Minnesota Vikings (6-2) are set to face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, airing on Fox. The odds from BetMGM indicate that Minnesota is favored by 4½ points. The Vikings stand at 6-2 against the spread, whereas the Jaguars hold a 5-4 record.
In the historical context of their matchup, the Vikings lead the series with a record of 6-1. Their last encounter took place on December 6, 2020, when Minnesota edged past Jacksonville with a score of 27-24. Last week, the Vikings secured a victory over the Indianapolis Colts, triumphing 21-13, while the Jaguars fell short against the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 28-23.
When looking at the Vikings’ offensive stats, they rank 13th overall, 21st in rushing, 12th in passing, and notably 8th in scoring. Defensively, the Vikings sit at 16th overall, boasting a stellar 2nd rank in rushing defense but struggling with the pass, ranking 28th, and ranking 7th in scoring defense. On the other hand, the Jaguars are 21st overall in offense, with 22nd in rushing, 17th in passing, and 18th in scoring. Their defense suffers significantly, placing 31st overall in both passing and scoring while standing 16th against the rush.
The Vikings have a turnover differential of plus-4, contrasting sharply with the Jaguars’ minus-7. A key player for the Vikings to watch is left tackle Cam Robinson, who joined the team via a trade last week to fill in for the injured Christian Darrisaw. Robinson had a standout debut against the Colts, earning praise from head coach Kevin O’Connell with a game ball for his performance despite the tight timeline with new teammates and the playbook.
For the Jaguars, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen stands out after his exceptional performance last week, where he recorded two sacks against the Eagles. He faces his former teammate Robinson, as the two were companions on the Jaguars roster for over five years.
A crucial matchup to keep an eye on will be between the Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson and a struggling Jaguars pass defense. Jefferson has been on fire lately, racking up 48 receptions for 783 yards and five touchdowns, including two consecutive games exceeding 100 receiving yards. He had an impressive showing against Indianapolis with seven catches for 137 yards, following an eight-catch, 115-yard performance against the Los Angeles Rams.
In terms of injuries, the Vikings will miss All-Pro long-snapper Andrew DePaola (hand) and rookie kicker Will Reichard (quadriceps) for the next several games. They will be replaced by veteran Jake McQuaide and rookie John Parker Romo, respectively. Linebacker Blake Cashman (toe) is expected to make his return this week after being sidelined for three games.
On the Jaguars’ side, they are dealing with injuries on the offensive line, having to potentially play their third left guard in as many games. Ezra Cleveland (ankle) has not practiced, and backup Cooper Hodges suffered a leg injury last week. Blake Hance will be brought up from the practice squad to start.
When considering their series history, the Vikings remain undefeated in Jacksonville, with a 2-0 record at this venue, having won five consecutive games against the Jaguars since their last loss in 2001. Their latest contest was a dramatic overtime win in 2020, highlighted by Jefferson’s standout performance.
Statistically, Minnesota has consistently scored 20 or more points in each game this season, joining only Baltimore in that club. The last time the Vikings started a season this strongly in terms of scoring was back in 1998, when they set the NFL scoring record with 556 points. In addition, Minnesota has only trailed for a mere 69 minutes and 39 seconds this season, the least in the league.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars are struggling in close games, standing at 1-5 in contests decided by one score. This week, Jacksonville will sport white helmets for the first time, a design intended as a nod to local beaches. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence aims to achieve a third straight home game of passing over 300 yards, while rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. leads his class with 595 yards and is tied for the most touchdowns (five). Defensive end Travon Walker is also coming off a solid performance with seven tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, considering tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Vikings might be a savvy pick this week, as the Jaguars have had difficulties defending tight ends.