Vikings-Broncos
Time: 4:25 PM ET, Oct 4 2015
Spread: DEN -7
M/L: DEN -300; MIN +250
Total: 43
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Adrian Peterson is still a beast. Peyton Manning is still a great QB. These lessons have been learned, and this week the two dominant veterans will square off in an anticipated matchup that will air on Fox at 4:25 EDT. NFL oddsmakers are favoring the hosting Broncos by 7-points, while the betting total is set relatively high at 43 for this one.
Manning is looking to guide the Broncos to its second 4-0 start in the past three seasons, and the Broncos defense is ranked No. 1 in the league. Can it slow the beast that is Adrian Peterson? That still remains to be seen.
Throwing away Peterson’s Week 1 stinker, he has rushed for 260 yards in the past two weeks while scoring two TDs in the 31-14 victory over San Diego last week. The 30 year old is showing few signs of slowing down, and Minnesota will be in this game, even if the spread is set at a full TD.
Manning is also aged for a QB at age 39. He did not throw a TD pass in his second consecutive game and he also threw an INT in the 19-13 win over Baltimore on Sept 13. Manning did come back to throw three TDs in Week 2 as the Broncos won 24-12 over the Detroit Lions. Manning was good for 324 yards in the game on 31 of 42 passing, and his accuracy still is hardly in question. Even so, Manning is showing some signs of slowing down.
He’s angry, too.
Perhaps that is a good thing.
After a reporter pointed out he made “only a few good throws,” he reacted vehemently believing he had a much better game. Be that as it may, he was adamant that the team can “keep improving and win games at the same time,” which has to be the goal for the Broncos at this point. Despite being undefeated the team has looked vulnerable this season.
Denver’s defense is the primary reason why it has remained competitive, however. The Broncos are surrendering just 259 yards per game, a league best, and the defense has forced 10 turnovers on the season. It also ranks No. 8 in opponents yardage per carry, surrendering 3.54 yards per attempt, while Peterson averages nearly five.
Adrian Peterson missed the final 15 games last year after the infamous belting incident but he received ample support from fellow child abusers and seems to have put the incident far enough behind him to continue to dominate on the gridiron.
“Who is a better running back than me?” he asked arrogantly. No one defied him for fear of the belt.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer still is respectful of Manning’s abilities and he said “He still looks like Peyton Manning to me.” While that is indisputable, is Manning on the verge of becoming a shadow of the dominant QB he has been?
The Vikings have a guy on the rise meanwhile in former Louisville Cardinal Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater is going to be rushed this week against the Broncos’ defense and Denver is allowing just 176.3 yards passing this season while having sacked opposing QBs 11 times (tied for No. 2 in NFL).
Injuries: The Vikings will get CB Xavier Rhodes back after he suffered a concussion. LT Ty Sambrailo did not practice Wed because of a shoulder injury and is considered day-to-day.
The Broncos are not much of a running team ranking last in the NFL with just 2.59 yards per carry, but Minnesota also does not defend the run that well (No. 25 in the league). The disparity between the poor running attack and poor run defense will be an issue to watch in this game to some degree, but the bigger story will be whether Manning can fully regain his form this season.
With Denver still sitting at 3-0, it has time to learn through its mistakes, just as Peyton said it would.
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