NFL Week 2 is here and starting us off just right with the Minnesota Vikings heading to Philadelphia to take on Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. NFL best bets for the entire week will come out soon enough but we wanted to focus on Thursday Night Football with such a great match-up. The Eagles had a rough-and-tumble victory over the New England Patriots while the Vikings suffered a tough upset, losing to the Buccaneers. How much of an effect did last week’s results have on the point spread and total? Probably a little more than what we want, but it’s still early in the season and we have to make some decisions based on the data at hand. Here is a look at how I am betting tonight’s game along with a few player props as well.

 

NFL Thursday Night Football Best Bets: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles

The Spread: Eagles -6.5

The public money is leaning towards the Eagles with roughly 64-percent of the bets going their way and laying the points. More often than not, I am a “fade the public” kind of guy, but it’s tough to love Minnesota to cover when you look at them not having center Garrett Bradbury and seeing LT Christian Darrisaw questionable with an ankle injury. Even if he plays, how is he going to handle this Eagles pass-rush? Then there’s the whole Justin Jefferson/Darius Slay match-up where Slay has had the upper hand in recent games. On the other side for the Vikings, you’ve got a shaky defense that struggled to contain the Bics last week. Brian Flores is a great defensive coordinator but if you don’t have the personnel to keep up, you don’t have it. It’s a tough one for me, but so long as it stays under a touchdown, I’m good with the home favorite.

Pick: Eagles -6.5

The Total: 49

These are two potent offenses and while Slay may have gotten the better of Jefferson recently, you cannot totally discount this Vikings team with assets like T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison and even Alexander Mattison. The Eagles may be without Kenneth Gainwell, but that’s not moving the needle for me that much and believe D’Andre Swift and/or Rashaad Penny can handle the rushing work. It’s about Jalen Hurts and his receiving corps. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and even Dallas Goedert may prove too tough for the Vikings defense to contain. Thursday Night Football usually feeds the under, but I think it’s early enough in the season to think both teams are physically ready and amped up.

Pick: Over 49

Favorite Thursday Night Football Player Props:

**all odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook