Somehow, some way, the Minnesota Vikings are in the NFC Championship game. And if they can win here they will head home for the Super Bowl. The Vikings will hit the road to face off against the Philadelphia Eagles with a shot at the Super Bowl on the line.
The Vikings’ season looked over but quarterback Case Keenum found Stefon Diggs for a 61-yard touchdown on the final player in the Divisional Round to shock the Saints. The Eagles stayed alive by holding on to beat the Falcons.
Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks during the season but have continued to find success. Keenum has stepped up in a big way and Minnesota’s advantage at the quarterback position has made it the favorite despite hitting the road for this contest.
This NFC Championship game matchup will take place on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at 6:40 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings -3.5
Philadelphia Eagles +3.5
Over/Under 38
Odds Analysis
The Eagles looked like the best team in football for much of the season but are the underdog for the second straight week because of the loss of star quarterback Carson Wentz. The Vikings are slightly more than field goal favorites but the Eagles are the ones who have gotten the majority of the action early on, with 55 percent of the action on Philadelphia.
The scoring total is low as both teams boast dominant defenses. Both the “over” and the “under” are getting about half of the action so the line seems pegged correctly.
Injury Report
Andrew Sendejo — The Vikings safety suffered a concussion in the third quarter against the Saints and didn’t return to the game. He is one of the key players on a dominant defense. Concussions can be tricky so it’s unknown if he will be available for this contest.
Sam Bradford — The Vikings’ quarterback was active on Sunday as the backup to Keenum. He was recently activated off the PUP list due to a knee injury. While Bradford hasn’t gotten his starting job back, he seems ready to go in case Keenum struggles or gets injured. Bradford was the backup ahead of Teddy Bridgewater in the Divisional Round and seems more likely to fill that role again.
Sidney Jones —The Eagles’ rookie cornerback suffered an Achilles injury during the pre-draft process and missed nearly the whole season. He finally saw the field in Week 17 but suffered a hamstring injury and was inactive against the Falcons. Even if Jones is healthy, it’s unknown if Philadelphia will want to give him a role in this game considering his inexperience.
Player To Watch
Nick Foles — Keenum and Foles were both backups on the Rams together, and now both are in the NFC Championship game. But while Keenum has put together a surprisingly impressive season, Foles has struggled since taking over for Wentz.
He was 23-of-30 for 246 yards last time out against Atlanta, and while the statistics were decent, the Eagles only mustered 15 points. Foles didn’t throw any interceptions, and taking care of the ball seems paramount in a game like this.
It won’t be easy, as the Vikings have one of the strongest defenses in the NFL. If Foles can’t improve on his stretch since taking over, the Eagles could have a tough time winning despite playing at home.
Free ATS Pick
The Eagles would have been the favorites in this game with Wentz but now are trying to pull out the win at home without him. The Vikings come in riding high and know one more victory gets them home for a Super Bowl in their home stadium -- the first time that would ever happen.
Minnesota is the more well-rounded team and should be able to overcome the road disadvantage to win this game, but take the Eagles to cover the spread as this game could be decided by a field goal.
NFL Odds: Vikings 20, Eagles 17
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