MINNESOTA (6-6) at LAS VEGAS (5-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox
OPENING LINE: Vikings by 3, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Vikings 7-5; Raiders 6-6.
SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 9-6.
LAST MEETING: Vikings gained 34-14 on Sept. 22, 2019, in Minneapolis.
LAST WEEK: Both groups have been off. Vikings misplaced to Bears 12-10 on Nov. 27; Raiders misplaced to Chiefs 31-17 on Nov. 26.
VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (28), PASS (6), SCORING (16)
VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (7), PASS (18), SCORING (8).
RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (31), PASS (21), SCORING (27).
RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (25), PASS (13), SCORING (15T).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Vikings minus-8; Raiders minus-7.
VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Justin Jefferson. The 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year is ready to return after lacking the previous seven video games due to a hamstring damage. The Vikings managed to win the primary 5 of these. QB Joshua Dobbs will throw to Jefferson for the primary time and certain see some rapid advantages with the eye the Raiders are certain to dedicate to him.
RAIDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Aidan O’Connell. He goes into his last stretch to show he needs to be the beginning quarterback going ahead. O’Connell has had moments the place he might be the QB the Raiders need, however hasn’t been constant. Maybe having every week off will assist him reset and present the Raiders don’t must search for his substitute in subsequent 12 months’s draft.
KEY MATCHUP: Dobbs vs. Raiders secondary. After sparking the Vikings to victories in his first two appearances, Dobbs has been chargeable for six turnovers over the previous two video games. He rushed for 110 yards over his first two video games with the Vikings and simply 32 yards over the earlier two. Dobbs goes in opposition to a Raiders secondary that has made important adjustments with two gamers being waived, placing the onus on not too long ago acquired Jack Jones and rookie Jakorian Bennett.
KEY INJURIES: Vikings CB Akayleb Evans (calf) missed the earlier sport, however was a full participant Wednesday within the staff’s first apply after the bye week. … QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles tendon), RB Cam Akers (Achilles) and DL Dean Lowry (pectoral) are out for the season. … LB Jordan Hicks (leg) and OLB Marcus Davenport (ankle) stay on injured reserve. … Raiders DE Maxx Crosby (knee) and T Kolton Miller (shoulder) didn’t apply Wednesday. Crosby was uncertain two weeks in the past in opposition to Kansas City, however performed. Miller additionally began after lacking two earlier weeks. … CB Brandon Facyson (shin) was designated Wednesday to return from injured reserve, starting his 21-day clock by which he can be activated or return to IR.
SERIES NOTES: The Vikings have gained three of the previous 4 conferences. … Minnesota outscored the Raiders a mixed 64-28 the previous two instances they performed one another. … This is their first assembly in Las Vegas, however the Raiders are 5-2 once they’ve been the house staff.
STATS AND STUFF: The Vikings are 0-3 in opposition to the AFC West this season, shedding to the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs by a mixed 12 factors. … The Vikings below coach Kevin O’Connell have performed 22 of 29 video games with one-rating margins. They have been 11-0 final season and are 5-6 this season in video games determined by eight or fewer factors. In video games determined by three factors or fewer in 2023, the Vikings are simply 1-3. … O’Connell would turn into the quickest coach in staff historical past to twenty victories with a win. Dennis Green acquired there in 32 video games from 1992-93. … The Vikings are one among two groups within the NFL with 4 gamers with a minimum of three receiving TDs: Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Alexander Mattison and Jefferson. … Hockenson leads all NFL TEs with 80 receptions. He’s second with 786 receiving yards. … Vikings OLB Danielle Hunter is tied for third within the NFL with 13½ sacks, one shy of matching his profession excessive. … The Vikings protection has pressured 18 fumbles, two greater than every other staff within the league. … The Raiders have had 56 accepted penalties go in opposition to them, fewest within the NFL. It’s additionally the second-lowest complete in membership historical past via 12 video games. The 1961 staff dedicated 43 infractions via the primary dozen video games. … DE Maxx Crosby is the seventh participant, since tackles for loss grew to become official in 1999, to achieve a minimum of 80 in his first 5 seasons. … RB Josh Jacobs is one among two backs with a minimum of 1,000 scrimmage yards in every of his first 5 seasons since 2019. Derrick Henry, who has hit that mark the previous six seasons, is the opposite one. Jacobs joins Marcus Allen as the one Raiders to perform that. … Ok Daniel Carlson faces his previous staff for the second time. He was drafted by the Vikings within the fifth spherical in 2018, however was reduce was after simply two video games after lacking three discipline targets in opposition to Green Bay. The Raiders then picked up Carlson, who then grew to become one of many NFL’s high kickers.
FANTASY TIP: Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson leads all gamers at his place with 80 receptions and is second with 786 receiving yards. His 5 landing catches are just one off the lead for tight ends. Given the Raiders seemingly can be paying a number of consideration to Jefferson, that would open up some alternatives for Hockenson to place up large numbers.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
