Questions Answered: 2 Vikings Ruled Out vs. DAL, Home Underdog Madness, Darrisaw
Dustin Baker
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Questions Answered: 2 Vikings Ruled Out vs. DAL, Home Underdog Madness, Darrisaw
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the November 18th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Are the Vikings in trouble without Akayleb Evans and Dalvin Tomlinson on Sunday?
A: No.
Now is the time for Andrew Booth to emerge in Evans’ and Dantzler’s stead, and he should have the spine for it as the man was drafted in Round 2 back in April.
For Tomlinson, well, the Vikings have already won two games sans his services.
It will be less than ideal if Booth isn’t up for the task of a starting job, but this is what every athlete dreams about. We think he’ll perform adeptly.
Stopping Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard won’t be fun, but Minnesota continues to find ways to win. Vikings 27-20 over Cowboys.
Q: Am I the only one who thinks it’s nuts that the Vikings are underdogs vs. the Cowboys?
A: The point spread is inflated by the Cowboys national popularity. Dallas games receive more betting attention, and painting them as slight favorites is evidently advantageous for sportsbooks.
Here’s a weird fact: the Vikings are 11 to 1 favorites to win Super Bowl LVII, whereas Dallas is situated at 15 to 1. Deep in their hearts, oddsmakers believe the Vikings are a better suitor for the Super Bowl.
In the end, the Week 11 line doesn’t matter. The Vikings can use “home underdogs” as motivation.
Q: Do you believe Christian Darrisaw will earn a Pro Bowl trip?
A: Absolutely — but don’t stop there. He’s on pace to become First-Team All-Pro.
Darrisaw ranks No. 1 among all NFL offensive linemen through 10 weeks per Pro Football Focus. He’s not just the best tackle. PFF tabs the second-year LT as the top offensive lineman leaguewide.
And Darrisaw will only continue to improve — that’s the spooky and magnificent aspect. Rick Spielman really did the Vikings a solid by drafting Darrisaw and his teammate Justin Jefferson as he walked toward the exit.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).