Minnesota Vikings predictions: Week 11 vs. Cowboys

[HappyViking]

https://www.foxsports.com/north/story/minnesota-vikings-predictions-week-11-vs-cowboys-112020
Remember last week when we mentioned if Minnesota got past Chicago there’s an easy schedule lying ahead, which could lead to a playoff push?

Well, here were are.

Up first in the cavalcade of inferior teams is Dallas this Sunday
at home. The Cowboys are reeling at 2-7 but have Andy Dalton back in
the saddle at quarterback and are rested, having come off a bye week,
while the Vikings played Monday night.

Minnesota, winners of three straight, are big favorites to win. Thus, what you read below might not be a big surprise – however you will find that not everyone picked the Vikings to emerge with a W.

Here’s this week’s Vikings predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Vikings 24, Cowboys 20.

Sam Farmer
of the Los Angeles Times: Vikings 28, Cowboys 24. “Although Vikings are
playing better, and likely get the job done at home, Dallas should make
it interesting coming out of week off with Andy Dalton at QB and
coach’s history against Minnesota.”

Pete Prisco
of CBSSports.com: Vikings 23, Cowboys 14. “The Vikings have won three
straight to get back into playoff contention. The Cowboys are coming off
a bye, while the Vikings played Monday night. The Dallas defense has
continued to be a problem and the offense is limited without Dak
Prescott. The Vikings defense has played much better in the past three
games, and they will play well here again. Minnesota will win a fourth
straight game.”




NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal:
Vikings 26, Cowboys 20. “The Cowboys’ defense played its best two games
of the season before the Week 10 bye, with Peak DeMarcus Lawrence
joined by 2018 Randy Gregory, 2018 Leighton Vander Esch and surging
rookie Neville Gallimore. All that and the return of Andy Dalton should
help the Cowboys lose close games against quality teams, rather than
being blown out. The Vikings are a quality team!”

[Guest]

Will Brinson
of CBSSports.com: Vikings 27, Cowboys 14. “I keep saying this on the
podcast every week but it’s imperative: over the next three weeks the
Dalvin Cook rush yards over is free money. Assuming he is healthy they
need to make it 125 yards to get me off it. Dallas, Jacksonville and
Carolina? They are going to FEED Dalvin over the next three weeks. If
they do, they’ll win. If they win, they’ll be 7-5. If they’re 7-5,
they’re back in playoff contention. If they’re back in playoff
contention, they can upset someone in the wild-card round. If they upset
someone in the wild-card round, the Bucs can beat them by 25 in the
divisional round. It’s set in stone. They’re slaughtering Dallas and
Dalvin is going ham wild. Take the over on Alexander Mattison rushing
yards too if you want. They’re all hitting. In all seriousness, the
Vikings know how they’re getting back in this and it involves Dalvin
getting 30 touches per game over the next month. They don’t feel bad
because he got paid. It’s happening so just indulge yourself.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Vikings 31, Cowboys 23.

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote:
Vikings 24, Cowboys 20. “Minnesota played last Sunday night and Dallas
is coming off a bye and has QB Andy Dalton back. So the idea of an upset
is not preposterous, and the notion of at least a Boys cover tempts
like your favorite dessert. Vikes have won three in a row and super hot
Dalvin Cook has a good matchup in Dallas’ weak run D. A rout would
hardly surprise; still, Cowboys played unbeaten Pittsburgh tough last
week and I’d fancy them plus-7 to keep this one close, too.”

Vinnie Iyer
of the Sporting News: Vikings 24, Cowboys 27. “The Cowboys showed life
on offense and defense in their close loss to the Steelers before the
bye. They should be healthier and more effective in both the run and
pass games with Ezekiel Elliott and Andy Dalton in the backfield. The
Vikings will be coming off a short week, and while Dalvin Cook should
have another big game, their secondary is made to be exploited by the
Cowboys’ big playmaking wide receivers.”

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com: Vikings.

Bill Bender
of the Sporting News: Vikings 29, Cowboys 20. “The Cowboys had a bye
week to figure out the latest quarterback plan, but the bigger issue
will be slowing down Dalvin Cook on the road. Minnesota continues to
push back into the NFC playoff picture with yet another victory.”

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com: Vikings 30, Cowboys 24.

Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: Vikings.

Josh Schrock
of NBC Sports Bay Area: Vikings 31, Cowboys 20. “The Vikings were
thoroughly unimpressive on Monday night in a win over the Bears.
Chicago’s defense is legit and they were able to bottle up Dalvin Cook
for most of the night. The Cowboys won’t be able to do that. Andy Dalton
is expected to be back under center for Dallas. I’m not sure that
matters.”

Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: Vikings 30, Cowboys 13.

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS –Vikings 30, Cowboys 14; Florio – Vikings 31, Cowboys 20.

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network: Vikings 30, Cowboys 18.

Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank:
Vikings 31, Cowboys 17. “Following a 1-5 start to the season, Minnesota
has won three consecutive games. It’s no coincidence that embattled
quarterback Kirk Cousins has played largely mistake-free football (five
touchdowns, one interception) during this span. There’s no reason to
believe this will change NFL Week 11 against a Cowboys defense that’s
yielding 32.2 points per game and has given up 21 passing touchdowns
compared to three interceptions.”

All six analysts at SI.com are picking the Vikings.

All three writers at Athlon Sports pick the Vikings to win.

Nine of 10 SB Nation writers
predict a Vikings victory – David Fucillo of DraftKings Nation is,
quite literally in this week’s roll call of predictors, the lone
dissenter.

All seven PennLive.com writers pick the Vikings to win.

[Guest]

So, we're favored again.  Go get em Vikes.
Have a great game day Longshippers - SKOL!

[Guest]

Vegas has Vikings a -7.0 @ home...

USB with no fans has meant ZERO home field advantage this year. In fact, it's been damn near a disadvantage. 

Short week for the purple, @ home???

I think Dallas is playing the Vikings at the wrong time. I'm taking the purple and giving the pts. too. Never thought I'd type that this year. 

[Guest]

Dallas offense is NOT the Bears. Even with Dalton at the helm, they have a really good and deep receiving corp, a good OL and an elite RB, almost as good as ours. They're also coming off a bye, during which they made some changes similar to the Vikings 4 weeks ago. 

This game scares me a little. If the fans were in attendance, different story, but I'm a little nervous about it. I think we struggle to stop them, but I can't imaging they're going to have much success stopping us. 

We've proven we can overcome mistakes, but all it takes is one big mistake to turn a game around. I think we run the ball well with Cook, but if this is a "bad KIrk" game, all bets are off. 

Vikings 34 Dallas 27

[Guest]

Cowboys have lost both their tackles, their center is out, & their RG is playing RT today, come on young DL...!

edit: looks like Biadasz is active

[Guest]

Yuck so far at halftime. Turnovers and getting handled by Dallas's O-line. Yikes.

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:
Yuck so far at halftime. Turnovers and getting handled by Dallas's O-line. Yikes.

I don't think I've ever once complained about the refs on this board--even against the Packers. But this might be the worst called game I've seen in a long time. Vikings have been able to overcome mistakes the last three weeks. But it might be too much to overcome mistakes and every consequential ref call. 

[Guest]

Kirk sucks when the game is on the line.