Vikings-Chiefs: Seven Bold Predictions

The Vikings had two weeks to prepare for the disjointed Chiefs, so what kind of things might happen in today's game? Our staff throws out their Bold Predictions:

MATT VENSEL, Vikings beat writer

Teddy Bridgewater is on pace to throw eight touchdown passes this season. One suspects, good health permitting, he will finish the season with more than that. Tossing a trio of them against the Chiefs would be a good start. No defense has allowed more TD passes than the Chiefs, who have been burnt for 13 of them in five games. Look for Teddy to set a new career high with three touchdown passes in a decisive Vikings win.

MARK CRAIG, Vikings beat writer, On The NFL columnist

A year ago, the Chiefs went 16 games without allowing an opponent to reach 30 points. Sunday, the Vikings will become the fourth team to do so in six games against Kansas City. The Vikings will score a season-high 34 points while doing what they should do, which is dominate a visiting Chiefs team that has lost four straight games and its offensive identity in Jamaal Charles, who is out for the season because of a torn ACL. Also, Stefon Diggs will score his first NFL touchdown.

CHIP SCOGGINS, Columnist

Brad Childress is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff. In the spirit of his return, the Vikings offense will look kick-ass. Adrian Peterson will run for 150 yards and a touchdown, Teddy Bridgewater will throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and the Vikings will be penalized for having 12 men in the huddle once.

The Chiefs offense is so horizontal they complete 25 passes for a total of 25 yards. Adrian Peterson goes 0-for-3 pass blocking, 22-126-2 rushing in 23-16 victory.

MICHAEL RAND, Digital Sports Editor

Even though this has the feel of what people like to call a "trap game," the Vikings will not only win convincingly but also use this game as a springboard to a five-game winning streak. During that streak, Stefon Diggs will have a pair of 100-yard games, including Sunday. Cordarrelle Patterson will fall to ninth on the WR depth chart, just behind Hassan Jones, but Rick Spielman will still tout the strides he's making.

JASON GONZALEZ, interim Vikings beat writer, college hockey scribe, college football visiting team locker room sidebar guy

Pass protection has been an issue for the Vikings and Chiefs this season. Teddy Bridgewater has been sacked 13 times in four games and Alex Smith 21 times in five games, so Sunday's theme will be which team can better protect its quarterback. However, the Vikings have given up just one sack in two games and two victories at home. This trend will continue and Bridgewater will have plenty of time to keep the offense moving and stay unbeaten at home. Smith won't be so fortunate.