The Minnesota Vikings are one of the NFC's most interesting teams. They come up with big wins, like their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. They also have head-scratching losses, like their defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears. The Vikings will have a chance to prove they're a contender in Week 10 when they showdown with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. It won't be an easy game, but Minnesota has a great shot at a marquee win on the road.
Bold Prediction #1: The Defense Shuts Down Ezekiel Elliot
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot has been indestructible so far. He currently ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing yards with 741 and is averaging a healthy 4.7 yards per carry. Defenses have had no answer for Elliott, but that could change this week. The Vikings have been great against the run, only allowing 96 yards per game. Coach Mike Zimmer's defense is known for being a creative, adaptable unit. Linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are both great run defenders, as is every member of the defensive line. These talented players, combined with adjustments from Coach Zimmer, could lead to a quiet day from Zeke.
Bold Prediction #2: Bisi Johnson Leads the Team in Receiving Yardage
The Vikings field a dynamic duo of wide receivers in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Seventh-round rookie Bisi Johnson is not typically mentioned in the same tier as those two guys, but this could be a huge week for the young pass-catcher. Thielen won't play with a hamstring injury, and Johnson has been taking all of Thielen's snaps. The trend will continue in Week 10, so Johnson will get his opportunity. Cowboys' top cornerback Byron Jones will follow Diggs around all night, leaving Johnson matched up with Chidobe Awuzie. Jones is a criminally underrated defensive back, so Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will probably have to look elsewhere. If Johnson can shake open, Cousins will feed him the targets, while Diggs has a tough matchup on the other side of the field.
Bold Prediction #3: The Vikings Win
This prediction seems like the least bold of the three, but it certainly seems far-fetched. Kirk Cousins is legendarily awful in big moments, and Sunday night against the Cowboys is the biggest moment of the season so far. The signal-caller is 6-13 all-time in primetime games and sports a 5-26 record against winning teams. Both of these are huge concerns heading into week 10 matchup that is both in primetime and against a winning team. If Cousins can keep his cool and get the Vikings a win, it would be the biggest surprise of all.
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