The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon in a must-win game for both teams.
The Vikings currently sit at 6-6 and are the sixth seed in the NFC. They control their own destiny and will have a playoff spot just by winning out. They also can potentially win the NFC North with some help from the Detroit Lions. The Lions currently sit at 9-3 but have a very difficult schedule down the stretch.
The Raiders on the other hand need some help. They are 5-7 on the season and are 2-2 under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. If they get the win this week and next week over the Los Angeles Chargers, they could be within spitting distance of a wild card spot, a position they are currently two games out of heading into week 14.
Heading into Sunday’s game, our staff gave their preview and predictions.
Managing editor Tyler Forness
Record: 7-5
This is a must win game for the Vikings. Winning is the only way that the Vikings will find their way to a playoff spot. It won’t be easy with three games on the road along with three within the NFC North. The key is going to be the Vikings aggressive and complex defense against the Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell and it will be too much for them, giving the Vikings a second double-digit win on the season.
Vikings 23, Raiders 13
Columnist Judd Zulgad
Record: 5-7
The Vikings are looking to end their two-game losing streak and while the Raiders won two in a row after Antonio Pierce was named interim coach, they have lost their last two and fallen to 5-7 on the season. Pierce is getting far more out of the Raiders than his predecessor, Josh McDaniels, but the Vikings also have continued to fight back in a season in which they started 0-3. The Vikings’ embarrassing Monday night loss to the Bears before the bye should be motivation enough for them to come back strong.
Vikings 24, Raiders 23
Columnist Saivion Mixson
Record: 6-6
Justin Jefferson finally returns to the Vikings offense, and both fans and the team hope his return injects some life into an offense that has been rather listless the last two weeks. Jefferson has been out for more than a month and will likely have to kick off some rust. He also likely hasn’t had much time to develop a rapport with either Josh Dobbs or Nick Mullens, which may cause the offense to be slow out of the gates.
Once again, Minnesota may have to rely on the defense to give them a spark. If they can force Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell into a mistake or two, and if the offense can kick off the rust and gel, they should be able to come away with a victory.
Vikings 27, Raiders 21
Columnist Chris Spooner
Record: 5-3
Justin Jefferson finally returns to the Vikings offense, and both fans and the team hope his return injects some life into an offense that has been rather listless the last two weeks. Jefferson has been out for more than a month and will likely have to kick off some rust. He also likely hasn’t had much time to develop a rapport with either Josh Dobbs or Nick Mullens, which may cause the offense to be slow out of the gates.
Once again, Minnesota may have to rely on the defense to give them a spark. If they can force Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell into a mistake or two, and if the offense can kick off the rust and gel, they should be able to come away with a victory.
Vikings 27, Raiders 21
