Thursday Night Football Odds Week 8

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Thursday Night Football Odds Week 8 

Week 8 of the NFL schedule starts with an attractive Thursday Night Football odds upgrade: The Minnesota Vikings travel to face the Los Angeles Rams in the City of Angels. 

Both teams have a lot on the line. Minnesota looks to rebound from its first-season loss, while the Rams aim to find consistency in a rugged NFC West. 

NFL Futures could be affected by this matchup as both teams try to position themselves better for the playoff race. Let’s dive into the breakdown for each team and provide a prediction for this game.

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings come into this game after a heartbreaking 31-29 loss to the Detroit Lions, their first defeat of the season. The Vikings, now 5-1, had been tied for first place in the NFC North with the Lions, but the loss gave Detroit the tiebreaker advantage. 

Minnesota led 10-0 after the first quarter, only to fall behind 21-10 at halftime and 28-17 after three quarters. Despite a solid fourth-quarter rally that saw an Ivan Pace Jr. fumble return give them a brief 29-28 lead, the Vikings ultimately lost on a last-minute field goal. 

Offensively, the Vikings have been strong, ranking 14th in passing offense with 213.8 yards per game and 6th in scoring offense, averaging 28 points per contest. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been efficient, completing 109 of 164 passes for 1,370 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. 

He has also added 100 rushing yards. Running back Aaron Jones leads the ground game with 443 yards and two touchdowns on 85 carries. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been Darnold’s primary target, catching 33 passes for 531 yards and five touchdowns. The Vikings’ defense has steadily improved, ranking 6th in scoring defense by allowing just 17.8 points per game.

Minnesota will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. Their balanced offense, led by Darnold and Jefferson, will be key against a Rams defense that has struggled at times.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams come into this game after a 20-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. Despite the win, the Rams failed to cover the spread as 7.5-point favorites and are now 2-4 on the season, struggling to keep pace in the NFC West. 

Against the Raiders, the Rams were slow out of the gate, trailing 3-0 early, but they took control in the second quarter and held a 14-6 halftime lead. Despite being outgained 317-259 in total offense, the Rams forced four turnovers and held on for the win, thanks to a solid defensive effort.

Offensively, the Rams have been inconsistent, ranking 15th in passing offense with 212.8 yards per game and 23rd in scoring offense with an average of 19 points per contest. Matthew Stafford has struggled with turnovers, completing 132 of 198 passes for 1,392 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions while being sacked 17 times. 

Kyren Williams has led the ground game with 436 yards and eight touchdowns on 116 carries, while wide receiver Tutu Atwell leads the receiving corps with 332 yards on 23 catches. Cooper Kupp, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is expected to return this week, which could provide a much-needed boost to the offense.

Defensively, the Rams have had issues, ranking 26th in scoring defense by allowing 25.7 points per game. Despite a solid pass rush led by Vita Vea and Lavonte David, Los Angeles has struggled to make stops consistently, particularly against high-powered offenses. 

The Rams’ defense will need to step up if they hope to contain Minnesota’s potent passing game led by Justin Jefferson.

Prediction

This game should be closely contested as the Vikings look to rebound from their first loss of the season and the Rams attempt to build momentum after a win. Getting Cooper Kupp back will undoubtedly help the Rams’ offense, but they still face significant challenges, particularly on the offensive line, where Matthew Stafford has struggled with protection.

The Rams’ defensive issues will also be a concern, as they’ll have to find a way to contain Justin Jefferson and the Vikings’ passing game.

Minnesota, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations this season. Despite the loss to Detroit, they remain one of the stronger teams in the NFC. With their efficient offense and improving defense, the Vikings should be able to take advantage of the Rams’ inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. 

While Los Angeles could keep it close, Minnesota’s balanced attack makes them the safer bet to cover the 3-point spread.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings -3