Vikings at Falcons: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon in Week 13. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a final score prediction.
The NFL season has made it to December. In the first week of December, Week 13 for the folks keeping score at home, there are some fantastic games on the slate, none bigger on Sunday afternoon than the matinée mêlée between the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) and the Atlanta Falcons (7-4).
Kickoff from brand-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 3. FOX will have the featured 1:00 p.m. ET telecast with Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis in the booth to call it.
Minnesota enters play at 9-2 on the season and in control of the NFC North. The Vikings are coming off a solid win on the road over the division rival Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Minnesota will have had 10 days off in between games thanks to the mini bye.
The Vikings are excellent defensively and have the emerging offense to back it up. Minnesota could very well be the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium. U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will host Super Bowl LII in early February.
Atlanta enters play at 7-4 on the season and would be the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs if the season ended after Week 12. The Falcons have won three straight and have come alive of late offensively. Quarterback Matt Ryan and new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian are on the same page.
Atlanta is playing its best ball of the season at the right time. The Falcons were 7-4 at this time last year when they went on their Super Bowl run. This is a dangerous team nobody in the NFC wants to face in December.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Atlanta -3
Moneylines: Atlanta -145, Minnesota +132
Over/Under: 47
According to OddsShark, the Falcons will be laying three points at home to the visiting Vikings. The associated moneylines for this game are Atlanta -145 and Minnesota 132. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 47 points.
Since this game is being played indoors, let’s side with the over. Minnesota might have an elite defense, but Atlanta has the offense to push this one over the 47-point threshold. Frankly, this game will be as advertised as possibly the best game of the Week 13 slate.
This game will be within one possession from opening kickoff through the final whistle. It will be a back-and-forth affair with some big plays on defense, some outstanding touchdown strikes and the occasional field goal.
It will all come down to the final possession. Atlanta will get the ball back with four minutes left after Minnesota ties it up at 24 thanks to an unbelievable Adam Thielen touchdown. Ryan and the Falcons offense will have to go to work.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time
Atlanta is able to take the lead for one last time on a game-winning 35-yard field goal off Matt Bryant’s leg, as the Falcons offense does enough to wear down the Vikings defense for a chip-shot field goal. This is a stay-away game, as it will be a push with the Falcons holding serve and winning by a field goal at home.
Pick: Falcons 27, Vikings 24