Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks Week 14 Pick

In a heavyweight battle between NFC contenders, the Minnesota Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. This contest should be a good one between two teams who might catch up later on down the road when the stakes are really high. Minnesota has won six of seven, coming off the bye week and a win over the Broncos where they overcame a 20-0 halftime deficit to win. Now rested and a little more healed-up, they come into Seattle, who came off the bye last week to beat the Eagles on the road, 17-9. At 9-2, they look to score another big win over a good conference team this week at home on MNF.

Tough Going for Seattle

Their road game against Philly last week was coming off the bye, but still, their schedule has been brutal of late, facing top teams with a couple grueling overtime battles in the mix, as well. After this, they go on the road to face the Panthers and Rams in straight weeks. You have to wonder how they’ll hold up. In contrast, you have a rested Vikings team that got the bye at the right time with key guys on both sides of the ball having nagging injuries that a week off can help.

Vikings Getting Better?

Just as the criticism started pouring in after a 2-2 start, the Vikes kicked it up a couple of notches. Kirk Cousins is completing over 70% of his throws with 21 TDs and just three picks. They’re getting some guys back. Stefon Diggs and the TE-combo of Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith, Jr. is taking off, and Dalvin Cook is running his butt off while catching a lot of balls. Getting reliable receiver Adam Thielen (questionable) back would also be big. Before the bye, they looked a little listless, with one cover in four weeks. But what better way to go into the break than to overcome a huge Broncos lead and get the win? Against a Seattle defense that isn’t always impenetrable, this offense should be able to make some noise. But after the bye, the Seattle defense actually did look pretty good last week, albeit against a sideways Eagles’ offense.

Can the Vikings’ Defense Keep Pace?

Anyone thinking of taking the Vikes has to bristle a bit at the prospects of their road-defense against Russell Wilson and Company. Upfront, the prospects aren’t so bad. They should be able to put heat on Wilson, and the “D” is able to capitalize well on mistakes, though Wilson seldom makes them. They should also be able to keep a formidable Seahawks’ run-game in relative check, though that’s never a certainty. But with Wilson slinging the ball all over the field, the Vikings’ secondary, which is now a bit banged-up even with the bye, might be pushed to its limit. It’s just that the Vikings’ most significant edge, their vital aerial attack against a sometimes-dicey Seattle secondary is negated by them having the same matchup problem.

What the Vikings Need to Do to Cover

The path to a cover for the Vikings is there. It’s easy to see. But it won’t be easy. The Seahawks can get it done in any number of ways on offense. If the aerial attack with Wilson slinging it to guys like Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf doesn’t work, then Chris Carson is there to do the heavy lifting, On Sunday, it was Rashaad Penny running for 129 yards and a 58-yard TD run that helped get the team over the hump. It’s a lot to contain. And that Minnesota line is also up against it, with guys like Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright, Ziggy Ansah, and Jadeveon Clowney if he’s back in action. On Sunday, the secondary made plays, a sack resulted in a fumble, and they were generally very disruptive. But that was the Eagles. A smooth-running Vikings’ offense will be a lot tougher to derail.