3 Bold Predictions for Vikings vs. Ravens in Week 10
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens in a squeaker four years ago, and the teams will meet again at U.S. Bank Stadium this Sunday. These are three bold predictions for that event.
Three fearless forecasts for when the Vikings host the Ravens in Week 10 — covering who shines, who slips, and what surprise might swing Sunday’s matchup.
Both teams need a win, and whichever club reigns victorious could set a path for the postseason.
Hot Takes for Vikings-Ravens
The “out-there” prognostications for Week 10’s battle of the purple teams.
1. Andrew Van Ginkel Logs 2 Sacks
Van Ginkel returned to action last week, suffered a cheap shot from Detroit Lions wideout Kalif Raymond, logged no sacks overall, and exited the game in full health.
Previously on the field, in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, his final appearance before a long absence, Van Ginkel banked 2 sacks in eight snaps. The man is efficient. This week, the versatile EDGE rusher will sack Lamar Jackson twice en route to a narrow Vikings victory.
The defense fundamentally turned around last weekend with Van Ginkel in the mix. This go-round, he’ll have multiple sacks to show for his troubles.
A true disruptor, Van Ginkel will beat the Ravens’ offensive line a few times and rack up two sacks when it’s all said and done.
SI.com‘s Jonathan Harrison this week on Van Ginkel and the Vikings’ defense: “Outside of eight snaps in the Vikings’ blowout win over the Bengals in Week 3, Van Ginkel has been out since the team’s Week 1 win over Chicago while he recovered from a neck injury. In his return on Sunday, Van Ginkel registered three total tackles, one for a loss, and one QB hit, helping the Vikings turn in one of their best rush defense performances of the year.”
“It was a massive bounce-back performance for a defense that was gashed on the ground by the Chargers the previous week to the tune of 207 yards. For Detroit, it was their lowest rushing total since their Week 1 loss to the Packers, when they ran for just 46 yards. Van Ginkel was a massive part of that turnaround, posting an 80.6 PFF run defense grade, the highest among pass rushers in Week 9 league-wide.”
All of Minnesota’s linebackers played marvelously in Detroit.
“Minnesota will need a similar level of rush defense this Sunday when it welcomes the Baltimore Ravens to Minneapolis. Dual-threat QB Lamar Jackson is back and healthy, and coming off a four-touchdown performance in Week 9,” Harrison added.
“On top of Jackson’s explosive scrambling ability, the Ravens feature five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, whose 628 rushing yards are the sixth-most in the league heading into Week 10. Baltimore’s 5.2 rush yards per attempt is tied with the Jets for the most in the NFL this season.”
2. Justin Jefferson Scores Twice
In addition to Van Ginkel’s impressive showing, the team’s best player will also get in on the fun.
Jefferson is producing a Jeffersonian season per receiving yards, but the touchdowns just aren’t there, mainly because Minnesota’s offensive efficiency dipped when Carson Wentz took over for five games. Wentz gave a hell of a gusty month-plus to the Vikings, but he wasn’t Captain Productivity by the numbers, especially in the redzone.
Conversely, J.J. McCarthy has found the end zone six times in two of his three starts, better at the task out of the gate in his career than Wentz was from Week 3 to Week 8.
If Jefferson continues his exact pace through eight games, he’d finish 2025 with 1,379 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Four paydirts isn’t enough for his usual resume. He’ll shove those numbers north on Sunday against Baltimore by scoring twice, probably beating Marlon Humphrey.
3. The Vikings Put the Clamps on Derrick Henry
Saquon Barkley. Check. Jahmyr Gibbs? Check.
Brian Flores and friends contained both men; Henry has to be next, right? Henry won’t be an easy assignment, but his production has slowed for the first time this season, a sign that Father Time is knocking.
Flores will hold Henry under 50 yards, and while the future Hall of Famer might score once, he won’t be a game wrecker, and the Vikings’ rushing defense about-face will continue.
Minnesota’s defense will force Jackson to beat it.
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