Thursday Night Football is here, featuring a match up between teams heading in opposite directions. The red hot Vikings are riding high on a three game win streak while the Redskins are looking for their first victory over a non-winless team. The Skins are clearly in a transition year with recently fired HC Jay Gruden. Will the Redskins be able to rally around interim HC Bill Callahan and make this a competitive game? Vegas doesn’t seem to think so as the Vikings are big home favorites at -16.
QB Matchup: Kirk Cousins vs. Case Keenum
After hearing the complaints from star receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, it looks as though Kirk Cousins may have flipped the switch on his early season performance. The aerial attack is working at new heights with Cousins passing for over 300 yards and 2 TDs the last three games, including 2 games with 4 TD passes. Cousins will be without his favorite target Adam Thielen tonight, as he is resting with a hamstring injury from a heroic TD grab last week in Detroit.
On the other hand, Case Keenum doesn’t possess the weapons on offense that Minnesota does, and his numbers reflect the fact. Keenum has passed for over 300 yards only twice this year, but his inconsistent play has not been all his fault. The Redskins are missing star LT Trent Williams, who is still holding out. Along with this, they have a banged up backfield and multiple starting Tight Ends missing. Keenum will need to have a big night if the Redskins want any chance at keeping this a close game.
RB Matchup: Dalvin Cook vs. Adrian Peterson
Dalvin Cook has been absolutely special so far in 2019. Out of his first 7 games of the season, Cook has yet to reach 100 rushing yards in just two of those contests. Head Coach Mike Zimmer made the running game a focal point of the off season and it has been paying off big time, except for the disgruntled wide receivers at times. Cook is in line for another monster game tonight, as the Vikings should be playing with the lead a majority of the game. Expect nothing less than another 100 yard performance from Cook in this one, potentially finding the end zone of numerous occasions as well.
Adrian Peterson was questionable heading into the week with an ankle sprain, but it looks as though the veteran RB will be ready to go tonight. Peterson is coming off of two strong games where he rushed for 118 and 81 yards, respectively. The Vikings have a sound run defense, and with the projected game flow, Peterson may see some of his work passed on to Wendell Smallwood, the more favorable receiver out of the backfield.
WR Matchup: Stefon Diggs vs. Terry Mclaurin
With Adam Thielen sidelined with injury, Stefon Diggs will play an even bigger role in the offense for the Vikings tonight. Diggs is coming off of two outstanding performances, totaling 309 yards and 3 TDs over the span. There was plenty of concern about Diggs and his future with the organization after his start in 2019. The star WR had only six receptions over the first three weeks of the season, but looks to be much happier now with Cousins airing the ball out more.
There hasn’t been too much to cheer for in Washington so far this year, but rookie WR Terry McLaurin has definitely been a pleasant surprise. McLaurin already has 5 TD grabs on the young season, and looks to bounce back from his only disappointing game so far as a Pro when he caught one pass for 11 yards. Last week wasn’t completely on him, as the conditions in Washington were brutal, essentially killing the passing attacks for both offenses. Keenum and McLaurin will need to connect for some big plays if the Redskins believe they can win tonight.
TE Matchup: Kyle Rudolph vs. Jeremy Sprinkle
Although not the biggest names at the position, this will be a fun match up between tight ends. Kyle Rudolph has been a great veteran presence on the Vikings for a few years now and even though his target count has dropped from previous years, he is always a threat in the red zone. With Thielen out, Rudolph should see an uptick in usage tonight.
The Redskins are now on their third Tight End, as starters Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis are out with injury. Sprinkle hasn’t contributed much so far in 2019 as he has hovered around the 1-2 reception/game area. Sprinkle is a big 6’5, 250 lbs TE, so he should be able to do some damage around the goal line or in jumbo packages.
Defensive Matchup:
Perhaps one of the most intriguing match ups of the game is the defensive units for both ball cubs. Under Mike Zimmer, the Vikings are perennially one of the best units in stopping both the run and pass games, as both their front 7 and secondary are loaded with talent. They have one of the most underrated pass rushers in Danielle Hunter, who already has 7 sacks so far on the season. Their secondary is led by safety Harrison Smith and DB Xavier Rhodes.
Washington doesn’t have the same star power as the Vikes, but their defense isn’t as bad as their record would show. They rank 21st in both Yards/game and Points Allowed/game, while limiting the opposition to only 237 Passing Yards/game, good enough for 12th in the NFL. A lot of this can be boiled down to game flow, as teams that are leading the Redskins are more likely to run the ball and kill time in the second half. Getting off the field on 3rd down will be crucial for the Redskins tonight, as they look to possess the ball and manage the time of possession battle.
Score Prediction: Vikings 28, Redskins 13
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