Brave NFL Expert Picks Vikings Over Lions…

To suggest that the Minnesota Vikings are going to win a football game on Sunday is a bold take. They are nearly double-digit underdogs against the Detroit Lions. After the debacle that took place in Los Angeles, Kevin O’Connell would love an opportunity to rebound. It’s just tough to think it takes place this weekend.

That doesn’t mean it’s an impossible feat, and it’s not even one ESPN’s Seth Walder is willing to consider. He sees the path for the Vikings to make it happen, and he’s ready to venture down it.

Seth Walder takes MN Vikings because of defense

When the Minnesota Vikings take the field on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, they’ll do so with J.J. McCarthy back under center. It’s his first appearance since Week 2, and there’s plenty of pressure on his shoulders. ESPN’s Seth Walder is all over Brian Flores having the keys to a victory though.

Goff will record a QBR under 50. Minnesota’s defense hasn’t been the same this season as it was in the recent past. But it is a zone-heavy team, and the Lions have severe man-zone splits, averaging 0.44 EPA per dropback versus man and 0.09 versus zone.

Seth Walder – ESPN

While Walder outlined his bold prediction with Lions quarterback Jared Goff in his sights, he also went on to suggest that Minnesota will emerge victorious to the tune of a 23-21 result. Obviously that’s going against the grain, but the logic is there.

Minnesota remains injured up front of the offensive line, and that’s a problem for J.J. McCarthy and the offense. Defensively though, they will have the full tandem of their edge rushers for the first time in weeks. Andrew Van Ginkel has logged full practices and appears set to return.

In just two games this year, Van Ginkel has racked up a pair of sacks. The pass rush has not exactly been daunting, and this could be the addition that turns the tide. Additional push from the front seven can mask things in the secondary, and with Jeff Okudah in line to miss another game with a concussion, that’s hardly a bad thing.

The Vikings need to keep Detroit’s offense down if they want to win this game. Although Minnesota has firepower on offense of its own, turning this into a track meet probably isn’t the best plan of attack. If O’Connell’s team can win the turnover battle and confuse Goff some, they’ll be in a good spot to snap the losing streak against the division rival.

Allowing McCarthy an opportunity to rub in a result against his former college teammate, Aidan Hutchinson, would be a fun outcome as well.