Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
Mall of America Field – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8:25 pm Eastern, TV: NFL Network
Opening Line: Washington -2
Current Line: Washington -2 1/2 (-120)
Opening Total: 48 1/2
Current Total: 50
Opening Money Line: Redskins -135 / Vikings +115
Current Money Line: Redskins -145 / Vikings +125
The Washington Redskins are 3-5 this season but they are only a game and a half behind the 5-4 Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East lead. The 4-5 Philadelphia Eagles are also in the mix. Washington travels to the 1-7 Minnesota Vikings Thursday night. The Vikings are in last place in the NFC North, and the other three teams in the division are all 5-3.
Since 2001, the two teams have played six times with each winning three times. The two teams have played the last three seasons. Washington won last year at home 38-26. The Christmas Eve game between the teams in 2011 was notable because Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in a 33-26 Minnesota win in Landover, MD. Washington hasn’t played in Minnesota since 2007.
Washington is coached by Mike Shanahan. The three wins for the Redskins came at the Oakland Raiders 24-14 and at home against the Chicago Bears 45-41 and last week against the San Diego Chargers 30-24 in overtime. The Redskins have home losses to the Philadelphia Eagles 33-27 and the Detroit Lions 27-20, along with road losses at the Green Bay Packers 38-20, the Dallas Cowboys 31-16, and at the Denver Broncos 45-21. Washington is 3-5 ATS and the total is 5-3 this season. The Redskins were 1 point favorites against San Diego last week and the total was 49.5.
Neither the Redskins or Chargers scored in the first quarter last week. San Diego would take a 14-7 lead into halftime though. Washington scored 17 straight points to open the second half and took a 24-14 lead with 6:59 left in the fourth. San Diego scored with 4:10 left to pull within 24-21. After a Redskins punt with 2:10 left, San Diego took over at their own 8 yard line.
The Chargers drove down the field and appeared to score the go ahead touchdown on a six yard pass from Phillip Rivers to Danny Woodhead. However, officials reversed the call after replays showed Woodhead’s foot knocked over the pylon and the ball never crossed the plane. The Chargers had first and goal at the one with 21 seconds left and two timeouts. However, they were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle for the game tying field goal with 3 seconds left. In overtime, the Redsksins won the toss and took over from their own 22 yard line. Washington drove the length of the field and won the game on a 4 yard touchdown run from Darrel Young. Young had 3 rushing touchdowns Sunday despite having only 2 carries all season before the Chargers’ game.
Washington had 500 total yards including 291 passing and 209 rushing yards. San Diego had 410 total yards including 341 passing yards. Each team had 7 penalties. The Chargers had two turnovers and the Redskins had one, but it was a pick six in the end zone.
Washington is being outscored 32-25 this season. The Redskins are #12 in scoring and #31 in points allowed. Washington is averaging 407.6 yards per game including 261.4 passing and 146.2 rushing yards. Washington is in the top twelve in the league in all three categories. On defense, the Redskins are giving up 398.8 yards per game including 282.1 passing and 116.6 rushing yards. Washington is 22nd or worse in all three categories. The Redskins are -2 in turnovers. Washington is 51/116 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 41/104. The Redskins have forced 21 sacks and allowed 14. Washington has 5 defensive touchdowns and has allowed 5 defensive/special teams touchdowns. The Redskins average 56 penalty yards per game and opponents average 54.
Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III has shown flashes of his brilliant play from his rookie season recently after tearing his ACL in last year’s playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He has completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,169 yards with 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, along with 49 carries for 257 yards. He has been sacked 14 times this season. RGIII tweaked the injured knee in the second half against the Broncos and was replaced by Kirk Cousins, who threw for 48 yards and 2 picks in his only action of the season. Griffin played against the Chargers and will start against the Vikings.
Running back Alfred Morris has 133 carries for 686 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with 3 catches. Roy Helu has 38 carries, 163 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 14 catches for 151 yards. Young has 3 rushing touchdowns and might be a new short yardage weapon. Receiver Pierre Garcon has 54 catches, 684 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tight end Jordan Reed has 38 catches, 425 yards and 2 touchdowns. Leonard Hankerson has 24 catches, 309 yards and 3 touchdowns. Santana Moss has 20 catches, 236 yards and a touchdown. Five defensive players are listed on the injury report for the Redskins.
Minnesota is coached by Leslie Frasier. The only win for the Vikings came over the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-27 in London. Minnesota has road losses at the Detroit Lions 34-24, Chicago Bears 31-30, the New York Giants 23-7, and the Dallas Cowboys last week 27-23, along with home losses to the Cleveland Browns 31-27, Carolina Panthers 35-10 and against the Green Bay Packers 44-31. The Vikings have lost 4 straight games and might be the worst NFL team that doesn’t play in North or Central Florida. Minnesota is 3-5 ATS and the total is 6-2 this season. The Vikings were 10 underdogs at the Cowboys and the total was 51.
Minnesota took a 10-6 lead at halftime against Dallas on the road. Dallas scored two touchdowns in 10 seconds early in the third quarter, including a fumble recovery in the end zone to take a 20-10 lead. Minnesota scored with 8:11 in the third to make it 20-17 on a 31 yard touchdown pass from Christian Ponder to tight end Kyle Rudolph. However, the score was costly as Rudolph broke his foot on the play and is out for several weeks.
After a Dallas punt, Minnesota took over at their own 13 with 10:32 left in the fourth. The Vikings drove down the field keyed by a 52 yard run from Adrian Peterson. The Vikings would later take the lead on an 11 yard touchdown run from Peterson where he dragged several members of the Dallas defense into the end zone. However, Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed the first extra point in his career to keep the score 23-20.
The Cowboys’ next possession ended on a Tony Romo interception at the Dallas 41 yard line. The Dallas defense held though and forced a punt with 2:44 left. The Cowboys took over at their own 10. Romo drove the Cowboys down the field and threw the go ahead touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris with 35 seconds left to give the Cowboys a 27-23 lead. Minnesota drove to midfield and had time for a Hail Mary on the last play. However, Ponder’s throw came up short of the end zone and the Cowboys avoided the upset.
Minnesota had 393 total yards including 169 rushing yards. Dallas had 350 total yards including 314 passing yards. The Vikings had two turnovers and the Cowboys had one.
Minnesota is being outscored 32-23 this season. The Vikings are #30 in points allowed. Minnesota is averaging 316.8 total yards including 205.2 passing and 111.5 rushing yards. The Vikings are #27 in total offense and #23 in passing. On defense, Minnesota is allowing 396.1 yards per game including 292.1 passing and 104 rushing yards. The Vikings are #29 in total defense and #29 against the pass. The Rush defense is #11. Minnesota is -3 in turnovers. The Vikings are 47/119 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 64/126. Minnesota has forced 17 sacks and allowed 20 this season. The Vikings have 4 defensive/special teams touchdowns and have allowed 3 this season. Minnesota averages 47 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 62.
The Vikings are one of five teams to have used three quarterbacks this season along with the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. Christian Ponder started the season as the quarterback but then injured his ribs. Matt Cassel started a couple of games and led the Vikings to their only win this season. Minnesota signed Josh Freeman after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released him. Freeman started against the Giants but was completely ineffective. He suffered a concussion in that game and missed last week. Ponder started the last two games and will start against Washington as well. Ponder has completed 62% of his passes for 1,072 yards with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions along with 24 carries for 143 yards and 4 touchdowns. Cassel has completed 69.6% of his passes for 489 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions along with 12 rushing yards. Freeman was 20/53 for 190 yards with a pick against the Giants in his only action for the Vikings. He did start 3 games for the Buccs before they released him.
Adrian Peterson has 153 carries for 711 yards and 7 touchdowns along with 22 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Jerome Simpson has 29 catches for 446 yards. Greg Jennings has 31 catches for 392 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rudolph has 30 catches for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cordarrelle Patterson has 16 catches for 146 yards, plus two kick off returns for touchdowns. Six defensive players are listed on the injury report for the Vikings.
Washington is 5-0 ATS after allowing less than 90 rushing yards, 5-1 in November, on fieldturf and after allowing 250 passing yards or more, 5-2 after rushing for 150 yards or more, 13-28-3 against teams with losing records, 1-5 against NFC teams, 1-6 in week 10, 0-4 after a win and a cover. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five in this series.
Minnesota is 3-7-1 ATS in November, 2-5 against teams with losing records, and against NFC teams, 1-5-1 in week 10, 1-5 on fieldturf, and 0-4 after a cover, and after allowing 90 rushing yards or less. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six in this series.
This should be a high scoring affair with two of the worst defenses in the league. Minnesota showed signs of life last week in the near upset of the Cowboys. Washington escaped with a much needed victory last week against a decent Chargers’ team. I think the Redskins win in a shootout on a late field goal.
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