3 Bold Predictions for Vikings in Wildcard Round

The Minnesota Vikings enter the postseason as a 14-win Wildcard team, taking on the Los Angeles Rams in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday Night Football.
Vikings Predictions: 3 Bold Takes for the Wildcard Round
Minnesota is favored to win by 2.5 points, a spread that moved a point in the Vikings’ direction when the game was transferred to Arizona because of Southern California wildfires.

So, with the Vikings’ contest against the Rams just around the bend, these are three bold predictions for Rams-Vikings
1. Brandon Powell Returns a Punt for TD

The Vikings haven’t returned a punt for a touchdown since the 2016 campaign. Marcus Sherels was the last to do it, and Minnesota has encountered a punt return score drought otherwise.
Facing his old team, Powell will take one to the house when it matters most, as he did against Minnesota in 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Rams’ special teams rank 19th per DVOA, so it’s not an elite group, generally speaking. What’s more, most onlookers expect this game to be tight — the spread is 2.5 points in favor of Minnesota — meaning the bold-prediction Powell touchdown could decide the game.
2. Matthew Stafford Sacked 3+ Times

In Week 8, Minnesota could not pressure Stafford — at all. Brian Flores’ defense allowed Stafford to marinate in the pocket and deliver dimes to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for three hours.
Well, this time will be different. The Rams’ offensive line ranks 30th leaguewide per pass protection, so it’s just unlikely that it stops Minnesota’s defensive front two games in a row.
Unlike the October meeting, the Vikings will rattle Stafford, sack him at least thrice, and knock him on the grass in Arizona even more.
It’s what Minnesota should have done, on paper, in the Week 8 game. But it didn’t.
3. The Vikings Win by 6 or 7 Points — and Play DET Next Weekend

Minnesota will be triumphant in Arizona by a somewhat narrow margin. But before that, no NFC lower seeds will win on Sunday. That means the Vikings will head to Detroit for a rematch in the Divisional Round, a showdown predicted by Lions head coach Dan Campbell after the game.
It may not be easy for an NFC North team to defeat another three times in a season, so let’s see how the chips fall in the third meeting between the clubs.
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.
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