TVA Predictions: Can the Vikings push their winning streak to eight?

Griffin Nelson:

Falcons win 27-23

Atlanta must’ve finally taken some Tylenol and thrown down a greasy plate of Waffle House hash-browns, as they are showing flashes of recuperating from the dreaded Super Bowl hangover. Their offense is starting to pick up steam by force-feeding Julio Jones. Crazy how that works, huh? Their D-Line, led by Adrian Clayborn, is wreaking enough havoc to cover for the absence of their best cornerback, Desmond Trufant.

The Vikings are riding high as well, but the interior offensive line showed their first glimpses of fragility since Week 5. Case Keenum is playing out of his mind, and he will have to produce the same kind of playmaking performance that earned him the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Month if the Vikings plan to steal a victory on the road.

This game has all the components of a barn-burner. With how crowded the NFC playoff picture has become, Atlanta can’t afford a loss in this one. And though it is an important game for Minnesota, they by no means are in a do-or-die scenario.

If this game was played in Minneapolis, I don’t think it’d be much of a contest. U.S. Bank Stadium is becoming an incredibly difficult place to travel to, which bodes well for a possible rematch during the playoffs. But given Atlanta’s home-field advantage, and the dire straits they find themselves in, I suspect the Falcons will pull it out in a close one.