Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings Preview
The Cleveland Browns will host the Minnesota Vikings at FirstEnergy Stadium this weekend. These teams will meet in their second preseason game on Saturday, August 17th. There are some fascinating storylines ahead of this clash.
Minnesota has a quarterback battle on its hands. Meanwhile, the Browns are without their polarising starter Deshaun Watson. Preseason brings a sense of chaos, but that’s what makes it fun. The Browns are favourites, but the Vikings fancy their chances of heading home with an excellent result.
Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Cleveland and Minnesota don’t meet very often. On average, they only face each other every four years. They’re in different conferences with their most recent clash in week 4 of the 2021 season. The Browns have a 5-11 overall record against the Vikings in the NFL.
Their last game saw the Browns emerge victorious at the U.S. Bank Stadium. Justin Jefferson scored a touchdown from the game’s opening possession. But Kareem Hunt’s rushing score and Chase McLaughlin’s field goals were the difference.
A lot has changed since that clash in Minneapolis. Both starting quarterbacks are gone, with Baker Mayfield plying his trade in Tampa. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins’ move to Atlanta is one of the big stories of the 2024 offseason.
Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy were in a head-to-head clash to be the Vikings’ starter. Many analysts thought McCarthy could overtake Darnold. But the former Michigan star is out with a torn meniscus and requires surgery.
McCarthy had an impressive preseason debut against the Packers. He threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter as the Vikings won 24-23. It was an exciting cameo, but he took a serious knock in training this week. Darnold’s performance wasn’t as eye-catching, but he played against more starters than his teammate.
This THROW by JJ McCarthy 😳
McCarthy absolutely balled out in his NFL preseason debut against the Raiders:
• 11/17 (65%)
• 188 passing yards
• 2 passing TD’s
• 1 INT
• 18 rushing yards
• 24-23 WOf all rookie QB’s, McCarthy has looked the most pro-ready so far.
The… pic.twitter.com/Wa11HHSXu2
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 11, 2024
Anyone placing a bet in the NFL should monitor the Browns quarterback fight. Former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley arrived from the Ravens this summer. He completed six of nine passes for 41 yards against the Packers. His fellow QB Dorian Thompson Robinson completed 14 of 18 passes for 134 yards.
Kevin Stefanski may try to improve Cleveland’s rushing game against Minnesota. Pierre Strong Jr. had six carries for 15 yards against Green Bay. He could also be an effective weapon in this match.
Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings Predictions
Prediction: Cleveland Browns 10 – 25 Minnesota Vikings
We expect the Vikings to win this game because they have a more defined playing style. They’re also going to give plenty of reps to their contenders for the QB1 spot. Sam Darnold wants to prove that he deserves to be Kirk Cousins’ replacement.
Darnold knows this is likely his last chance to be an NFL starter. It will be exciting to watch because his career is at stake. J.J. McCarthy’s injury opens the door to Nick Mullen. Nobody was talking about the former undrafted free agent, but now he’s knocking on the door.
Meanwhile, Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Deshaun Watson won’t appear in this match. The polarising quarterback is recovering from injury and Stefanski doesn’t want to risk him. Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson Robinson will continue their battle for the QB3 spot. Jameis Winston may also receive some reps as Watson’s chief support.
first NFL touchdown for @theaidanrobbins!
📺: #GBvsCLE on @WEWS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/7yLXmfqvwh
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 10, 2024
The Vikings have a stacked receivers corps and could spell trouble for the Browns. Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield are in a straight fight for the last spot on Minnesota’s roster, so expect both players to give their best effort.
Meanwhile, Kene Nwangwu is hoping that they give their running game a shot. He produced a moment of magic against the Raiders with a 48-yard touchdown. Nwangu is likely to be their 3rd choice running back this season and wants to nail down his place.
However, the Browns could exploit the Vikings’ secondary. Las Vegas’ quarterbacks had success against Minnesota’s defence while the O-Line was average. There’s a chance for Cleveland to make something special happen.
Will Reichard is showing why the Vikings used a draft pick on him. The kicker was outstanding in practice during the week and could be a difference-maker in this game. Reichard’s consistency from his boot could give Minnesota an insurmountable lead. Our NFL Prediction is for the Vikings to out-gun the Browns.
However, there’s still an element of the unknown about Cleveland. Their new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey guided the Bills to the second most points scored and yardage in 2022. They had a drop-off last season, and he lost his job. He’s been with Cleveland since February so fans will see if his ideas are working.
Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings Betting Tips
The Cleveland Browns are the favourites to win this NFL Preseason game. A €10 stake on the Browns at 3/5 would make €16. This is a fair price because they have a home advantage and many of their players have a point to prove.
Betting on Cleveland is the smart option. But Minnesota is a live underdog, and we favour them to win this game. They’re available at 13/10, with potential returns of €23. This is a very attractive wager because of their attacking strength.
Players backing Cleveland should consider a -1.5 handicap at 22/25. This would increase the potential profit to €8.80. We don’t recommend the +1.5 handicap bet on the Vikings at 22/25. That’s because an outright win is more lucrative at our online sportsbook.
The over-under markets also offer plenty of value. We predict the Browns’ offence will stall without Deshaun Watson. This makes Ken Dorsey’s job more difficult because his backups will try to play his schemes. Meanwhile, the Vikings will rotate both of their potential starters.
It’s 3/5 for there to be over 34.5 points in this game. This correlates with our predicted score and would yield a potential €6 profit. However, the markets may shift if one of the head coaches withdraws a key player or gives a superstar a surprise start. Check the live betting markets to see the best options.
Players can also bet on the home and away teams’ total points. It’s 20/21 for Cleveland to score fewer than 19.5 points. This appears to be an excellent option. They only put 10 on the board against the Packers last week. We’re not convinced they’ll double their tally this weekend without their QB1.
We expect the Vikings to score over 16.5 points at 8/11. A €10 stake could make €7.27, so it could be a prop bet with Minnesota to win outright. We think the Vikings’ offence is in a better condition than Cleveland’s.
Check the player markets too. Jameis Winston is Cleveland’s incumbent QB2, but historically he is an interception machine. There’s a chance for Robinson or Huntley to jump ahead of him in the pecking order. Consider betting on the number of touchdown passes, interceptions, and QB sacks in this game.
Got it done! We've signed Jeremiah to a 3-year contract extension 🙌
📰» https://t.co/GeHvTcM8HK pic.twitter.com/T1vgcWTxfw
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 14, 2024
There is plenty of NFL Preseason action this weekend. Super Bowl Champions Kansas City play the Detroit Lions in one of the most interesting clashes. Meanwhile, it’s a battle of L.A. with the Chargers facing the Rams. Why not create a parlay with the top teams? Use the welcome bonus to enhance the reward without the risk!
Some of this game’s players have high stakes beyond this match. Cleveland’s star running back Nick Chubb won’t play this weekend as he recovers from injury. However, he’s one favourite to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award after ACL surgery. Betting on this NFL outright is worth 9/1 for him to claim this accolade.
Meanwhile, there’s no guarantee that J.J. McCarthy will be a starter this year. But he’s an early leader in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race at 18/1. Let’s see if he returns from his meniscus surgery quickly.
Cleveland Browns Team News
Kevin Stefanski already confirmed that Deshaun Watson won’t appear. Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson Robinson will share reps from the mound. They’ve also added Brandon Bouyer-Randle, Faion Hicks, and Chase Williams to their practice squad.
Nick Harris rejoins the Browns from Seattle after a crisis at centre. Luke Wypler and Brian Allen are potential long-term absentees. Nick Chubb continues his rehab.
Minnesota Vikings Team News
J.J. McCarthy’s torn meniscus rules him out of contention. Nick Mullens will get more playing time because the Vikings can’t risk Sam Darnold’s health. They traded Andrew Booth Jr. to Dallas in exchange for Nahshon Wright.
Mekhi Blackmon and T.J. Hockenson could miss the entire season. Jerry Tillery could be back for this game if his calf stitches healed. Shaquill Griffin and Robert Tonyan remain questionable.
