Game Preview of Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns. Week 5 of 2025 NFL Season
The Vikings and Browns meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday at 9.30 AM ET. It is a physical matchup in London with real injury questions on both sides.
Minnesota’s offensive line is thin. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are Out. Ryan Kelly and Michael Jurgens are Questionable. That matters against a Cleveland front that lives in the backfield. Justin Jefferson is also Questionable, which adds risk to the Vikings’ passing ceiling.
Cleveland turns to rookie Dillon Gabriel. Deshaun Watson is Out. The Browns passing traits have been quiet so far, with a low explosive pass rate. Expect a plan that protects the rookie and leans on the run if game script allows.
Both defenses can wreck drives. Each team ranks in the 95th percentile in turning pressure into sacks, which is a simple way to say they finish plays when they get close to the quarterback. Field position and red-zone execution may decide it in a low-total environment.
| Date | Opponent | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-28 | @ DET | L 10-34 | L 10.0 | u44.5 |
| 2025-09-21 | vs GB | W 13-10 | L -8.5 | u41.5 |
| 2025-09-14 | @ BAL | L 17-41 | L 12.5 | o46.5 |
| 2025-09-07 | vs CIN | L 16-17 | L -5.5 | u47.5 |
| 2025-01-04 | @ BAL | L 10-35 | L 19.5 | o42.5 |
| 2024-12-29 | vs MIA | L 3-20 | L -3.0 | u32.5 |
| 2024-12-22 | @ CIN | L 6-24 | L 10.0 | u46.5 |
| 2024-12-15 | vs KC | L 7-21 | L -4.5 | u41.5 |
| 2024-12-08 | @ PIT | L 14-27 | L 6.0 | u43.0 |
| 2024-12-02 | @ DEN | L 32-41 | L 6.5 | o41.5 |
Pass-rush duel on both sides: Cleveland and Minnesota each post a 9.6% sack rate generated (95th percentile), and both rank 95th in pressure-to-sack conversion. That is bad news for long-developing routes.
Minnesota protection is a concern: Vikings sack rate allowed sits at 13.4% with a big sample and multiple OL starters Out. That tilts the pocket toward Cleveland.
Browns explosive pass game has lagged: Cleveland’s explosive pass rate is 4.8% (14th percentile). Small-sample big play TD rate is also poor (sample 10). That nudges them toward a ball-control approach.
Run defense vs run offense: Minnesota allows explosive runs at 7.8% (9th percentile), while Cleveland creates explosive runs at 2.2% (22nd). The edge exists if volume rises, not from pure explosiveness.
Money downs profile: Minnesota struggles on third-and-long conversion at 9.1% (3rd percentile). Cleveland’s third-down stop rate is only 55.9% (16th), so drive results may swing on sacks and penalties.
Injury tie-ins: Jefferson is Questionable for MIN; Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett are Questionable for CLE. Those statuses directly change how often each side can threaten deep or win one-on-one up front.
Anchor spread: Vikings -5.0 (+106). Laying the smaller number comes at plus money. Browns +5.0 sits -143 if you want the cushion.
Anchor total: 39.0 (Over +116, Under -182). Heavy juice to the Under matches two top-tier pass rush units and a rookie QB.
Vikings team total: 20.0 (Over -118, Under -120). Jefferson’s status and protection issues make the range wide here.
Carson Wentz Under 210.5 pass yds (-120): Browns rank 95th percentile in sack rate, and MIN’s sack rate allowed is 13.4%. Pressure can cap attempts and YPA.
Dillon Gabriel Under 180.5 pass yds (-120): Vikings bring a 95th percentile sack rate and an 88th percentile takeaway rate, tough for a debut.
Dillon Gabriel Over 13.5 rush yds (-114): When pressure arrives, rookies run. With both defenses converting pressure to sacks at 9.6%, scramble lanes can appear.
Check inactives. Props tied to players listed Questionable, like Jefferson or Njoku, carry added variance.
London gets a defense-first matchup. Both fronts win quickly, and both convert pressure into sacks at elite rates. That usually pushes games toward field goals and short fields.
Minnesota owns the higher explosive pass profile, but its line is battered. If the Vikings protect just enough, they can strike fast. If not, drives stall. Cleveland’s offense likely plays through the ground game and quick throws to keep the rookie in rhythm.
Injuries are the swing factor. Jefferson, Garrett, Ward, and Njoku can shift matchups if they play or sit. That is why the market total sits near 39 with juice to the Under.
If you bet it, price shop the numbers in market. The -5.0 at plus money and the Under-heavy total tell the story. Tie any prop positions to the pass-rush edge and be ready to pivot once inactives are confirmed.
| Statistic | Offense | Rank | Defense | Rank | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Points | 56 | #31 | 80 | #24 | |
| Total Points Per Game | 14 | #31 | 20 | #9 | |
| Total Touchdowns | 6 | #30 | 7 | #6 | |
| Passing Touchdowns | 3 | #31 | 3 | #2 | |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 3 | #18 | 4 | #24 | |
| Other Touchdowns | 0 | #29 | 0 | #5 | |
| Total Kicking Points | 20 | #31 | 32 | #15 | |
| Total Two Point Conversions | 0 | #25 | 0 | #32 | |
| Kick Extra Points | 5 | #29 | 8 | #20 |
| Statistic | Offense | Rank | Defense | Rank | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Passing Yards | 781 | #20 | 606 | #30 | |
| Net Passing Yards Per Game | 195 | #20 | 152 | #30 | |
| Passer Rating | 62.9 | #32 | 87.2 | #21 | |
| Passing Attempts | 164 | #2 | 105 | #4 | |
| Completions | 96 | #4 | 71 | #29 | |
| Completion Percentage | 58.5 | #30 | 67.6 | #23 | |
| Passing 1st downs | 38 | #24 | 27 | #1 | |
| Passing 1st Down % | 54.3 | #20 | 38.6 | #1 | |
| Longest Pass | 35 | #30 | 80 | #3 | |
| Passing Fumbles Lost | 2 | #3 | 4 | #2 | |
| Receiving Targets | 150 | #2 | 103 | #29 | |
| Receptions | 96 | #4 | 71 | #4 | 🏈 |
| Receiving Yards After Catch | 416 | #18 | 366 | #8 | |
| YAC Average | 4.3 | #28 | 5.2 | #19 |
| Statistic | Offense | Rank | Defense | Rank | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 339 | #30 | 521 | #24 | |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 84.8 | #30 | 130 | #9 | |
| Rushing Attempts | 92 | #28 | 115 | #22 | |
| Yards Per Rush Attempt | 3.7 | #27 | 4.5 | #11 | |
| Rushing 1st downs | 24 | #22 | 33 | #27 | |
| 20+ Yard Rushing Plays | 2 | #15 | 1 | #30 | |
| Long Rushing | 38 | #14 | 25 | #24 | |
| Rushing Fumbles | 2 | #15 | 1 | #30 | |
| Rushing Fumbles Lost | 0 | #20 | 1 | #11 |