Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs in the second quarter and Kyle Rudolph in the third quarter for scores, and the defense finished the job with three sacks and three second-half interceptions of Garoppolo. Mike Hughes turned one pick into a 28-yard touchdown return, the first by a rookie in a Vikings season opener.

”I’m so grateful for this opportunity that I’ve been given, and I just want to make good on it with every chance I get,” said Cousins, who had no turnovers.

Harrison Smith sealed the game with an interception with 1:35 left. He also recovered a fumble by Alfred Morris at the 2-yard line after Linval Joseph stripped the ball just in front of the goal line in the late in the first half and sacked Garoppolo on a third-down safety blitz.

”We knew it was going to be a tough challenge with the environment, going against a tough team,” Garoppolo said. ”They stood up to everything we thought they would, but with all the things that went bad we still had a shot at the end there. Just a tough way to end it.”

Garoppolo finished 15 for 33 for 261 yards and a touchdown pass to rookie Dante Pettis. With an injury depleted offensive line in front of him and the absence of top wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, Garoppolo was unable to capitalize on the opportunity for a comeback after the 49ers defense forced three straight three-and-out possessions by the Vikings to start the fourth quarter. DeForest Buckner had 2+ sacks for San Francisco.

Cousins went 20 for 36 for 244 yards, targeting Adam Thielen 12 times. He caught six passes for 102 yards.

”He played the way he always does,” said cornerback Richard Sherman, who made his 49ers debut. ”Efficient. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s poised and doesn’t get rattled.”

Garoppolo won twice for New England in 2016 during Tom Brady’s suspension and guided the 49ers to five straight wins to finish last season after he arrived in a trade with the Patriots and they fell to 1-10, but his opening assignment for 2018 was bound to be his toughest test yet.

The Vikings used their star-stacked defense to finish 13-3 last year and reach the NFC championship game, leading the NFL in fewest yards and points allowed and third down conversions against. Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the loudest places in the league for opponents to play.

Tight end George Kittle had five catches for 90 yards, but the one he didn’t make was the one that stood out. Wide open after beating Anthony Barr up the seam, Kittle had what would’ve been a 30-yard completion fall off his fingers at midfield. The third-down interception by Hughes came next to give the Vikings a 17-3 lead.

”Misjudged it,” Kittle said. ”Thought it was a little closer to me. Probably ran a bit too far with my arms out. Just a bad play.”

MINNESOTA MEMORIES

Fred Zamberletti, the team’s original athletic trainer who died last week at age 86, was honored with a pregame moment of silence. The Vikings also staged a 20th anniversary tribute to the 1998 squad that went 15-1 and reached the NFC championship game. Robert Smith, one of 28 former players who were introduced at halftime, received the loudest ovation. He focused on the current team at the end of his speech.

”We want to see them accomplish something that we weren’t able to do,” Smith told the crowd, ”and we want them to do it for you.”

INJURY REPORT

49ers: Goodwin hurt his right quadriceps in the first quarter and didn’t return. … RG Mike Person went down in the second quarter. His replacement Joshua Garnett was hurt in the third quarter, both with left foot injuries. With three backups on the OL already inactive, rookie Mike McGlinchey moved from RT to RG for the first time in his life while Garry Gilliam took over at RT … With two starters at LB already out, Malcolm Smith (hamstring) and Reuben Foster (suspension), Smith’s sub, Brock Coyle, suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter and needed several minutes to get up.

Vikings: CB Trae Waynes hurt his right knee while ripping a deep pass away from Pettis in the end zone in the second quarter and didn’t return. With Mackensie Alexander (ankle) inactive and Terence Newman retired, the Vikings had SS Jayron Kearse in slot coverage in the nickel defense with Hughes on the outside for Waynes.

UP NEXT

49ers: Host Detroit next Sunday. They haven’t lost to the Lions at home since 1975, a streak of 12 straight wins.

Vikings: Play at Green Bay next Sunday. They haven’t faced the Packers on the road in September since the 2008 season opener.

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Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2016
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -7
PREDICTION: GREEN BAY , MINNESOTA

Oddsmakers currently have the GREEN BAY listed as -7 point favorites versus the MINNESOTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Once upon a time, the Minnesota Vikings were 5-0 and the NFL’s last undefeated team.

Only a month ago, the Green Bay Packers were 4-6 and all but ruled out of the playoff picture.

Both teams flipped the script. When they play at Lambeau Field on Saturday, it’s the Packers (8-6) who have a chance to clinch a playoff berth, thanks to a four-game winning streak. The Vikings (7-7), on the other hand, are on the brink of elimination after losing seven of their nine games.

“Both teams have endured a lot of injuries,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Injuries defined the path to Week 16 and what amounts to a possible elimination game.

Running back Eddie Lacy’s season-ending ankle injury and a rash of injuries at cornerback, in particular, sent the Packers tumbling at midseason.

But with questions swirling about the futures of coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson and the play of two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have regrouped. Since Rodgers proclaimed the Packers could “run the table” following a lopsided loss at Washington, they are 4-0. With some help, they could get in the playoffs this week; if they win this game and next week at Detroit, they’d win the NFC North.

“Not if you don’t finish it off,” Rodgers said when asked if there’s pride in battling back into the playoff picture. “Like I said after the game, you know what it feels like to be 4-6. That’s a tough situation to be in. It’s frustrating, it’s a struggle, it’s a grind. Luckily in those situations, we’ve stuck together, didn’t have any fracturing in the locker room. No finger-pointing, no unnamed sources coming out (and) taking shots at guys. We stuck together, and I think we all believed that sometimes in this business it just takes one to get going. We got that first one, then we came home and won a couple. We won a tough one on the road. Now we’ve got two left,. Win them both and we’re in and we’re division champs. That’s the goal at this point.”

The Packers have gotten somewhat healthier. Rodgers said his injured calf should be “closer to 100 percent” and cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins have played the last four games together following groin injuries. They’ve played a role in Green Bay’s whopping 10 takeaways the past two weeks. The sore spot is at outside linebacker, where Clay Matthews has been ineffective the past three games with a shoulder injury and Nick Perry has missed the last two games with an injured hand.

Perhaps key for Green Bay’s playoff hopes is the emergence of Ty Montgomery at running back. The converted receiver rushed for 162 yards against Chicago on Sunday. Montgomery and waiver-wire pickup Christine Michael combined for 207 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

“Everybody wants to keep talking about Ty as a receiver, and that’s fine – I think he broke 12 tackles in the game in Chicago,” McCarthy said. “And Christine Michael’s just getting more and more comfortable with not only the scheme but the guys he’s playing with.”

Unlike the Packers, the Vikings have been unable to right the ship. While Sam Bradford has done well in place of Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, there are three starting offensive tackles on injured reserve and running back Adrian Peterson returned last week following an 11-game absence.

Those injuries add up to these painful numbers: 25th in scoring (18.9 points per game), 31st in total offense (301.5 rushing yards per game), 32nd in rushing per game (70.6) and 31st in yards per completion (9.8).

“Obviously, we’ve battled some injuries, which has made it tough,” Bradford said. “There’s weeks that we’ve come out and we’ve played really well, and there’s other weeks where we haven’t. On offense, I think we’ve got to be a little bit more consistent because there have been times where we’ve done some really good things out there, and there’s other times where we kind of shoot ourselves in the foot and hold ourselves back.”

Rather than provide a spark, Peterson’s return resulted in the Vikings’ worst performance of the season, a 34-6 throttling at home by Indianapolis. By halftime, the Colts led 27-0 and had a 21-2 edge in first downs. Peterson carried six times for 22 yards and one fumble in 12 snaps.

“It sure wasn’t a very pretty performance that we had,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “We’re going to have to regroup and get back with it. There’s nothing we can do about anything that’s happened in the past. We’ve got to move forward.”

The Indy game notwithstanding, the Vikings’ defense was strong all season. It’s allowed 17 points or fewer in eight of 14 games and ranks among the NFL leaders in passing yards, passer rating and sacks. In their last two games against Green Bay, Minnesota has given up a total of 27 points.

The Vikings have three Pro Bowlers on that side of the ball with defensive end Everson Griffen, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith. Smith has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

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Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 18, 2016
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Vikings -4.
O/U: 45.5
PREDICTION: Vikings 20, Colts 17

Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Colts, while the game’s total is sitting at 45½.

MINNEAPOLIS — Tickets to see the Minnesota Vikings in their new home this season have been expensive. On Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts make their first visit to U.S. Bank Stadium, ticket buyers will be treated to a bunch of desperate playoff scenarios for free.

Both the Vikings (7-6) and the Colts (6-7) are clinging to hopes that they will be playing after Jan. 1, and both are going to need a win on Sunday — and plenty of help — to get it done.

It’s also billed as a meeting between two No. 1 overall NFL draft picks with Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (the top pick in 2010) facing Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (the top pick in 2012).

The injury bug seems determined to take a bit of the shine off that showdown. Luck missed practice on Wednesday with a sore shoulder and elbow on his throwing arm — leftover ailments from the Colts’ loss to the Houston Texans last weekend in which he was sacked just once but hit on more than a dozen occasions.

“I didn’t feel as good after that game as you would like,” Luck said Wednesday. “December football. Nobody feels like they want to at this point. You just make sure you are ready to go on Sunday.”

Bradford will also be ready to go on Sunday and practiced Wednesday but was limited by a sore shoulder. But for the Vikings, Wednesday was more about one player that was back at practice and less about those that are missing.

Star running back Adrian Peterson, who has been out with a knee injury since the third quarter of Minnesota’s Week 2 win over Green Bay, practiced with the team and offered an immediate emotional lift, although nobody has yet said he will be in uniform on Sunday.

“It was great to see him out here in the walk-through today,” Bradford said. “I think he’s just one of those guys, he has been a leader on this team. Obviously, he’s one of the best players in this league, and he has been for quite some time. So I think just having him back out at practice in the huddle, I think it’s a definite lift to our guys.”

The possible re-emergence of Minnesota’s running game could hardly come at a better time for the Vikings, who won in Jacksonville last weekend despite getting stuffed on the goal line twice and ending up with zero points in two trips to the 1-yard line.

Defensive-minded Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he’s just as focused on stopping the Colts’ running game and speed at receiver.

“They have the eighth-best rusher in NFL history. So that’s kind of a challenge. Frank Gore is a terrific back,” Zimmer said. “They’ve got tremendous skill, speed with (Donte) Moncrief and (T.Y.) Hilton obviously. They’ve got great speed.

“They’ve got two decent tight ends. One’s a second-leading receiver (Jack Doyle) and defensively the 3-4 stuff. We’ve been in a little bit of a 4-3 mode the last couple of weeks. So we’ve got to get back to the 3-4 and the things we do there and changing some of that up.”

Sitting third in the AFC South behind Houston and Tennessee, Indianapolis is in must-win mode and could be eliminated Sunday if it loses and the Texans and Titans both win. The Colts have won their last three road games but know a unique challenge awaits inside Minnesota’s new stadium, which is notoriously noisy.

“We’ve got to go on the road in a hostile environment, in a new venue,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “We understand the elements and the noise and all that other stuff that we have to deal with, that our offense has to deal with. We’re trying to do the best we can to replicate that and put them under as much duress as we can.”

The Vikings, who started 5-0 and have gone just 2-6 since then, cannot be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday but would face long, long odds with a loss. They close the season with divisional games at Green Bay on Christmas Eve and at home against Chicago on New Year’s Day.

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Minnesota Vikings vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -3. O/U: 39.5
PREDICTION: Vikings 20, Jaguars 16

Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Jaguars, while the game’s total is sitting at 39.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (6-6): It’s no surprise that Minnesota’s offense has buckled with the early-season injury to star running back Adrian Peterson, failing to score more than 16 points in five of its six defeats. Quarterback Sam Bradford is proving to be a solid game manager with 13 touchdown passes against only three interceptions, but he has failed to reach 250 yards passing in five of the past seven games. Even though starting safety Harrison Smith suffered a severe ankle injury against the Cowboys that could end his season, the Vikings will be relying on a defense that permits 17.4 points per game to stifle the Jaguars. Minnesota is among the league leaders in sacks (31) and interceptions (12).

Minnesota lost its last outing, a 17-15 result against the Cowboys on December 01. The Vikings covered in that game as a +3-point underdog, while the 32 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Minnesota Stats:
Team record: 6-6 SU,7-5 ATS
Minnesota is 18-7 ATS in its last 25 games
Minnesota is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (2-10): Jacksonville’s offense remains stuck in the mud and a big reason is the struggles of Blake Bortles, who leads the NFL in both interceptions (15) and turnovers (19). Bortles needs to find a way to connect with wideout Allen Robinson, who is averaging 51.8 yards per game following last season’s 1,400-yard campaign. An already struggling ground game is dealing with injuries to Chris Ivory (hamstring) and Denard Robinson (ankle), leaving a banged-up T.J. Yeldon to carry the load against the Vikings. The Jaguars rank second defensively against the pass with an average of 195.8 yards per game, but they have a league-low three interceptions and have forced only five fumbles.

Jacksonville Stats:
Team record: 2-10 SU,6-6 ATS
Current Streak: lost 7 straight games.
Jacksonville is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Jacksonville is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Jacksonville is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games at home

EXTRA POINTS
1. Bortles has had three interceptions returned for touchdowns in the last four games.
2. Vikings WR Stefon Diggs has an NFL-high 48 catches since Week 8.
3. Jacksonville is 0-5 this season at EverBank Field.

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Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings
When: 8:25 PM ET, Thursday, December 1, 2016
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NBC, NFL Network.
LINE: Cowboys -3.5.
O/U: 43.5
PREDICTION: Cowboys 23, Vikings 20

MINNEAPOLIS — Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is being hailed by many as the best running back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson.

In a league where running backs have been devalued, Elliott has made Dallas’ decision to draft the Ohio State back fourth overall this year a wise move. Elliott leads the NFL with 1,199 yards and is second in rushing touchdowns with 11.

Peterson debuted with 1,341 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007 after being the seventh pick in the draft out of Oklahoma.

Peterson is on the sideline with a knee injury, but his Minnesota Vikings will be the next to try and slow Elliott. Minnesota knows what it’s up against at home on Thursday when the Vikings (6-5) host Dallas (10-1).

“Well, he’s one of the better backs I’ve seen in quite a while,” Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. “He’s really an all-purpose guy that catches the ball very well out of the backfield. He’s quick into the hole; looks like he’s got great vision … He’s special.”

Zimmer, the former Cowboys defensive coordinator, had plenty of accolades to shower on Dallas’ offense this week. He was complementary of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who is fourth in the league with a 108.6 quarterback rating.

One reason the Cowboys have had success with two rookies playing vital roles is the offensive line.

“They’re really, really good,” Zimmer said. “They’re the best line I’ve seen in a long time in the NFL, physical, athletic, big.”

Many of those same descriptions have been offered about the Vikings’ defense this season. Thursday’s meeting is a matchup of strengths.

Dallas is third in the league in scoring, averaging 28.7 points per game, and is fifth in total offense with 407.6 yards per game. Minnesota’s defense has allowed the second-fewest points per game at 17.5 and is third in total defense, giving up 307 yards per game.

“They have great players on defense,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, a former Vikings’ offensive coordinator, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “They get a lot of people around the football. Teams that play hard and hustle and get lots of guys around the ball, good things happen for them. We’ve got to be as good about our ability to get people around the football, protect the ball carriers and ultimately play aggressive football without getting loose with it.”

Only two teams have created more takeaways than Minnesota’s 20 this season. The Vikings have 12 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries and are second in the league with a plus-12 turnover-differential.

Prescott and Dallas have protected the ball, turning the ball over just seven times this season, the second-fewest in the league.

“That has given us a great opportunity to stay on the plus side of the ledger in turnover ratio,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told the Star-Telegram. “Typically that gives you a good chance to win. We need to take the ball away more. We haven’t done a good job. We haven’t done a good job of that the last three or four ball games.”

Only four teams have fewer takeaways than Dallas’ 10.

Blessed with a keep-away offense, though, the Cowboys have won 10 games in a row and are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. Dallas could become the first team in the NFL to clinch this weekend. The Cowboys need a win and either a Tampa Bay loss or tie, or a Washington loss.

“It would be great, but I think the goals for this team are bigger than that,” guard Zack Martin told the team’s website. “We’ve got five weeks left, and we know that this season really starts after Thanksgiving here, so we’re ready to make a push here and finish strong.”

Both teams play Thursday with a full week’s worth of rest after they played on Thanksgiving. Dallas held on at home for a 31-26 win against the Redskins. Minnesota lost for the fifth time in six games at Detroit in a 16-13 finale.

“Obviously, I think everyone’s a little bit frustrated right now,” Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford said. “For whatever reason, we just weren’t able to come back off the bye and play the way we have those first five games, and I think anytime you go through a stretch like we’ve had, people do get frustrated and it’s tough.”

Bradford showed up on Minnesota’s injury report this week with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday but is expected to play. The line protecting Bradford is another story.

Center Joe Berger missed two days of practice after leaving last week’s game with a concussion. Berger is likely out Thursday and Nick Easton could start at center. Right tackle Jeremiah Sirles (hip) also left last week’s game. He was limited in Monday’s practice and a full participant on Friday. Zimmer said he expects Sirles to be “all right.”

The Vikings can’t afford any more blows to the offensive line. Minnesota has already lost starting tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith, along with Jake Long, who was signed to replace Kalil. Versatile backup Mike Harris has spent the season on injured reserve with an unspecified illness.

Willie Beavers, who replaced Sirles in last week’s game at right tackle, became the sixth player to take snaps at tackle for the Vikings this season.

Minnesota did get leading receiver Stefon Diggs back at practice this week on a limited basis after he missed last week’s game with a knee injury. Cornerback Terence Newman (neck) and punt returner Marcus Sherels (ribs) missed last week. Newman returned to full practice, but Sherels had not practiced by Tuesday.

Dallas will likely be without cornerback Morris Claiborne (groin), linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring) and safety J.J. Wilcox (thigh). Safety Barry Church (forearm) has practiced on a limited basis and could return Thursday after missing four games.

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Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Redskins
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 13, 2016
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Redskins -3. O/U: 42
PREDICTION: Redskins 23, Vikings 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Redskins listed as 3-point favorites versus the Vikings, while the game’s total is sitting at 42.

Cousins threw for two scores and a season-high 458 yards in the draw with Cincinnati, but he will face the league’s top-ranked scoring defense without his Pro Bowl left tackle. Trent Williams will serve the first of his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Rookie Robert Kelley rushed for 87 yards against the Bengals in his first career start and will get the nod against Minnesota’s rugged defense. Deep threat DeSean Jackson missed practice against Thursday, but tight end Jordan Reed and Jamison Crowder each had nine receptions and a touchdown in London.

The Redskins were a 27-27 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Bengals. They covered the +3-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (54) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 4-3-1 SU,5-3 ATS
Washington is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Washington is 4-1-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Washington’s last 13 games

Quarterback Sam Bradford has nine touchdowns against only one interception, but he has been limited to one scoring pass in five of his seven starts and doesn’t have the luxury of leaning on the running game without Adrian Peterson. Bradford went to the air 40 times in last week’s 22-16 overtime loss against visiting Detroit while Minnesota managed 78 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Stefon Diggs had a season-high 13 catches last week while Cordarrelle Patterson is averaging five receptions over the last five games. Nose tackle Linval Joseph and cornerbacks Captain Munnerlyn and Marcus Sherels did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.

Minnesota was a 22-16 loser in its last match at home against the Lions. They failed to cover the -5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 38 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 5-3 SU,5-3 ATS
Current Streak: lost 3 straight games.
Minnesota is 19-5 ATS in its last 24 games
Minnesota is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota’s last 7 games

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Detroit at Minnesota
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 20, 2015
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Vikings -3. O/U: 43
PREDICTION: Lions 20, Vikings 17
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Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 3-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

Labeling his team’s performance as “embarrassing,” Peterson rushed for 31 yards on only 10 carries in his first game since missing more than a year while dealing with child abuse allegations. Minnesota defensive end Everson Griffen provided bulletin-board material with his proclamation on Wednesday. “We’re going to beat Detroit,” Griffen told reporters. “I’m very angry right now, as you can see, because we prepared way too hard (to lose on Monday). But we’re going to go out there and get ’em.”

Minnesota lost its last outing, a 20-3 result against the 49ers on September 14. The Vikings failed to cover in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 23 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Minnesota is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota’s last 12 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Calvin Johnson was held in check last Sunday with just two catches for 39 yards, but could break out in a big way against Minnesota. The veteran wideout recorded an amazing 207-yard performance versus the Vikings in 2012 and has four touchdowns in his last five meetings. Rookie Ameer Abdullah rushed for a 24-yard touchdown on his first carry against the Chargers and looks to take advantage of a Vikings defense that was torched for 168 yards by 49ers running back Carlos Hyde.

Last time out for Detroit, they were a 33-28 loser as they battled the Chargers on the road. The Lions failed to cover in the match as a +3.5-point underdog, while 61 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Detroit is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Detroit’s last 21 games
Detroit is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road

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N.Y. Jets at Minnesota
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 7, 2014
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Vikings -4½ O/U: 40½
PREDICTION: Jets 20, Vikings 16
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Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Jets, while the game’s total is sitting at 40½.

For the second time in as many seasons, Percy Harvin will face the team that selected him with a first-round pick in 2009. The 26-year-old initially made a loud statement against his former club by returning a kickoff 58 yards before being limited to just one catch in Seattle’s 41-20 victory on Nov. 17, 2013. The Seahawks eventually cut bait with the explosive Harvin, who reeled in 11 receptions for 129 yards in his second game after being acquired by the Jets before mustering just five for 13 over the last three contests.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 31-13 winner as they battled the Panthers at home. The Vikings covered in the match as a -2.5-point favorite, while 44 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 4-7 SU,6-5 ATS
Minnesota is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home

For the second time in as many seasons, Percy Harvin will face the team that selected him with a first-round pick in 2009. The 26-year-old initially made a loud statement against his former club by returning a kickoff 58 yards before being limited to just one catch in Seattle’s 41-20 victory on Nov. 17, 2013. The Seahawks eventually cut bait with the explosive Harvin, who reeled in 11 receptions for 129 yards in his second game after being acquired by the Jets before mustering just five for 13 over the last three contests.

New York was a 16-13 loser in its last match at home against the Dolphins. They covered the +7-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 29 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

New York:
Team record: 2-10 SU,3-8-1 ATS
NY Jets is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 games
NY Jets is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Jets’s last 5 games
NY Jets is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

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If Peterson were able to reach a plea agreement, then the immediate question would become when he would be allowed to return to work. For this there is no concrete answer, as the case is unprecedented.

To date, the NFL has shown no willingness to allow Peterson to be removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and to return to work. But if and when Peterson reaches a plea deal, the conversation and the focus on this situation is going to heat up dramatically.

In addition to a potential plea deal, what will be at issue Tuesday is the bond revocation prosecutors have called for in light of Peterson’s admission that he smoked marijuana before his initial court appearance in September.

Peterson is facing a felony count of reckless or negligent injury to a child stemming from a whipping incident that left bruises and wounds on much of his 4-year-old son.

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