Texans vs. Vikings Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 3, Sunday 9/22
There aren’t many matchups in Week 3 that feature two teams that are both coming off wins, but that’s exactly what we’ll see inside US Bank Stadium with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Houston Texans. It’s not a clash we see often, but we’ve broken it down for you to provide our best Texans vs. Vikings predictions.
Whether you end up using the best bet from our Texans vs. Vikings picks or want to target the Texans vs. Vikings odds elsewhere, we’ve also got you covered with a guaranteed $200 DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer!
Texans vs. Vikings Predictions For Week 3, Sunday 9/22
Could Sunday’s Texans vs. Vikings matchup be a Super Bowl preview? Ok, we won’t go that far, but they’re both 2-0 and looking to cruise to division titles. Many held Minnesota in doubt given their Week 1 win was over the New York Giants, but after taking down the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday, they may be for real.
Houston doesn’t exactly have a marquee win just yet, as they barely snuck by the Indianapolis Colts and beat a Chicago Bears team in prime time with a rookie QB at the helm. Even with that being the case, there is still no denying that this team rosters plenty of talent. Keep that in mind as we progress to the best bet from our Texans vs. Vikings predictions, but more regarding each team first.
Houston Texans: Dominating The Division
After the Jacksonville Jaguars saw QB Trevor Lawrence fully develop, they looked destined to take over the AFC South for years to come. Well, the Texans had something to say about that after drafting QB C.J. Stroud last year.
Last year, they won the division after entering the season with the second-shortest odds to have the worst record in the entire NFL. Now, they’re expected to win the AFC South, and they’re doing so by being the only team with a 2-0 record while the rest of the division is 0-2. It may be early on, but that is something that has happened just once since the division realignment that we currently have!
Minnesota Vikings: Controlling The NFC North
Everyone had the Vikings winning the NFC North this season…right? Not only was that not the case, but there was so much hype for Chicago Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams that by the opening kickoff, some sportsbooks even had them with shorter odds than the Vikings to win the division.
Despite that, Minnesota is now the only team in the NFC North that is undefeated, which is also coming with QB Sam Darnold under center, who is only starting due to a late preseason injury to rookie QB JJ McCarthy. The Vikings are defying all odds right now, and after taking down a team that was just in the Super Bowl last season, they may be a serious contender.
Texans vs. Vikings Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Of course, we wouldn’t leave you hanging in terms of the Texans vs. Vikings odds - here are the latest lines at DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Houston Texans -2.5 (-110) vs. Minnesota Vikings +2.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Houston Texans (-148) vs. Minnesota Vikings (+124)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 45.5 (-108) vs. Under 45.5 (-112)
Texans vs. Vikings Predictions: Over 45.5 Points (-108 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Although the Texans themselves are 2-0 and the ones on the road for this interconference clash, oddsmakers still aren’t completely sold on Darnold and the Vikes. Houston is still a slight favorite, but with the point spread hovering around the key number of three, we’re going to focus our Texans vs. Vikings predictions elsewhere.
Instead, we’re targeting a matchup with plenty of fireworks. To knock the first concern out of the way, we aren’t scared of Minnesota’s defense after seeing them allow just six points in Week 1 - it was to the Giants.
Holding the 49ers to just 17 points was certainly a strong performance, but of course, being with superstar RB Christian McCaffrey hurt them, along with fantasy football owners. If it wasn’t for untimely turnovers, San Francisco likely would have put up a winning performance, as the Vikings still allowed a 100-yard rusher AND 100-yard receiver.
As for Houston, their defense struggled mightily against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, nearly allowing 30 points. That same Colts offense then scored just 10 points last weekend against a Swiss cheese Green Bay Packers defense. While the Texans defense improved in Week 2, it was at home against a rookie QB making his second-ever start and first in prime time.
Along with plenty of offensive weapons on both sides, we’re taking over 45.5 points (-108 at DraftKings Sportsbook) as the best bet from our Texans vs. Vikings picks.
Texans vs. Vikings Injury Report & Latest News
Given that San Francisco has the biggest injury storyline of the NFL, you’ll want the latest update before making any Texans vs. Vikings picks:
HOU Texans:
- RB Joe Mixon - DNP
- RB Dameon Pierce - DNP
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair - LP
- CB Kris Boyd - LP
- WR Nico Collins - LP
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi - LP
- C/G Jarrett Patterson - LP
- C/G Juice Scruggs - LP
- S M.J. Stewart - LP
MIN Vikings:
- WR Jordan Addison - DNP
- OLB Dallas Turner - DNP
- WR Justin Jefferson - LP
- LB Ivan Pace Jr. - LP
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Player News
Ryan Ramczyk retired after eight seasons in the NFL.
Ramczyk served as a stalwart member of the Saints’ offensive line from 2017-2023, battling through deteriorating cartilage in his knee. He was sidelined by the issue for the full 2024 season. Ramczyk’s NFL accolades include a spot on the 2017 PFWA All-Rookie Team, two second-team All-Pro nods (2018 and 2020) and one first-team All-Pro (2019) spot.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery is a player that “teams like a lot more than the media knows.”
Rapoport suggests that Ersery could make his way into the late first round, connecting him with the tackle-needy Chiefs. Ersery performed more consistently as a run-blocker than as a blindside pass protector over the last two seasons, but notably allowed just a 3.0 percent quarterback pressure rate last year, the 10th-lowest among Power Five left tackles with at least 400 pass-protection snaps.
Beat reporter Scott Bair reports that Bears DC Dennis Allen asked slot CB Kyler Gordon to learn a second position, either on the perimeter or at safety.
The Bears’ previous coaching staff spent two seasons trying this experiment before allowing Gordon to blossom in a full-time slot- and box-coverage role last season. Perhaps, Allen can succeed where others have failed. His intent is to “find some more playing time” for Gordon, which is understandable given Gordon’s significant on-field impact last year.
Bills signed CB Tre’Davious White, formerly of the Ravens, to a one-year, $6.8 million contract.
White, now 30 years old, returns to the team that drafted him in the 2017 NFL Draft’s first round. White was a force to be reckoned with early in his career, but a 2021 ACL tear and a 2023 Achilles tendon rupture have reduced his play quality. White will now compete for the Bills’ No. 2 perimeter role.
Bills waived TE Armani Rogers.
This is unfortunate. Rogers recently ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years. He showed promise as a 2022 rookie, earning a 65.3 PFF receiving grade and a 68.0 PFF run-blocking grade, but the injuries are taking their toll. The Bills also released DT Branson Deen.
Titans waived OT Nicholas Petit-Frere.
The team signed C Sam Mustipher and OT Oli Udoh in corresponding moves. Petit-Frere failed to meet expectations after the Titans spent a third-round pick on him in 2022, allowing 35-plus quarterback pressures in 2-of-3 NFL seasons.