NFL Week 5: Trends which will decide each game

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills calls a play against the Las Vegas Raiders at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the NFL game at Allegiant Stadium on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bills defeated the Raiders 30-23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 04: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle attempt by J.J. Watt during the second half at NRG Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings (1-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-0), 8:20 pm

Vikings: This will mark the third consecutive season that the Vikings will travel to Seattle and for the third time, this is a prime time affair. Kirk Cousins was the quarterback in each of the previous two under the lights clashes and Mike Zimmer’s club came up short in both. But the real issue for the Purple Gang in both of those setbacks was the inability to handle Chris Carson and the Seahawks’ running game. He totaled 90 yards and one score in the team’s 21-7 win in 2018 as Pete Carroll’s club rolled up 214 yards on the ground. In last season’s 37-30 Monday night loss, Zimmer’s defense was burned for 218 yards on the ground, with Carson gained 102 yards and one TD.

Seahawks: Including a postseason affair in 2015, quarterback Russell Wilson has faced the Minnesota Vikings one half-dozen times since his rookie campaign in ’12. He and the team have won all six encounters, the latest a 37-30 victory last season (Week 13) on a Monday night at Seattle. In those victories, he’s thrown for a combined 11 scores and only three interceptions, although he’s been picked off once in each of the last three meetings. Wilson has only been sacked nine times in those six contests. This year, the nine-year veteran is off to a blazing start, throwing 16 TD passes and only two interceptions – connecting for at least two scores in each of his four outings.

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