Viking's game predictions: national media

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I never bet on the Vikings. But I did this time. Hope I didn't jinx them!

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The second MNF matchup features two teams who won in Week 1 as the Vikings take on the Eagles. Caesars currently has Philadelphia as 2.5-point favorites with the O/U set at 50.5. Who do you like for this matchup and why?Moody: My score prediction for this game is Vikings 23, Eagles 20. New Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's offense was rolling in Week 1, and Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson were clearly calibrated. Dalvin Cook also ran for 90 yards, and it wouldn't surprise me if he had more against the Eagles, especially since Philadelphia gave up 6.5 yards per carry against the Lions. These teams combined for 58 points in their last meeting (October 2019). History could repeat itself Monday night.
Snellings: I like the over in this game. These are two high-powered offenses, and the Eagles showed in their Week 1 win over the Lions (where a whopping 73 total points were scored) that their defense has some vulnerabilities. I look for big days from the skill players of both teams, with both scoring well into the 20s or higher. I expect the game itself to be competitive, but I pretty much agree with ESPN's FPI estimate (Eagles 66% chance to win, with an expected 4.7 margin). I'd lean Eagles on the money line (-130).
Fortenbaugh: I'll lay the points with Philadelphia. Minnesota looked fantastic against the Packers in Week 1, which has led to the assumption that this Vikings team is the real deal. Perhaps, but I'll need to see it on the road before I buy in. Minnesota's defensive home/road splits over the past few years are the stuff of legend, and with this game taking place outdoors at Lincoln Financial Field for Philadelphia's home opener, I'm wondering if this unit will be anywhere close to as effective as it was against Aaron Rodgers. Throw in the Kirk Cousins "prime time" narrative and I'll play the Birds at less than a field goal.
https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/34...picks-tips

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Pioneer Press reporters who cover the Vikings pick who they think will win Monday night’s game against the Eagles in Philadelphia:
DANE MIZUTANI
Vikings 35, Eagles 28: Justin Jefferson is unguardable and will continue to be on Monday Night Football. The good vibes keep rolling for Kevin O’Connell and Co.
JOHN SHIPLEY

Vikings 23, Eagles 20: Riding Vikings until they prove me wrong.
CHRIS TOMASSON
Vikings 27, Eagles 23: The Vikings might never fully get revenge for that ugly NFC title game loss at Philadelphia in the 2017 playoffs, but they can win their second straight game at Lincoln Financial Field since then. And, heck, Jalen Reagor might even catch a pass against his former team.
CHARLEY WALTERS
Vikings 31, Eagles 30: It turns out the NFL’s schedule-makers got this one right — the NFC Central division favorite Vikings against the NFC East favorite Eagles in Philadelphia on national TV Monday night. Look for ABC broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to gush all over Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/09/16/vi...s-express/

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THREE STORY LINESTest coming on Monday night
A 23-7 victory over the Packers helped the Vikings start the Kevin O'Connell era in impressive fashion. They will face a playoff team on the road Monday, as their defense tries to contain a talented Philadelphia offense while their offense deals with a noisy environment. "We're gonna find out a lot about where we're at, when we can travel away from our great home environment and go play in a really tough environment," O'Connell said. "Worked a really good week of practice, tried to simulate as much as possible, but we all know noise out of speakers is a lot different than 67,000-plus [fans]."
Jefferson faces Eagles for the first time ... as does Reagor
Justin Jefferson figured the Eagles would take him with the 21st pick in the 2020 draft; the Eagles took Texas Christian receiver Jalen Reagor instead. The Vikings traded for Reagor on Aug. 31, ending his time in Philadelphia after two disappointing seasons. Jefferson, meanwhile, will face the Eagles for the first time in a young career in which he's become one of the league's best receivers. Reagor will be the Vikings punt returner; Jefferson will be Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's primary concern.
Philly connections run deep for Vikings' new leaders
While O'Connell grew up playing football in the San Diego area, his father Bill's Philadelphia roots and his time in New Jersey made him an Eagles fan at a young age. Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah grew up just outside of Philadelphia, as well; the game will be a homecoming of sorts for him. "We didn't know this, but actually we were in New Jersey together at the same time [as kids], both loving Randall Cunningham," Adofo-Mensah said earlier this month. "We had a lot of similarities growing up, [now] just coming together in Minnesota."
TWO KEY MATCHUPSVikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Eagles CB Darius Slay
The Vikings, as they did last week, figure to move Jefferson around, but when he's lined up wide, he'll see plenty of Slay, the 31-year-old cornerback who made his fourth career Pro Bowl last season after three with the Lions. Slay has remained a strong cover corner into his 10th season; the Vikings could also try to line Jefferson up to test the Eagles' other veterans (James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox) or get him isolated on linebackers like they did last week.
Vikings defense vs. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts
Hurts ran 17 times for 90 yards in the Eagles' win over the Lions last week, and he'll get some designed runs in addition to plays where he'll take off to run if his downfield options are covered. Bringing pressure against Hurts could be helpful if the Vikings' intent is to make him beat them with his arm, but they will have to keep him from connecting on downfield shots when he's outside the pocket.
ONE STAT THAT MATTERS20 Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' completion percentage under pressure in Philadelphia's Week 1 win over the Lions, according to Pro Football Focus. Detroit pressured Hurts 17 times; when he decided to throw, he hit just two of his 10 passes for 22 yards and threw the ball away four times.
THE VIKINGS WILL WIN IF …They can win their matchup with Hurts, primarily by making him throw the ball under pressure and keeping him from beating them with his feet. They'll also need Cameron Dantzler and Patrick Peterson to be sharp against A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, and they could run effectively against an Eagles team that allowed 181 yards on the ground last week.
THE EAGLES WILL WIN IF …The Vikings can't find an answer for Hurts' mobility, either by letting him run effectively or connect on downfield shots to his receivers while extending plays. Philadelphia will also need to control Jefferson and find ways to make Kirk Cousins uncomfortable, after sacking Jared Goff just once on 39 dropbacks last week.
PREDICTIONBoth of these offenses have the potential to score plenty of points; the Vikings defense did an impressive job last week against Aaron Rodgers, but will need to rush Hurts differently. Still, the Vikings have enough difference-makers in various areas — Danielle Hunter and Za'Darius Smith chasing down Hurts, Dalvin Cook potentially in for a big night against the Eagles run defense and Cousins able to pick on the Philadelphia secondary with Jefferson — that the Vikings will get to 2-0. Vikings 31, Eagles 26
https://www.startribune.com/ben-goesslin...600208119/

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@purplefaithful said:
Pioneer Press reporters who cover the Vikings pick who they think will win Monday night’s game against the Eagles in Philadelphia:
DANE MIZUTANI
Vikings 35, Eagles 28: Justin Jefferson is unguardable and will continue to be on Monday Night Football. The good vibes keep rolling for Kevin O’Connell and Co.
JOHN SHIPLEY

Vikings 23, Eagles 20: Riding Vikings until they prove me wrong.
CHRIS TOMASSON
Vikings 27, Eagles 23: The Vikings might never fully get revenge for that ugly NFC title game loss at Philadelphia in the 2017 playoffs, but they can win their second straight game at Lincoln Financial Field since then. And, heck, Jalen Reagor might even catch a pass against his former team.
CHARLEY WALTERS
Vikings 31, Eagles 30: It turns out the NFL’s schedule-makers got this one right — the NFC Central division favorite Vikings against the NFC East favorite Eagles in Philadelphia on national TV Monday night. Look for ABC broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to gush all over Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/09/16/vi...s-express/

Can't get much more "homer" than this. Hope they're right.

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I want us to win. I want us to win big. And I do think we're the better team. But a loss isn't going to kill our playoff chances. Remember, last year's Super Bowl winner didn't win the entire month of November. I mostly just want us to play well, keep moving the ship in the right direction. And, above all, STAY HEALTHY. 

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Lions, London (Saints) Bears b4 we go to Miami on 10/16...

Yah, game 2 is not a must win - but it'd sure be nice

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@MaroonBells said:
I want us to win. I want us to win big. And I do think we're the better team. But a loss isn't going to kill our playoff chances. Remember, last year's Super Bowl winner didn't win the entire month of November. I mostly just want us to play well, keep moving the ship in the right direction. And, above all, STAY HEALTHY. 

Yeah, I just can't interact with some younger fans on Twitter: to them, this is a MUST win game. To SHOW they are a contender in the NFC. A must win. A game 2 must win....when the team is already 1-0. These same types will shit all over the team tomorrow morning with any kind of loss. And you can explain that year after year its not how you start, but how you finish in the NFL. Give numerous examples. Doesn't matter. This is a MUST win. Sigh.

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@StickyBun said:

@MaroonBells said:
I want us to win. I want us to win big. And I do think we're the better team. But a loss isn't going to kill our playoff chances. Remember, last year's Super Bowl winner didn't win the entire month of November. I mostly just want us to play well, keep moving the ship in the right direction. And, above all, STAY HEALTHY. 

Yeah, I just can't interact with some younger fans on Twitter: to them, this is a MUST win game. To SHOW they are a contender in the NFC. A must win. A game 2 must win....when the team is already 1-0. These same types will shit all over the team tomorrow morning with any kind of loss. And you can explain that year after year its not how you start, but how you finish in the NFL. Give numerous examples. Doesn't matter. This is a MUST win. Sigh.

I think you're right that it's mostly young fans who react that way. They haven't yet built up the scar tissue that allows us old folks to even out the highs and lows and take each game for what it is: 1 game in 17.