During the preseason Sam Bradford was the projected starter for the Philadelphia Eagles. That changed when he was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings a week before the regular season began. Now, Bradford is the starter for the Vikings, the only unbeaten team in the NFL, and he gets a crack against his former team and the guy he was dumped in favor of when the clubs hook up in Week 7. The Eagles have lost two straight and Carson Wentz doesn’t look like the golden boy any longer.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 7 game is set for Sunday, October 23, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings -2.5
Philadelphia Eagles +2.5
Over/Under 40
Odds Analysis
The line opened at Minnesota -2.5 and 80 percent of the wagers have been for the visitors. But, playing on the road after a bye hasn’t been the best scenario for the Vikings. They’ve lost the past four both SU and ATS. Thanks to their devastating defense, the Vikings are the lone remaining unbeaten and the over/under hit the board as the lowest of the week. Still, it’s well within reach for two teams that are strong on that side of the ball.
Injury Report
Lane Johnson – Serving a 10-game suspension for PED use, the Eagles offensive line struggled in its first game without their starting right tackle. Wentz was sacked five times and hit 11 other times and was clearly flustered by the protection problems. Johnson’s replacement, rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai in particular struggled in pass protection.
Stefon Diggs – The status of the Vikings’ leading receiver remains in question due to a groin injury that forced him to miss the last game. Adam Thielen stepped up in a replacement role, but Diggs is the guy that makes the aerial attack work. He’s a deep threat to keep defenses honest and has the ability to make big plays for an offense that lacks play-makers.
Matchup to Watch
The bye is usually a time for teams to get players healthy and back in game shape. For the Vikings, the off week was used to tinker with the offensive line, a problem that’s become all too familiar. Minnesota signed former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long last week and placed right tackle Andre Smith on injured reserve, joining former starter Matt Kalil. Jeremiah Sirles and T.J. Clemmings started at the tackle spots in the last game, but Clemmings had some issues, prompting the signing of Long, who could be in the running to take over as Sam Bradford’s blindside protector. Brandon Fusco left the last game with a concussion and Alex Boone has missed time with a hip injury, leaving center Joe Berger as the only starter to not miss any time this season.
Winning is a great deodorant, but teams can last for only so long with a makeshift offensive line. The Vikings aren’t the most explosive team offensively, ranking last in rushing and 30th in total offense, so it will be even more difficult for them to move the football against the Eagles, who possess one of the stingier defenses in the NFL. Philadelphia is sixth in total defense, fourth in pass defense and third in points allowed per game. The Eagles have also collected 14 sacks on the year, to rank 14th in the NFL.
Free ATS Pick
Washington doesn’t have the best defense in the game, in fact the Redskins are far from it, but they did a number on the Eagles Sunday, holding the Philly offense to just a pair of field goals. It looks like they may have figured out how to slow down Wentz and the Vikings have taken notice. Minnesota does have one of the better defenses, ranking first in points per game allowed and second in total yards given up per game. The Vikes have not surrendered more than 16 points in any game this season and have worked over Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Eli Manning.
With an offense that has produced below average numbers, somehow the Vikings manage to do just enough to win games. The running game is non-existent, there are no play-makers in the passing game and Bradford looks like Joe Montana. The good fortune will run out for Minnesota with an offensive line that is banged up. Philadelphia will snap back after a pair of losses and returning home for the first time in a month will be the elixir. The last time Philly played at the Link it blasted Pittsburgh. The score won’t be the same, but the result will as the Eagles end Minnesota’s unbeaten run.
NFL Odds: Eagles 22, Vikings 17
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