Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 9/19/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Saturday, Sep 17, 2022
Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Where to watch: ABC

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Eagles -2.5
FanDuel: Eagles -2.5
BetMGM: Eagles -2
Caesars: Eagles -2

Season record
Vikings: 1-0
Eagles: 1-0

Week 2 in the NFL season is already off to a hot start with Kansas City showing why it's Kansas City. What will Sunday bring in what should be a week filled with questions that need to be answered upon the like? Given the fact that Al McMordie is 56-33 in his last 89 is a testament to how much you should be paying attention to our champion handicappers and following along with what they do this year. Want to get on the action? Make sure you follow Al and all of our other handicappers during this NFL season.

Vikings - Eagles preview, analysis and prediction


Last week
Eagles: won 38-35 at Lions
Vikings: won 23-7 vs. Packers

No way the Minnesota Vikings are a Super Bowl contender already, right? No way that that’s being a conversation throughout the football talking world after destroying the Green Bay Packers at home and watching Justin Jefferson become one of, if not, the best receiver in the NFL?

It would appear to be the case, and now all the pressure is on Kirk Cousins to not screw up with 16 more games to go in the regular season. Nevertheless, it was very impressive to watch Cousins and Jefferson put a clinic on for the home crowd in Minneapolis. And I’m not sure it’d be wise to pick this group to win again, this time on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles, but I trust the Vikings more to build off such a win more than the Eagles winning, even if it is their home opener.

It's a rare Monday Night Football doubleheader in the second week of the season, but it’s not like one is on the early bill while the latter game would be a west coast matchup and would start at 7 p.m. The Bills-Titans game will be at about halftime by the time things kick off in Philadelphia.

But if you’ve ever wanted to see the closest thing to the Randy Moss-Dallas Cowboys debacle from 1998, look no further than the Vikings being involved. The Eagles infamously passed on Jefferson, the eventual offensive rookie of the year two years ago. Instead, the Eagles took Jalen Reagor at No. 21 with the Vikings taking Jefferson with the next pick.

Funny enough, the Vikings ended up with both. Reagor was traded to Minnesota before the season began because he wasn’t cutting it in Philly. Reagor might not get a revenge game, but Jefferson is sure to show what the Eagles missed.

“Man, this Justin Jefferson guy is really, really good,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said about his first thoughts of Jefferson. “Like, he’s really quick. He’s got great hands. He runs really good routes. I remember it made the game a little more enjoyable for me.”

Jefferson was tremendous in the Vikings’ 23-7 win over the Packers last Sunday, catching nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Cousins was efficient with completing 23 of 32 for 277 yards and the two scores that went to Jefferson. Dalvin Cook also chipped in with 90 yards on the ground.

"I live for these type of big games," Jefferson said. "I was definitely excited to get out there. I'm glad I had this kind of start."

A lot is on the Eagles to deliver this season with Jalen Hurts at quarterback. The door to win the NFC East is wide open with Dak Prescott expected to miss a large amount of time after undergoing hand surgery. Hurts threw for 243 yards, with A.J. Brown reeling in 155 of them in his Eagles debut. Philly scored four times on the ground.

"We had a lot broken plays, a lot of throwaways," Hurts said. "As a quarterback, that is the best play sometimes."

The Eagles are at home, so of course they’d be favored by a few points in this game. It’s going to come down to which defense plays better, and given that the Eagles gave up 35 to the Detroit Lions and almost blew that game late, I don’t have much confidence in that group right now.

Prediction


Jefferson’s not going to go off for a lot against Darius Slay, but this should be the perfect game for Dalvin Cook to go off. Philly’s run defense can be a strong point, but I like the Vikings to keep humming along offensively and put a solid gameplan together against Hurts and the rest. Vikings by 7

Betting trends


Over is 8-2 for the Vikings off a division game in their last 10.

Vikings are 6-5 ATS as a road underdog in the past three seasons.

Eagles are 1-6 ATS in their last seven September games.

Under is 18-4 in the last 22 when the Eagles allow 30 points or more the previous game.

Eagles are 5-9 ATS as a favorite in their last 14 instances.

Statistical leaders


Vikings:
Passing: Kirk Cousins -- 277 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: Dalvin Cook -- 90 yards
Receiving: Justin Jefferson -- 184 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Four tied -- 1 sack

Eagles:
Passing: Jalen Hurts -- 243 yards
Rushing: Miles Sanders -- 96 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: A.J. Brown -- 155 yards
Defense: James Bradberry -- 1 INT

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Minnesota Vikings - Philadelphia Eagles prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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