Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles Odds, Prediction & Pick
Vikings vs. Eagles Odds
| Vikings Odds | +6 |
| Eagles Odds | -6 |
| Over/Under | 49 |
| Date | Thu, Sep. 14 |
| Time | 8:15 p.m. |
| TV | Prime Video |
Week 2 of the NFL season is here! This week’s action begins with a star-filled matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings will be looking to avenge a 17-point loss from last season against the Eagles. Jalen Hurts and company will be seeking a 2-0 start to the year, but will have to overcome a flurry of missing pieces to do so.
Ahead of kickoff in this matchup, oddsmakers have priced the Eagles as 6-point favorites on the spread. The total for this contest is set at over/under 49 points.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks in this contest.
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings’ offensive line banged up
Ahead of kickoff on Thursday Night Football, the Vikings have already ruled out center Garrett Bradbury. Bradbury started 12 games last season for Minnesota and had a respectable 2.2% pressure rate allowed on nearly 1,000 snaps. His backup, Austin Schlottman had a 4.7% pressure rate allowed on 43 pass-blocking snaps in Week 1 after entering the game, per PFF. In 2022, Schlottman had a 3.6% pressure rate allowed. He is a notable downgrade at the position, which is a major red flag against a strong Philadelphia pass rush.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is listed as questionable for this evening’s action after practicing in a limited capacity on both Monday and Tuesday. Darrisaw started 14 games for the Vikings last season, protecting Cousins’ blind side. If Darrisaw is unable to go, Olisaemeka Udoh will handle that responsibility. Udoh has been extremely poor during his NFL career, allowing a 6.0% pressure rate across a sample of 802 pass plays. Darrisaw’s status is worth monitoring throughout the day.
What to expect from Minnesota defense
The Vikings let Dalvin Tomlinson and Za’Darius Smith depart in free agency, seemingly leaving this unit without much plus-talent. In Week 1, cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Byron Murphy Jr. were both victimized out wide, finishing the week with poor coverage grades, per PFF. Safety Josh Metellus was the secondary unit’s top performer in the slot, where he took 21 defensive snaps. Defensive lineman D.J. Wonnum and Pat Jones II are major liabilities for this defense against the run, which should create opportunities for D’Andre Swift, Boston Scott, and Rashaad Penny to excel on the ground. Overall, this is an aggressive group that will blitz often and leave themselves exposed if they are unable to get to Hurts in the pocket.
Philadelphia Eagles
Can Jalen Hurts survive pressure?
In Week 1, Jalen Hurts was a sterling 19-of-22 for 160 passing yards and a touchdown from a clean pocket. However, he struggled when under duress, completing only 3-of-11 pass attempts under pressure, according to PFF. He was 7-for-13 for only 4.4 yards-per-attempt when blitzed, which could be a concern tonight against a Minnesota defense that blitzed at one of the highest rates in the NFL in their season opener.
Injury-plagued Philadelphia defense
The Eagles have already ruled out safety Reed Blankenship and cornerback James Bradberry ahead of tonight’s action. Linebacker Nakobe Dean was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is officially listed as questionable, but did not practice at all on Monday, meaning that he is a legitimate risk to be on the sidelines against the Vikings.
The absence of Blankenship and Bradberry in the secondary unit will force the inexperienced Josh Jobe into an expanded role at cornerback. Jobe has played only 19 career snaps in the NFL. Terrell Edmunds is likely to see an expanded role at safety. He has allowed 12 touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception during his career, according to Pro Football Focus.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean is an excellent run defender, and his absence could open up opportunities for Minnesota on the ground. If Cox does not play, the Eagles could be extremely thin against the run on Thursday.
Vikings vs. Eagles Picks & Predictions
Though the offensive line issues for the Vikings are a concern, the lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles, coupled with Minnesota’s blitz-heavy approach, is a breeding ground for a shootout. Much has been made this week of Kirk Cousins struggles in prime-time games, but he should have a strong performance tonight against a severely depleted Philadelphia secondary unit. If the Vikings are unable to get pressure with their blitzes against Jalen Hurts, bettors could see massive chunk plays downfield on a regular basis this evening.
Expect offensive fireworks early against inexperienced defenders – take the over in the first half.
PICK: Over 24.5 – First Half (-115, Fanatics)