The Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons meet in week 9 NFL action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Vikings Win Vs. Packers But Lose Cousins

The Minnesota Vikings got a 3rd straight win in their last outing by a final score of 24-10, but lost starting QB Kirk Cousins for the year with a torn achilles, prompting the Vikings to go and acquire Josh Dobbs from the Cardinals at the trade deadline. Alexander Mattison leads the Vikings in rushing with 390 rushing yards while Justin Jefferson has a team-high 571 receiving yards but still misses time with injury as well. Jordan Addison has 482 receiving yards with a team-high 7 TDs while T.J. Hockenson has a team-high 53 catches for 478 yards and 3 TDs. K.J. Osborn also has 360 receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Camryn Bynum has a team-high 76 total tackles while Danielle Hunter has a team-high 10 sacks on the year.

Minnesota Vikings Team Facts

• The Vikings have won each of their last three games as underdogs against the Falcons.
• The Vikings have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games as road underdogs following a Division game.
• The Vikings have scored the first touchdown in seven of their last eight games against NFC opponents.
• The underdogs have won the first quarter in each of the Vikings’ last two games.
• The Vikings have lost the first half in six of their last seven games as road underdogs.

Minnesota Vikings Player Prop Facts

• Jordan Addison has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Vikings’ last four games.
• Kirk Cousins has recorded 291+ passing yards in three of his last four regular season appearances with his team as an underdog against NFC South opponents.
• T.J. Hockenson has recorded 51+ receiving yards in each of the Vikings’ last seven games following a win.
• Alexander Mattison has recorded 44+ rushing and receiving yards in seven of the Vikings’ last eight Sunday regular season games.
• Alexander Mattison has recorded 31+ rushing yards in seven of the Vikings’ last eight regular season games against NFC opponents.
• Kirk Cousins has recorded 24+ completions in seven of the Vikings’ last eight games against NFC South opponents.
• Kirk Cousins has thrown two or more touchdowns in eight of the Vikings’ last nine games.
• Danielle Hunter ranks 1st in the NFL in sacks (10.0) this season.

Falcons Fall To Titans

The Atlanta Falcons come into this game fresh off of a 28-23 loss to Tennessee that dropped Atlanta to 4-4 on the year. Desmond Ridder has thrown for 1,701 yards, 6 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on 65.4% passing while Bijan Robinson has rushed for 466 yards and Tyler Allgeier has 332 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Drake London leads Atlanta’s receivers with 37 grabs for 438 receiving yards with 2 TDs while Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith each have 300+ receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Kaden Elliss has a team-high 53 total tackles while Jessie Bates III has 52 total tackles with 3 interceptions.

Atlanta Falcons Team Facts

• The underdogs have won four of the last five games between the Vikings and Falcons.
• The Falcons have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games as favorites.
• The Falcons have lost the first half in each of their last four games as favorites.
• The Falcons have won the first quarter in each of their last seven Week 9 games.
• The Falcons have scored the first touchdown in seven of their last eight games as favorites following a loss.

Atlanta Falcons Player Prop Facts

• Tyler Allgeier has recorded 39+ rushing yards in each of the Falcons’ last 15 Sunday games played on the East Coast.
• Desmond Ridder has recorded 237+ passing yards in each of the Falcons’ last four games played on the East Coast.
• Mack Hollins has recorded 17+ receiving yards in each of his last 16 appearances with his team as a favorite.
• Bijan Robinson has recorded 80+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Falcons’ last three home games against NFC opponents.
• Van Jefferson has scored a touchdown in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite against NFC North opponents.
• Taylor Heinicke has thrown two touchdowns in four of his last five appearances on the East Coast.
• Jessie Bates III is just one away from 20 career interceptions (including playoffs).

Matchup/League Facts

• The Falcons rank T1st in the NFL in H2 win percentage this season (75.0).
• The Falcons rank 31st in the NFL in Q2 points per game this season (2.8).
• The Vikings rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game this season (73.3).
• The Vikings rank 2nd in the NFL in passing yards per game this season (280.5).

Chris’ Pick

I’m rolling with the under here. I just don’t trust either team here as I’m still trying to figure out the Falcons and there’s no real telling what the Vikings will look like in their first game with Josh Dobbs as the starting QB. This just has stay away written all over it in my opinion, but if forced to pick, I’ll roll with the under.