The 13-4 Minnesota Vikings head into the playoff as the number 3 seeds in the NFC but with little respect from supporters of the rest of the NFL. Beating the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts didn’t earn them any credit, whilst they were thrashed by Green Bay in week 17 and lost to the Detroit Lions in week 14.
Kevin O’Connell’s team will welcome the New York Giants to the US Bank Stadium on Sunday. After the NFC East third place team started 6-1 they ended the season very badly, finishing up 9-7-1. But most of their games were close.
These two actually met at the IS Bank Stadium in week 16 on Christmas Eve, with the Vikings coming out 27-24 winners with Greg Joseph kicking personal and franchise-record 61-yard field goal as time expired. But that win came against a very banged up New York side.
With nothing to play for in terms of seedings in week 18, Brian Daboll rested his key players. And despite facing the number 1 seeded Philadelphia Eagles, who needed to win in order to seal the bye this week, they only overcame their NFC East rivals 22-16.
The Giants came close to exposing Minnesota as being worse than what their 13-4 record suggests in week 16, even with a whole host of injuries. The Giants are rested and healthier now than they were there then. The key to this one is containing Justin Jefferson. If Big Blue contain him this game is theirs.
What is the Giants @ Vikings money line?
Number 3 seed Minnesota Vikings are -3.0 favourites and 20/33 on the moneyline.
Giants @ Vikings Pick
This could be the closest matchup of all the Wildcard games and is one where the underdog has a legitimate shot at winning. I’ve not been sold on the Vikings all season and I think they get exposed in this one.
Pick: New York Giants +3.0
