Vikings-Rams betting preview (odds, lines, best bets)

• Minnesota must cover (-3): The Vikings hold one of the NFL's best records against the spread at 5-1, having covered their first five games to start the year before forfeiting their matchup against Detroit last week. Conversely, the Rams have one of the worst records in the NFL (1-5) and have not been able to cover since Week 3.

• Record 2024: 17-17 (50%) – -0.02 units won.

• Unlock your benefit with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our seasonal fantasy tools including weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly forecastsThe Start seat optimizer and more. Register now!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Game overview

Week 8 begins with a trade market special on two teams at the center of simmering trade rumors leading up to the NFL trade deadline on November 5th.

Rams general manager Les Snead isn't afraid to shy away from a high-profile trade and could return to the market as a seller after a 2-4 start. Rumors that Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford could be on the block have made their way into the news this week and will be the focus of this matchup.

Despite rumors that the Vikings were a team interested in Stafford – which the statement says have largely been shot down Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune — There could be some truth to this team adding a defensive group to complement one of the NFL's strongest units with names like the Giants. Dexter Lawrence and the Panthers Jaycee Horn thrown around as potential targets.

The Vikings' defense, third in expected points allowed per game in 2024, is one of the most aggressive units in the NFL, behind a comprehensive pressure package that allows this team to dictate opposing offenses. Brian Flores projects the highest blitz rate in the league (51.1%), a mark nearly 7 percentage points higher than any other team. Throwing the kitchen sink at opposing passers has yielded good results, as this defense has only allowed one quarterback to surpass a 73.0 passer rating against the Lightning, the Lions' Jared Goff last week.

Unlike Goff, who plays behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines, Stafford has struggled with spotty defense at best. The Rams rank 24th in EPA offense per play, largely due to their difficult pass defense, which ranks 31st on the team in PFF pass blocking rating (40.2).

These grades become even more concerning when facing five or more pass rushers, dropping to a team PFF pass blocking grade of 35.5, behind a league-worst knockdown percentage of 22.6%.

Vikings (-3) vs. Rams: Minnesota Covers – 1.1% PFF Greenline Edge

The difference between how these two teams performed in the market in the first half of the year is staggering. The Vikings hold one of the NFL's best records against the slate at 5-1, having covered their first five games to start the year before forfeiting their matchup against Detroit last week. While it's disappointing to lose a game at home as the odds-on favorite, simply missing out against a strong division opponent like the Lions isn't earth-shattering.

Conversely, the Rams have one of the worst records in the NFL at 1-5, having not been able to cover since Week 3. Even though that coverage and straight win came as home underdogs in Week 3, the 49ers battled multiple injuries and still managed to lead the game for all but two minutes of the game.