National Football League

Vikings at Titans: Preview, Predictions, and More

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans

Both the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans come into the new 2016-17 season with some concerning questions marks. Yet, there are some high hopes in their respective divisions.

The visiting Vikings are currently rotating their quarterback carousel with Teddy Bridgewater now out for the entire season. Minnesota has yet to show their hand whether if the newly acquired Sam Bradford will get the start or if long time back-up, Shaun Hill, will take command the first game instead.

Marcus Mariota leads the movement of youth in Tennessee as the Titans enter the year with a new coaching regime and some new faces among the starting 11 on both sides of the ball.

Minnesota is the slight favorite on the road, do the Titans have enough fire power to hold off a perennial playoff team? Here are some points that you should be looking for.

Keys to Victory

The purple and gold just simply need to stick to the fundamentals and not force Bradford to do anything out of the ordinary. Of course, Bradford will need to make a few throws and convert a respectable amount of third downs. Just the keep the ball moving down the field and hope that Adrian Peterson knocks off the rust in the first half.

Tennessee must exploit Minnesota’s soft run defense and control the clock. Mariota has the mobility to scare any defense. Then you throw in both Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry into the fold? I have a feeling that the Titans will have an abundance of options if the Vikings’ offense cannot find success early.

Play action to Delanie Walker and the duel threat of Murray and Henry are keys for the Titans, Minnesota must stifle the run game early and create turnovers to give a new quarterback every opportunity to seal this game.

Odds

Point Spread: Minnesota -2.5 (-111)
Moneyline: Minnesota -130, Tennessee +110
Over/Under: 41

Per Sportsline.com

Prediction

With all the dramatics playing out in Minny and the uncertainty of how the offense will gel and mistakes that are practically expected, the Titans may wind up with the upper hand here and surprise Minnesota like the San Francisco 49ers did last year. Pound the rock, be smart, and force Bradford into mistakes. Tennessee may seal this one up.

Pick: Minnesota Vikings: 20, Tennessee Titans: 24