Two teams still struggling to find their identities will face off in Week 5, as the Cleveland Browns take on the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday.
Cleveland has been able to stay in games at home this year, and I’m taking it to cover the spread in my early Vikings vs. Browns predictions.
Read on to see all my early analysis for this matchup in my free NFL picks for Sunday, October 5.
Vikings vs Browns predictions
Here are our early thoughts on the spread and total for this week’s game. We will have a full game preview (with a best bet and SGP) later in the week.
Early Vikings vs Browns spread pick: Browns +3.5
Make no mistake: the Cleveland Browns aren’t a very good football team.
Both the Lions and the Ravens were able to blow out Cleveland by 24 points on the road, but those are two elite teams that have incredibly explosive offenses. The story has been different at home, where the Browns are 1-1 and have allowed only 13.5 ppg.
It’s not as though those games were against shabby quarterbacks, either, as Joe Burrow and Jordan Love are both capable of leading their respective teams to plenty of points. While Sunday’s game isn’t at home, at least the Browns will be on a neutral field.
The Minnesota Vikings' offense will be the least impressive attack the Browns have faced yet this season.
There has been some improvement with Carson Wentz at the helm, as he has led Minnesota to an average of 33.5 ppg over the past two weeks — but most of that was in a blowout vs. Cincinnati.
The Vikes only put up 21 points on Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Wentz being hounded for six sacks. The Cleveland defense should find as much, if not more, success this weekend in London.
Early Vikings vs Browns total pick: Under 36.5
Outside of the offensive explosion against the Bengals and one good quarter against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, the Vikings have struggled mightily to protect their quarterbacks and move the ball with any consistency.
That’s not going to get any easier against a Cleveland defense that leads the NFL in yards allowed per play (4.3) and yards per rush (2.7).
While that hasn’t translated to keeping elite teams off the scoreboard, it’s hard to see this current Minnesota offense figuring things out in one week to score on the Browns.
Of course, Cleveland isn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut either. Joe Flacco has just two touchdown passes and six interceptions in four games, while Quinshon Judkins and company have only scored three more times on the ground.
All told, the Browns are averaging only 14.0 ppg on the year, and Minnesota hasn’t been giving up a ton of points, with opponents averaging just 20.0 ppg.
A total of 36.5 is scarily low, and I’d be wary of betting if it goes much lower. But for now, I’m taking the Under, as I can’t see either offense generating many points in this game.
Vikings vs Browns odds
- Vikings vs. Browns spread: Browns +3.5
- Vikings vs. Browns moneyline: Vikings -194, Browns +162
- Vikings vs. Browns Over/Under: 36.5
How to watch Vikings vs Browns
- Vikings vs. Browns matchup
- Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025, 9:30 a.m. ET
- City: London
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- TV: NFL Network
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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