The Minnesota Vikings have not been a particularly good football team this season as the struggling NFC North franchise currently sits at a disappointing 2-5 on the season entering Week 9. However, there are no doubt some very talented football players on this team as the Vikings have shown glimpses of brilliance at times this season.
With Minnesota riding especially high entering the team's Week 9 matchup against the dinged up Detroit Lions, the Vikings will be looking to string together back-to-back wins after most recently defeating the rival Green Bay Packers in convincing fashion. Even though the Vikings presently find themselves in last place in the NFC North standings, a win over the Packers has surely boosted this team's confidence—something that was much needed at this point in the 2020 regular season.
1. Kirk Cousins will surpass 300 yards passing in Week 9
If the Vikings are going to continue to win, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will need to excel week-in and week-out from now until the end of the 2020 regular season. Even with running back Dalvin Cook finally staying healthy and playing well, it all comes down to Cousins as a one-dimensional Vikings offense won't do Minnesota any favors.
However, the rival Detroit Lions are nothing special either while Cousins should be riding high after helping the Vikings take down the always dangerous Packers in Week 8. With that in mind, Cousins will finally get things going with veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen against the Lions en route to throwing for more than 300 yards in Week 9. With the Lions surely concerned about the presence of Cook after his huge game against the Packers, Cousins, Thielen and even rookie wideout Justin Jefferson could have big outings against Detroit.
2. Dalvin Cook will score three touchdowns
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook had the performance of a lifetime in Week 8 against the rival Green Bay Packers. On the ground, Cook registered 163 yards and three touchdowns on an even 30 carries. Making an impact in the passing game as well, Cook tallied two receptions for another 63 yards and one last score to give him four on the day.
With Cook finally healthy and thriving again, look for the veteran rusher to have another big game against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. Even if Detroit pays extra attention to Cook, there will likely be very little that the Lions can do to stop him. Not only that, but the Vikings will continue to feed Cook, who will score another trio of touchdowns this time around—both via the game game and through the air.
3. Vikings will shutout the Lions in Week 9
It is entirely possible that the Detroit Lions are without both quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Kenny Golladay in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. If this is ultimately the case, look for the Vikings defense to have a very impressive outing as NFL journeyman signal-caller Chase Daniel is the backup to Stafford under center. Not only is Daniel far inferior of a quarterback to Stafford, but removing a major weapon in Golladay from the mix will even further hinder the Lions offense in Week 9.
With Stafford recently being placed on the COVID-19 list, as his status for Sunday currently up in the air as it stands today, and Golladay leaving last week's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions are headed for a real stinker against the Vikings. If the Vikings defense actually come to play and the team's offense is rolling on all cylinders through red-hot running back Dalvin Cook, it is entirely possible that Minnesota shuts out Detroit on Sunday.
4. Vikings will Detroit Lions by at least three touchdowns
If quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Kenny Golladay do not suit up for the Detroit Lions on Sunday, this Week 9 matchup of NFC North foes will immediately become the Minnesota Vikings lose. With the Vikings fresh off of a massive win over the Green Bay Packers, a team that many believe is one of the better squads in the entire NFC, Minnesota could ride such momentum right into Week 9 against the hobbled Lions. If Minnesota's offense comes to play and its defense takes advantage of a banged up Lions offense, this game could become pretty lopsided pretty quickly.
There is a very solid chance of this happening in the absence of Stafford and Golladay as the Lions simply wouldn't have enough firepower to keep up. Leaning on quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook, the Vikings will win this game by at least 21 points if all goes according to plan.
Follow Us
Subscribe