Colts vs. Vikings: Sunday Night Football Picks and Predictions
Week 9 kicked off with yet another snoozer Thursday Night Football game. But this Sunday Night Football game between the Vikings and Colts should be more exciting as QB Joe Flacco takes control over the offense after Anthony Richardson’s horrendous performance.
Below, we have the three of the best Sunday Night Football picks for Vikings vs. Colts, including a touchdown scorer prediction for the game. Lock in your Lineup on PrizePicks for the easiest way to get real money action on Sunday Night.
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Colts vs. Vikings Picks for Sunday Night Football
Here are the Sunday Night Football picks for the Vikings vs. Colts game on PrizePicks.
- Vikings QB Sam Darnold 250.5 Pass Yards — Less
- Jonathan Taylor + Aaron Jones 145.5 Rush Yards (Combo) — More
- TD Scorer Prediction: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
- Vikings vs. Colts Game Prediction
Colts vs. Vikings: Time, How to Watch
Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
How to Watch: NBC
The Colts look to find some more promise on offense by replacing QB Anthony Richardson with Joe Flacco for the foreseeable future. Richardson's stats against the Texans last week might not seem so bad, 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, there is a clear need for better quarterback play.
The 39-year-old veteran looks to show some promise as the go up against a star studded Vikings offense headlines by WR Justin Jefferson and RB Aaron Jones.
The Vikings are coming off a long 10-day break after dropping their second-straight game on Thursday Night Football to the Rams.
With Jefferson on one side and Flacco able to push the ball downfield for the Colts to receivers Michael Pittman and Josh Downs, we could see some offensive fireworks on Sunday Night.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold 250.5 Pass Yards — Less
Vikings QB Sam Darnold comes into this game averaging 230 yards passing per game with 1,610 total yards through seven games. The offense struggled to move the ball in the second half of their last game against the Rams, but TE TJ Hockenson is coming back from injury for the first time this season.
When the offense becomes stagnant, Hockenson can become that reliable target when the passing game is one dimensional.
However, the Colts defense is 24th in pass yards against per game, yet they only allow 227 pass yards on average. The only way I can see Darnold going more than this is if the Vikings are playing from behind, which seems unlikely in this matchup.
I think the Vikings will get out to a lead, causing them to run to chew the clock and run it with RB Aaron Jones.
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Jonathan Taylor + Aaron Jones 145.5 Rush Yards (Combo) — More
On a surface level, this pick might seem relatively easy, as these are two star NFL running backs. On average, the combined yards per game for both of these running backs is just over 146 yards. Jonathan Taylor is averaging 75.7 yards per game while Aaron Jones is averaging 71.5 yards per game.
What makes this pick promising is the impact these players are able to make although injuries have held them back a bit this season. Although nTaylor has missed three games this season due to an injury, he has managed to rush for over 100 yards in three games.
Although Jones has averaged over 71 yards, he missed the second half of his London game which has decreased his averages.
Look for the Colts to establish a strong running game behind their dominant offensive line to allow Flacco to get back into a rhythm after taking over for Richardson. I also believe the Vikings will get out to a lead due to a variety of weapons and thus rely on the running game to finish out the game.
TD Scorer Pick: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson — 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson has easily been one of the most dominant wide receivers in the NFL this season. Although he only has the 12th most receptions with 41, he has managed to post 646 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in seven games — 3rd and 4th in their respective categories.
The reason I believe Jefferson will find the end zone is because of the full complement of pieces around Jefferson and this offense.
Hockenson returning from injury should help open up the defense for Jefferson — expect less double teams and a few more 1-on-1 opportunities. It will also allow for more holes in the running game, which will then call for more blitzes and chances on the outside.
The Colts defense allows 379.6 yards per game overall and is 23rd in dropback Expected Points Added so Jefferson should be able to break loose at some point in this game.
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Game Prediction: Vikings 31, Colts 20
The Vikings have shown more promise than the Colts thus far into this season. Although Flacco has proven to be an upgrade for the offense, it won’t put them over the hump versus a team like the Vikings. The Colts will have to rely on Taylor if they want a chance to win this game, as the two wins that Flacco had, he passed for less than 190 yards.
Ultimately I think the weapons that the Vikings have between Jones, Jefferson, Addison, and now Hockenson in the mix will be too much for this Indianapolis defense. Struggling in the passing game defensively might compound and lead to problems.
Look for both offenses to rely on the run to open up pass opportunities for both quarterbacks; so expect Jones and Taylor to both have good performances this week.
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Ready to build your winning lineup for Sunday Night Football? This Sunday Night Football showdown should offer a lot of exciting offensive plays as Flacco has found success and the Vikings have one of the best WR-RB tandems in the NFL.
Whether you’re boosting your payout with a Demon pick, or staying safe with a Goblin pick, there’s plenty of ways to put your NFL takes into action with projections on the PrizePicks board.
Just pick more or less on two or more player projections, lock in your lineup, sit back, and stay in the green to get paid out after Sunday Night Football.
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