The Minnesota Vikings host the New England Patriots on Saturday afternoon after a few days of joint practices between the squads.
Both teams won their preseason openers, with the Patriots coming away with a commanding 48-18 win over Washington and the Vikings beating the Texans 20-10. But final scores don’t mean too much in the preseason.
Each of those victories came at home, and I'm expecting that to continue in my Patriots vs. Vikings predictions and best NFL picks on Saturday, August 16.
Patriots vs Vikings prediction
Patriots vs Vikings Best bet: Vikings -1.5 (-115)
By all accounts, the Minnesota Vikings were the much better team in the pair of joint practices with the New England Patriots — with things getting a bit heated on Thursday.
While J.J. McCarthy isn’t expected to suit up for the Vikings’ second preseason game after a dominant performance in practice, the Vikings still hold the edge over the Patriots on Saturday afternoon.
"The offense was humming as a whole,” McCarthy said after practice. "I feel like the physicality up front really set the tone, and just the way we're able to execute and be precise; but it all starts with the boys up front. They did a tremendous job today.”
Games are won and lost in the trenches, and that’s still true even in the preseason.
Last week, Vikings depth quarterbacks Sam Howell and Max Brosmer combined to go 16-for-21 with 152 yards and a touchdown against the Texans. They should be able to replicate that and then some against a weaker New England defense.
On the flip side, the Patriots did most of their damage last week on the ground. That was an area where the Vikings excelled against the Texans, allowing 65 yards on 17 carries.
The Vikings are simply a much better team than the Patriots all the way throughout the depth chart, and they’ll want to give their fans a good showing at home.
Patriots vs Vikings odds
- Spread: Patriots +1.5 (-110) | Vikings -1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Patriots +110 | Vikings -130
- Over/Under: Over 37.5 (-110) | Under 37.5 (-110)
How to watch Patriots vs Vikings
| Location: | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN |
| Date: | Saturday, 8-16, 2025 |
| Kickoff: | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | WBZ-CBS, KMSP-FOX 9 |
Patriots vs Vikings weather
Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
