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- Minnesota (10-2) is a 4.5-point home favorite over the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) in Week 14
- The Vikings are on a five-game winning streak and are only one game back of the Lions in the NFC North
- Sunday’s matchup kicks off from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN at 1:00 pm ET
Kirk Cousins returns to Minnesota after throwing four interceptions in a 17-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. Meanwhile, his much lower-paid replacement Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 23-22 comeback win over the Cardinals.
Before we look at the odds for this enticing Week 14 matchup, check out the top betting sites for NFL football and the Best Super Bowl 59 Betting Sites 2024.
Vikings vs Falcons
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Atlanta Falcons | +4.5 (-110) | +195 | Ov 45.5 (-110) |
| Minnesota Vikings | -4.5 (-110) | -225 | Un 45.5 (-110) |
Cousins falling apart
Kirk Cousins tossed four interceptions, including a pick six, in Sunday’s 17-13 defeat to the Chargers. The 36-year-old hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9, holding an 0-6 TD-INT ratio over his last three contests. However, on the bright side, a Falcons defense that ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks, registered five of them in their Week 13 defeat.
Following a three-game losing streak, Atlanta is now tied atop the NFC South with the Buccaneers. If Cousins can’t deliver in his return Minnesota, Raheem Morris may have to turn to No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. down the stretch.
Kirk Cousins over his last 3 games:
0-3 W-L 724 pass yds 0 TD 6 INT 4 fumbles pic.twitter.com/7sjdpJR6sy
— WTF Stats (@WTFstats) December 1, 2024
Darnold delivers
Minnesota trailed the Cardinals 19-6 in the third quarter before Sam Darnold came alive down the stretch, passing for 235 yards and 2 TDs in a 23-22. It was the first time in his career that Darnold led his team back from a 13-point deficit.
Brian Flores’ defense also deserves a lot of credit for the comeback victory, picking of Kyler Murray twice and stuffing Arizona in the red zone repeatedly. At 10-2, the Vikings could move into a tie atop the NFC North with a win and a Lions loss to Green Bay this Thursday.
Minnesota vs Atlanta
Minnesota is a 4.5-point home favorite at U.S. Bank Stadium with the over/under set at 45.5 points. Kevin O’Connell’s offense is top-10 in the NFL, averaging 24.8 points per game versus Atlanta’s 21.4 (19th). The Vikings also have a top-5 defense, limiting opponents to 18.3 PPG compared to 24.3 PPG (22nd) for the Falcons.
Kirk Cousins’ squad is No. 4 in the league in passing yards per game (242.3) but he hasn’t thrown a TD pass in three straight starts. Brian Flores’ defense is allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (243.3), so it’s now or never for the journeyman QB.
Sam Darnold is on an MVP-caliber run 🏆
In his last 3 games:
• 3 wins
• 811 passing yards
• 7 TDs (1 rush), 0 INT#SKOL | #NFL pic.twitter.com/ccJK0N3WMh— FanDuel (@FanDuel) December 1, 2024
Best Bet
Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal in free agency while Minnesota inked Sam Darnold to an affordable one-year, $10 million contract. Those two decisions will be illuminated in Week 14 when the Vikings take down the Falcons, sending Cousins to the bench.
Take Minnesota to cover at home (-4.5) with the OVER 45.5.
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