4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 9 Matchup vs Colts
Fans will have to wait a bit longer to watch this week’s Minnesota Vikings game against the Indianapolis Colts after the matchup was flexed into the Sunday Night Football slot on NBC. But that only gives Kevin O’Connell’s well-rested team more time to ensure a two-game loss streak doesn’t stretch into three.
While they don’t seem like the toughest test due to their instability, the Colts are 4-4, sitting with just one fewer win than the Vikings. This is a better opponent than most think, with Colts head coach Shane Steichen maintaining a top-20 scoring offense despite bouts of inconsistency, plus a variety of injuries to his quarterbacks across the past two seasons.
Yet, despite their rough stretch, the Vikings are no slouches either. This is still a team with the seventh-highest-scoring offense in the NFL and the ninth-fewest points allowed on defense.
While the Colts are a formidable opponent, the Vikings are better on both sides of the ball. But will it translate to more success on Sunday? If these four bold predictions come true, the Vikings should have no trouble advancing to 6-2 in Week 9.
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Aaron Jones has his first 150-yard game as a Viking
Aaron Jones has mostly been excellent out of the Vikings’ backfield when healthy and available. But he’s coming off arguably the worst game of his Vikings career, averaging just 3.1 YPC. With nine days in between their Week 8 loss and Week 9 matchup, Minnesota’s coaching staff has had plenty of time to figure out why the running game fell short against the Rams.
The extended break has also given Jones’ ailing hamstring more time to heal. After still being listed as a limited participant during the early portions of last week’s Vikings practices, he may be feeling closer to 100% on Sunday night.
Add it all up, and Jones could be ready to show what makes him so special again this week. The Colts have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the NFL this season, but their YPC average ranks as the 14th-best mark in the league. Still, with the versatility of the Vikings’ Pro Bowl running back being a strong suit, we wouldn’t be surprised if he racks up a combined 150 yards on the ground and through the air.
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Vikings OL prevents Sam Darnold from getting sacked
Christian Darrisaw’s season-ending ACL + MCL injury could throw the Vikings’ offensive line into a tailspin. After all, he’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Replacing the most important player on the line doesn’t come easily.
But the silver lining, if there is one, is that the rest of the Vikings’ offensive line has been performing well this season (aside from Ed Ingram’s constant struggles). Plus, after trading for Cam Robinson, we now have a much better idea of how the starting five will look on Sunday night, with the newcomer likely becoming the immediate starter at left tackle.
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Yet, the Colts have been struggling to get home and enter Week 9 with the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL. Plus, with extra time to put together a gameplan, we’re expecting KOC to put Sam Darnold in a position to succeed, which could mean more passing plays with quick reads. If it all comes together perfectly, the Vikings might be just fine without Darrisaw.
Jonathan Greenard records two sacks + a forced fumble
The Colts have had trouble sacking quarterbacks, but Brian Flores has mastered this art. His Vikings defense enters Week 9, averaging the third-most sacks per game, at 3.4 per contest. Free agent signee Jonathan Greenard is a big reason why.
He enters this matchup tied for 12th in sacks but third in pressures among edge defenders, indicating he’s been one of the very best pass rushers in the NFL this season. We saw signs of this in Week 3 when Greenard had three sacks against his former team. But he’s recorded just one QB takedown in four games since. Yet that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been productive this month.
Leaders in Pressures generated in the month of October ⚠️
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 28, 2024
1. Nick Bosa: 27
2. Greg Rousseau: 23
3. Trey Hendrickson: 22
4. Jonathan Greenard: 21
T-5. Za'Darius Smith: 20
T-5. Danielle Hunter: 20
T-5. Zach Allen: 20 pic.twitter.com/ifBpwUIrX2
Greenard will be itching to get back in the sack column on Sunday, but the only problem is that the Colts’ left tackle and left guard (Bernhard Raimann and Quenton Nelson) both have a top-ten pass block grade this season. So if he’s set to have a big game, Greenard will likely need some help from his teammates and/or Flores to scheme up unique blitz packages, but we already know that’s his specialty.
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Minnesota Vikings defense forces four turnovers
Turning to grizzled veteran Joe Flacco won’t make a big difference when it comes to forcing turnovers. By starting the 39-year-old, the Colts will take a pass-heavy approach, with the gunslinging Flacco giving the secondary plenty of opportunity to pick off his attempts.
Plus, Flacco loves to show off his big arm, which could make the Colts more prone to taking deep shots downfield. Yet, unlike the Vikings, the Colts don’t have a pass-catcher who even comes close to Justin Jefferson’s ability to haul in deep passes.
Even though he’s only thrown one interception this season, Flacco had the seventh-highest rate of turnover-worthy plays in 2023, and those tendencies could return against a top-notch defense in Minnesota. We like the Vikings’ chances to force four or more turnovers for just the third time this season. If so, expect Harrison Smith to get his hands on the football at least once.
- Vikings vs Colts prediction: Vikings 31, Colts 24
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