4:25 pm
December 2

Vikings @ Patriots

Who will WIN this matchup?

Minnesota Vikings (6-4)

@ New England Patriots (8-3)

 

Current odds:

Minnesota Vikings: (+200)

New England Patriots: (-250)

 

• The line for the game is New England by 5.5 points.

• Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs form one of the more lethal pass-catching tandems in the NFL, but Diggs did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, although he insisted he will play against the Patriots. Thielen is the NFL leader with 93 receptions and notched his ninth 100-yard game of the season after hauling in eight catches for 125 yards and a score against the Packers. Quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks fifth in the league with 3,289 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but expect Minnesota to try to get its dormant running game untracked Sunday. The Vikings had four sacks last week but star cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) is questionable.

• New England slowly is getting healthy — rookie running back Sony Michel returned in the week before the bye, tight end Rob Gronkowski was back last week and running back Rex Burkhead is expected to rejoin the lineup Sunday for the first time since Week 3. Brady posted his highest passer rating (115.4) of the season against the Jets, throwing for 283 yards with a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions. Michel rushed for a season-high 133 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Gronkowski had three catches for 56 yards and scored for the first time since Week 1. The Patriots are vulnerable to the pass, ranking 25th with an average of 269.7 yards allowed.

• Brady needs two TD passes to eclipse Peyton Manning (579) for the most in league history (playoffs included).

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
New England Patriots
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