NFL Week 5 Play of the Day – Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings get the call as our NFL Week 5 Play of the Day. You can review more insight and analysis in my recent article at Forbes, along with added Week 5 underdog picks in my weekly ‘Dog log.

Russell Wilson leads surging Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.

Minnesota (+7) at Seattle

Many readers who continue to follow may be surprised to know that the Vikings net yards per play of 0.3 is slightly better than the Seahawks at 0.2. That despite turnover troubles for the team in purple as Minnesota is -4 and Seattle +4 in turnover differential this season and that’s the biggest discrepancy in Sunday’s Week 5 games.

Sure QB Russell Wilson is likely to have another strong game leading the prolific passing attack and undefeated Seahawks (4-0) against the inexperienced Vikings defense that couldn’t make stops specifically against the Packers and Titans. But things tend to even out, especially when a teams’ defense is a sieve. You may also be surprised to know that Seattle’s defense is allowing a league-worst 476 yards per game and NFC-worst 6.5 yards per play.

I can’t endorse that laying 7 points in this NFL Week 5 Play of the Day matchup. Running back Dalvin Cook and a Vikings ground game that has found traction the last two games rushing 33 times for 226 yards against the Titans and 40 times for 162 yards against the Texans. The Seahawks defense is poorly coordinated by Ken Norton, Jr. and they have been out-gained in both home games by New England and Dallas while escaping with wins. No doubt Seattle will also be a popular teaser play, which I won’t endorse either as forecasted rain Sunday makes this a potential mess on Sunday night football. Hopefully the rain subsides prior to kickoff or lightens so we can see a showcase of some of the leagues top receivers and hopefully a Vikings defense that can somewhat slow early MVP Russell Wilson.

Next week the Seahawks have a bye while the Vikings host the Falcons with a lookahead line of Minnesota -3.5.