Two teams fighting for divisional positions collide when the Indianapolis Colts (4-4) take on the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) Sunday night inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday Night.
Despite starting the season a perfect 5-0, the Vikings find themselves in third place in the uber-competitive NFC North division after losing two straight contests. Minnesota is expecting to have tight end T.J. Hockenson return for this contest after practicing this week.
The Colts also enter the contest after a loss, dropping a 23-20 decision to the AFC South-leading Houston Texans in Week 8. Indianapolis will need help to earn the divisional crown this year after dropping three of their first four games to their division rivals.
Will Minnesota return to its winning ways, or will Indianapolis find its footing with quarterback Joe Flacco taking over for Anthony Richardson? We’ll cover that and our three best player prop bets below.
Aaron Jones has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Vikings this season, earning over 90 yards in four of his team’s seven contests. On the season, the running back has 501 rushing yards on 104 carries as he’s averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.
In four straight games, the Colts have surrendered at least 75 rushing yards to a single carrier. Expect that Indianapolis will do the same again on Sunday night for Jones to cover this player prop bet.
After leading the Cleveland Browns to an improbable playoff berth last season, Colts quarterback Joe Flacco was not re-signed by the AFC North team. Instead, the Indianapolis Colts took a chance on a 39-year-old signal-caller to serve as their backup.
He’s been incredible thus far in three appearances for the team, surpassing the 300-yard mark once in a loss to Jacksonville. With Flacco again under center, expect the Colts to pass the football and for Flacco to cover this player prop bet.
After missing much of last season due to an injury, Minnesota star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has returned with a vengeance this season. In seven games, Jefferson has caught 41 of his 60 targets for 646 yards and five touchdowns.
Outside of his team’s blowout win over the New York Giants, Jefferson has not failed to hit the 80-yard mark in any of his team’s last six games. Bettors should take the over here despite the Colts having denied any player from surpassing the 81-yard mark in their past three games.
There are really only two ways this game plays out. Either Flacco’s return to the top position in this offense spurs the Colts to a close win, or Indianapolis loses a close game to Minnesota. I don’t see the Colts being run out of Minneapolis in a blowout fashion.
That’s not been the Vikings’ modus operandi this season. Minnesota has won or lost all but three of their contests by one touchdown or less. There’s little reason to believe that the Colts would fare differently on Sunday night.