Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings: Odds, Prediction After Positive COVID-19 Tests

The Atlanta Falcons are still scheduled to visit the Minnesota Vikings Sunday for their Week 6 game. Falcons rookie defensive lineman Marlon Davidson tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week, and Atlanta is working remotely Thursday after a personnel member also tested positive for COVID-19.

Approximately 72 hours before kickoff, the teams are still preparing to play in what amounts to a virtual must-win contest for both sides. Off to a 1-4 start, the Vikings likely can’t afford to lose and still compete for a playoff berth. The Falcons, one of the NFL’s three 0-5 teams, have to be near-perfect the rest of the season in order to earn a wild-card spot.

The betting line has moved from 3.5 points to 4.5 points in favor of Minnesota, according to odds compiled by OddsShark. The over/under is 54.5.

The positive coronavirus tests are just one more thing that has gone wrong for the Falcons in the 2020 season. Atlanta has blown a pair of two-touchdown leads late in the fourth quarter. Head coach Dan Quinn was fired immediately after the team was defeated at home by the Carolina Panthers in Week 5.

While the Vikings haven’t been much better, there are reasons for Minnesota to be positive. The Vikings’ Week 4 victory over the Houston Texans was sandwiched between two one-point losses to the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks, both of whom are undefeated.

Houston is the only team Minnesota has faced that has a losing record. The winless Falcons offer the Vikings another good opportunity to pick up a victory.

Minnesota still has work to do on the defensive end, but its offense looks like one of the best in football. Following a 28-11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts’ No.1 ranked defense in Week 2, rookie receiver Justin Jefferson was given a prominent role in the offense. Jefferson has totaled 301 yards over the last three games, and the Vikings are averaging 29 points.

Atlanta’s defense can’t stop anybody. The Falcons are 30ths in points allowed. They rank second-to-last in both yards allowed and opponents’ yards per play. Atlanta is surrendering a league-worst 118.3 passer rating.

Kirk Cousins had a 140.8 passer rating when the Vikings defeated the Falcons 28-12 in the 2019 season opener.

Minnesota’s defense has allowed at least 23 points in every game. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have scored just 16 points in each of their last two games.

Week 6 could be another one-sided contest that ends in an Atlanta defeat.

Prediction: Minnesota over Atlanta, 34-24