Week 8 kicks off with Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime. The 5-1 Minnesota Vikings travel to Los Angeles’s So-Fi Stadium to take on the 2-4 Los Angeles Rams. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET only on Prime. Let’s dive in and take a look at this Vikings-Rams preview and predictions.
Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings were the last NFC team still undefeated going into Week 7. They fell to NFC North rival Detroit Lions 31-29 to suffer their first loss of the season. Running back Aaron Jones is questionable with a hamstring injury, it seems likely he’ll play but we’ve all seen how tricky hamstrings can be, case in point Monday night with Mike Evans. TJ Hockenson may also see his first action of the season with limited practices on Monday and Tuesday.
On the Los Angeles side of things, the season hasn’t started as they hoped. Now the trade rumors are swirling around Cooper Kupp, and maybe even Matthew Stafford? Kupp is expected to make his return in this game after being injured in Week 2 against Arizona. Puka Nacua has also been practicing early in the week and was designated to return from IR. It’s very possible that the Rams could have both stud receivers back on Thursday night.
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams Preview and Predictions Video
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams Preview and Predictions
Jordan Addison Longest Reception Over 20.5 Yards (-110)
Jordan Addison loves those to go grab long balls, and Sam Darnold enjoys throwing them his way. Addison has played in four games this season for Minnesota, in three of them his longest reception was at least 26 yards. Going back to last season as a rookie, in nine games Addison’s longest reception was over the 20.5-yard mark as well.
Last week, Brock Bowers had a longest catch of 25 yards. In the Rams’ previous game in Week 5, the Packers had three separate players all with a reception of at least 21 yards. Two Chicago Bears, one 49er, three Cardinals, and Lion all had a long catch over the 20.5-yard mark against the Rams, meaning they’ve given up at least one long catch in each game. Addison is that deep threat and Darnold is going to take shots to him.
Los Angeles Rams +3 (-115)
Everybody and their brother seems to be on the Minnesota Vikings in this game with currently almost 80% of the bets on them. SGPN’s own Noah Bieniek has discovered the “Biting Knee Caps Trend.” The week after teams play the Detroit Lions and Dan Campbell’s physical team, they are 0-4 ATS so far this season.
The ‘Biting Knee Caps Trend’ now moves to 4-0 SU and 4-0 ATS.
Fade teams the week after they play the Lions. cc: @NoahB77_ pic.twitter.com/Xny6oW9yUz
— Sports Gambling Podcast ™ (@GamblingPodcast) October 7, 2024
The only real reservation I have with the Rams’ in this game is the trade rumors. However, I believe Sean McVay will rally the troops, and get Cooper Kupp and Puca Nacua both going in this game. Adding them in with Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams is going to make for an offense that should perform the way we all thought they would coming into the season before injury derailed them. They looked ahead past the Raiders last week and barely survived, they will be ready for Minnesota on Thursday.
