In a way, the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings mirror each other. Both teams have elite talents on offense with passable quarterback play and a defense that’s been operating like broken turnstiles. But which team will play more consistently this week and get the W? Check out our preview of this game below.
The Falcons will have a new boss on the sidelines when they face the Vikings this coming Sunday after the team fired head coach Dan Quinn following their 23-16 home loss to the Carolina Panther in Week 5. A head-coaching change can be the spark the Falcons need if you’re looking at the glass half-full. Matt Ryan is not a terrible quarterback. Todd Gurley is not a bad running back. Even though Julio Jones is hurting, there is enough talent among the receiving corps for Ryan to turn to. It’s just a matter of playing consistent football from beginning to end, which the Falcons have not done and it’s something that can be pinned on Quinn. With him gone, the Falcons have a chance to regroup and wake up against another struggling team in the form of the Vikings. Atlanta is averaging 24.0 points per game and has a passing attack that’s eighth in the NFL with 276.0 yards per contest. Ryan and Gurley can definitely take advantage of Minnesota’s defense that’s allowing over 409 total yards per game.
The biggest concern right now for the Vikings is the health of star running back Dalvin Cook, who sustained a groin injury in last week’s 27-26 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Cook is reportedly going to sit out the game against the Falcons, and if he does indeed miss that contest, the Vikings will turn to Alexander Mattison for most of their rushing duties. The good thing is that Mattison is one of the best backups in the business. He rushed for 112 rushing yards on 20 carries. But the real weapon the Vikings can use to hurt Atlanta is their passing offense. Kirk Cousins has been error-prone this season, with seven interceptions already, but he’s about to face a Falcons’ secondary that’s been repeatedly abused by opposing offenses. Last week, Teddy Bridgewater had 313 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 27-of-37 completions. Atlanta is just 31st in the NFL with 335.8 passing yards allowed per game and barely has a pass rush to boast of. The Falcons have just seven sacks on the season.
The Vikings are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games as the home team.
