Vikings vs. Rams 2018 Prediction: Minnesota Ready To Upset Los Angeles On 'Thursday Night Football'

The best “Thursday Night Football” matchup of the 2018 NFL season comes in Week 4 when the Los Angeles Rams (3-0) host the Minnesota Vikings (1-1-1). It’s a contest between two legitimate Super Bowl contenders, though only one of the teams is currently playing like a true threat to win the title.

L.A. has been the league’s most impressive team in the early part of the year. The Rams are the NFC’s only undefeated team. They’ve outscored their opponents by 66 combined points with no victory coming by fewer than 12 points. Los Angeles’ offense looks like it could be even better than it was a year ago, ranking fourth in yards per play and third in points scored. No one has given up fewer points than the Rams.

Half the league has given up fewer points than the Vikings, who had the league’s top defense a year ago. Minnesota has surrendered 56 total points in their last two games, including Sunday’s inexplicable loss at home to the Buffalo Bills. After being outscored 78-23 over their first two games, Buffalo rolled to a 27-6 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.

When the NFL schedule was announced in the offseason, this game looked like a virtual toss-up. A lot has changed over the course of a couple of weeks, and the Rams are favored by 6.5 points at home, according to the latest betting odds at OddsShark. The betting line could very well reach a touchdown by Thursday night.

Both teams will be missing a few key players. Minnesota won’t have star defensive end Everson Griffen, who is at a hospital undergoing a mental health evaluation. The Rams could be without both of their starting cornerbacks. Aqib Talib will miss at least a month with a high ankle sprain, and Marcus Peters is questionable with a calf injury and seems unlikely to play.

All of that could add up to a shootout in a matchup that will feature plenty of talent on offense. Thursday’s over/under is 49 points. Los Angeles and Minnesota are averaging a combined 53.7 points per game.

Expect the Vikings to have a bounce-back performance after getting blown out by possibly the AFC’s worst team. Whatever that was Sunday, it shouldn’t happen again against an opponent that Minnesota surely won’t overlook.

Minnesota was down 17-0 to Buffalo before they could even blink because of costly penalties on defense and two fumbles by Kirk Cousins within 25 yards of the end zone. Cousins was under constant attack as the Vikings gave up 32 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Minnesota ran the ball just six times for 14 yards.

A poor offensive line could be something the Vikings have to deal with all season long, but it shouldn’t be as much of an issue against the Rams. Center Pat Elflein is ready to start and play a full game after injuries forced him to miss the first two games and play just 22 snaps last week. Left tackle Riley Reiff is certain to play better after allowing a dozen pressures against the Bills.

One of the Rams’ few weaknesses is their inability to pressure the quarterback off the edge. Only the winless Oakland Raiders have fewer sacks than Los Angeles. If Cousins has time to throw the ball, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen could both have big nights against a banged-up secondary.

Dalvin Cook could potentially return after missing Week 3 with a hamstring injury. Either way, Minnesota can establish their running game against a defense that’s allowed 5.0 yards per carry.

The Rams are 20th in the NFL, allowing 5.6 yards per play. After Los Angeles’ defense embarrassed Derek Carr and the now-benched Sam Bradford, the unit allowed Philip Rivers to post a 105.7 passer rating.

It’s hard to believe that any team will be able to shut down the Rams’ offense. Jared Goff seems to have taken another step forward in year No.3, and Brandin Cooks gives him a legitimate No.1 wide receiver. Todd Gurley is arguably the most dangerous playmaker in football. The 2017 Offensive Player of the Year is averaging 124.3 yards from scrimmage per game with five touchdowns.

It should be noted that no one had more success against last year's Rams than the Vikings. Coming off a three-game stretch in which they totaled 117 points, L.A. was held to just seven points in Minnesota on Nov. 19, 2017. Gurley ran the ball 15 times for 37 yards. Goff was held to a passer rating below 80.0 for the third time all of last season.

The Vikings are seventh in yards per play allowed. They are eighth in both opponents’ passer rating and yards per carry.

Picking the Rams to lose at home is risky, considering they’ve looked like a juggernaut through three games. All of the money they spent in the offseason is paying off, and they are the new Super Bowl favorites with good reason.

Let’s see how Los Angeles performs when finally facing an above-average team. The Rams have been dominant against a weak schedule, facing opponents that have a combined 1-8 record.

Underdogs of more than six points are 9-5 against the spread this season. Minnesota was stunned at home in Week 3, and it could be Los Angeles' turn to be upset in Week 4.

Prediction: Minnesota over Los Angeles, 27-24