the rest of the year will seem grim, with the Eagles, Chargers, Lions, and Ravens on the way.
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