Retour
NFL analysts may not be giving the Minnesota Vikings a ton of credit for their 5-0 start. But as one of just three remaining undefeated teams, this group has to be feeling confident heading into Week 7 following their bye. Next up is a 2-4 Indianapolis Colts team that just fired their longtime general manager after losing their second consecutive game. After showing some tangible growth on offense, Vikings fans are eager to watch the next game on Sunday.
Are the Vikings facing a trap game? Or will they capitalize on facing a Colts team that is suddenly looking lost? It’s time to dive into four bold predictions for Sunday’s Colts-Vikings game.
The start of Kyler Murray’s tenure with the Vikings has been a bit of a rollercoaster. From tossing an interception on his first attempt to being ruled out of his season debut in the first quarter, Murray’s early experience in Minnesota couldn’t have gone worse. Yet, the former No. 1 overall pick’s luck has turned in the past two outings, completing 76.1% of his passes, averaging 271 yards per game (counting his rushing). That’s a formula the Vikings can win with, yet this time, Murray will have his first combined 300-yard game with his new team, and suddenly Kevin O’Connell’s group will start to get a lot more respect.
Last year, Vikings fans were upset because Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones were playing like MVP candidates. Eventually, Jones started to stumble as he suffered injuries, including a torn Achilles, and we all know where Darnold ended up. Both QBs are now struggling, but Jones in particular may even be on the verge of being benched. Jones has already committed nine turnovers, and Jonathan Taylor has lost two fumbles. Look for those trends to continue on Sunday against the NFL’s best defense.
Harrison Smith has returned for one more year, but he hasn’t had a profound impact on the defense, at least from a production standpoint. While Smith may be helping in cerebral ways that go unnoticed to the untrained eye, the former First-Team All-Pro has played just 140 snaps this season. He surely won’t be featured much more on Sunday, but making an early play, like recording an interception off his former teammate, could help set the tone for a big win.
While Vikings fans would love to see GM Nolan Teasley trade for the Colts’ star running back, on Sunday they’ll see Brian Flores hold him to under 100 yards. It’s a feat only three teams have accomplished this season, but the Colts will likely be forced to pass often, especially if they fall behind to a superior Vikings team. When it’s all said and done, as the Colts’ mistakes start to pile up, the Vikings will have won the game by 15 or more points.