In a battle of two of the top teams in the NFC right now, the Minnesota Vikings will take on the Los Angeles Rams at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
For the third time in the last four years, the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angles Rams are taking on each other in a regular season matchup this Sunday. The Vikings have won the previous four meetings between the two teams with the Rams last win being in 2006.
This specific game has a little bit more meaning behind it than some of the recent matchups between these two teams.
Both are sitting at 7-2, atop their respective divisions, and fighting for positioning in the upcoming playoffs. The outcome of this game will likely become a factor towards the end of the year when the postseason bracket is being sorted out.
So who will come out with a victory on Sunday? Will Case Keenum and Minnesota be able to extend their winning streak to six or will Jared Goff and Los Angeles continue the surprising success they have had so far in 2017?
The writers for The Viking Age cannot tell the future (unfortunately), but they have attempted to predict who they think will get the win in Minnesota on Sunday.
Adam Carlson:
Vikings win 31-26
The Minnesota Vikings will face one of their toughest tests of the season in Week 11. The Los Angeles Rams are like the Vikings in that they both have a strong defense and an efficient offense that can put teams away with big plays.
Offensively, the Rams will be tough to pass against. They allow completions on only 57.3% of passes (fourth in the NFL) and have 12 interceptions this season (second). The good news is that the Rams do give up 4.5 yards per rush attempt (sixth most) and have allowed eight rushing touchdowns.
Expect the combination of Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray to account for over 150 yards together and at least one score while they use the running backs to open up the passing game.
Defensively, Minnesota should get a jolt of energy with the return of defensive end Everson Griffen. The team didn’t feel the same without him but they could be without safety Andrew Sendejo this week due to a groin injury. Still, expect the Rams to get some big plays, especially when the involve stud running back Todd Gurley or surging wide receiver Robert Woods.
This will be the most closely fought game of the year so far for Minnesota, with the home team barely squeaking one out. However, there will be some big plays and crazy moments until the final whistle.
Adam Patrick:
Vikings win 30-17
The Los Angeles Rams are doing well so far this season, but they have not really faced a defense like the one who plays in Minnesota yet this year. This will prove to be a big-time factor when the Vikings and Rams meet on Sunday.
Minnesota’s defense will give Jared Goff headaches all day long. Not just with their pass rush, but with their excellent pass coverage as well. Mike Zimmer will likely be attempting to take away Goff’s first read and make the young quarterback hesitate in the pocket all day long.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings’ offense will combat an aggressive Los Angeles defense with their own aggressive play-calling. By establishing the run during their first few drives, Minnesota will see their biggest gains of the day come on play-action pass plays that will get the Rams defenders to bite and fall behind in coverage.
The Vikings’ experience on defense and their cleverness on offense will prove to be the necessary medicine to hand Los Angeles their third loss of the year.
Jordan Schmidt:
Vikings win 27-24
The Minnesota Vikings return home after a big win last week. They face the Los Angeles Rams in what could be a playoff game preview. The Vikings will beat the Rams with key defensive stops late in the game. Minnesota’s defense will be the toughest unit the Los Angeles has faced since Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks when they only scored 10 points.
The Rams have scored an average of 32.8 points a game while the Vikings have allowed 18.3 points a game. The home crowd will have this Minnesota defensive unit pumped and ready to slow down the Los Angeles offense. Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, and the rest of the front seven will create havoc for the Rams’ second-year quarterback, Jared Goff.
The Vikings’ offense will be a balanced unit against Los Angeles, using their run game to slow down the very talented front seven of the Rams. The combination of running backs Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon will be too much for Los Angeles to slow down.
As Minnesota establishes their run game it will open the field up for Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Both wide receivers are on a roll and will be a challenge for the Rams’ secondary. Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has shown his ability to stretch the defense with long passes and will be looking to do the same on Sunday.
Spencer Suckow:
Vikings win 27-24
The Minnesota Vikings have gone up against plenty of explosive offenses this year, but statistically speaking, none have been as explosive as what they’ll face Sunday.
Quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, and the Los Angeles Rams offense have done a complete 180 from last season to this one, and have been on fire through the first nine games this season. Even when they get off to slow starts, like they did last week against Houston, they’re still capable of getting things together and putting up large chunks of points in short order.
While head coach Sean McVay gets a lot of credit for this turnaround, the offensive explosion in Los Angeles likely wouldn’t be possible without the vast improvements from the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams are fifth in the NFL in pass blocking efficiency and have given up the second-fewest pressures in the league since Week 6.
Defensively, the Rams are coached by Wade Phillips, one of the greatest defensive minds of this generation. Thanks in large part to the coaching of Phillips, the Rams have skyrocketed to to number one in Football Outsiders DVOA rankings.
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Ultimately, I really do see this game a toss-up that could go in either direction. Although the Rams’ offense against the Vikings’ defense is the headliner, I believe this game will actually come down to the opposite matchup. Los Angeles’ offense has been hot this whole season (save for the Seattle game), but Minnesota possesses a defense that’s capable of at least slowing them down.
Offensively for the Vikings, former Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been on a hot streak himself of late as a play caller, and I expect Minnesota to utilize plenty of short passes and play action on Sunday to help neutralize Los Angeles’ pass rush.
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If the Vikings do that, and Case Keenum continues to protect the ball, Minnesota should be able to head into their Thanksgiving showdown against the Detroit Lions with an 8-2 record.