The New England Patriots (6-4, 3-2 Away) will be looking to build on their winning run when they are on the road to take on the Minnesota Vikings (8-2, 4-1 Home) at U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday. The Vikings are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 42.5.
New England is coming off a 10-3 win over the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, their third straight victory. Mac Jones was 23 of 27 for 246 yards. Damien Harris ran eight times for 65 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson caught six passes for 56 yards.
Minnesota lost 40-3 to the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Kirk Cousins threw for 159 yards. Dalvin Cook carried 11 times for 72 yards. T.J. Hockenson was targeted nine times, hauling in five receptions for 34 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since December 2018, a 24-10 win for the Patriots.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Patriots are averaging 21.3 points per game for the season, 20th in the NFL, and they are facing a Vikings defense that has surrendered 23.1 PPG (19th). Meanwhile, Minnesota has scored 22.9 points a game this season, 13th in the league, and New England is allowing 16.9 PPG (2nd).The Patriots rank 23rd in the league in passing yards per game (220.4) and 17th in rushing (115.4).
The best opportunities are likely to come through the air, as the Vikings are 31st in the league in passing yards allowed per game (284.4). Against the run, Minnesota is 18th (121.6).
Minnesota is seventh in the league in passing yards per game (254.8) and 24th in rushing (103.6), while the Patriots are allowing 211.6 passing yards (7th) and 114.5 rushing yards per game (12th).
New England is averaging 2.8 trips to the red zone a game this season, second lowest in the NFL, finding the end zone 43% of the time (31st).
The Patriots will be looking to improve on those numbers against the league’s weakest red zone defense, as the Vikings have allowed opponents to score on 71% of red zone trips.
TOP PERFORMERS
Through seven games, Mac Jones has thrown for four touchdowns (7 INT) and 198.0 yards per game to lead New England in passing. In three away games this season, he has three TDs (3 INT) and an average of 219.7 yards passing.
Rhamondre Stevenson leads the team in rushing with an average of 64.4 yards a game over 10 games. He has four touchdowns on the ground. Jakobi Meyers is the Patriots’ leading receiver with 63.6 yards a game and three TDs.
He is averaging 5.5 receptions on 7.2 targets per game. Kirk Cousins has 14 passing touchdowns (8 INT) with 246.1 yards per game through 10 games to lead Minnesota. In five home games this season, he has thrown for seven TDs (1 INT) and an average of 234.0 yards.
Dalvin Cook has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 79.9 yards a game through 10 games. He has seven total touchdowns, six rushing and one receiving. Justin Jefferson has been a workhorse in the Vikings’ passing game.
He has four touchdowns and a 109.3 yard per game average through 10 appearances. Justin Jefferson is averaging 10.5 targets per game (7.2 receptions).
SportsTips’ NFL Pick:
Minnesota Vikings (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
