Daily Newsletter: NFL Week 15 MNF Preview (Dec. 16th)
NFL Week 15 wraps up with a Monday Night double-header! The Bears travel to Minnesota to face-off with the Vikings while the Falcons travel cross-country to take on the Raiders. The Bears/Vikings game will kick-off by 8 ET with the second game starting 30 minutes after.
Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings
We have a key divisional match-up on tap for the first game, while the Vikings are now firmly in the mix for the division crown with the Lions losing yesterday and suffering more key injuries on defense. The public is buying into the Vikings here – with over 90% of the moneyline tickets and 78% of the spread tickets on the home team. Chicago looked to be rebounding on offense after the firing of Shane Waldron, but they fell flat on the road against the 49ers last week. Their offense has been extremely inconsistent, and this is a wide coaching mis-match going up against the tandem of Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores. Given that they’re sizable dogs here, we should expect a pass-heavy game-script and I will continue to buy into a late-season Rome Odunze breakout. He found the end-zone twice last week, and I think there is value in his 50+ receiving yard prop tonight.
The Vikings can attack you several different ways, and they’ve been very good at starting games quickly this season. They’re one of the best first quarter / first half teams in the league this season and that held true in the first meeting between these teams – Minnesota led 14-10 at half-time. I’m personally looking for another big game from Sam Darnold, and would expect the Vikings to win this game even if it’s closer than expected throughout.
Atlanta Falcons vs Las Vegas Raiders
We have a shorter spread in the second game, with the Falcons favored by 5.5 on the road. I think this is a good buy low spot on the Falcons – while Kirk Cousins has been playing terrible football this is one of the best match-ups you can get right now. Not only is this Raiders secondary beatable, but they have struggled to generate QB pressure at times and will now be without All-Pro Maxx Crosby. Cousins has struggled under pressure this season due to his lack of mobility and this is the best match-up he’s seen in nearly a month. I’m expecting a big night for the Falcons passing game.
The Raiders are a complete unknown with Desmond Ridder at QB. Sincere McCormick has been coming on and seen 14+ touches in each of his last two games. We could see a more run-heavy approach from Las Vegas tonight due to Ridder but he does have some reliable weapons in Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.
Touchdown Predictions: TJ Hockenson & Drake London
We’ve hit on a few “due” touchdowns in the last few weeks (minus Trey McBride) and we are going back to the well with that strategy tonight. Hockenson has yet to score since returning from injury, while Drake London has not scored since November 3rd. We saw Justin Jefferson get his get back last week with two touchdowns, and I think tonight is the night for Hockenson to break through. Over the last two games, he has been targeted four times in the red zone and it’s clear they want to go to him in goal to go situations. We saw Sam Laporta break through with multiple red zone TDs against this Bears team on Thanksgiving Day and we should at least have some looks go Hock’s way tonight.
As for London, he’s been targeted heavily as of late – 45 times over his last four games to be exact. He ranks third in the NFL in targets inside the 20 yard line and will benefit from this match-up against the Raiders.
Written by Ben Hossler