FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Who doesn't love an underdog story?
The Minnesota Vikings are heavy favorites against the Falcons in this week's expert picks. From a recency standpoint, these two teams are trending in different directions. The Vikings ride a five-game win streak while the Falcons have lost three straight.
Kirk Cousins will return to his old stomping grounds after playing six seasons in Minnesota before signing with the Falcons this offseason. The veteran quarterback said he's used to being in tough situations when explaining his mindset for the game.
"Football and my journey is — it always kicks you down and you've got to find a way to get back up and find myself there again," Cousins said. "I wish I could say I wasn't in that spot, but I find myself there again. I have to just believe that tough times don't last, tough people do. You just keep going and pushing and at some point, they'll tell you that, 'Hey, you're not going to get another chance. Your time is up in this league.' But until then, I'm going to keep trying to pick myself up off the mat and get back to work."
The Falcons are looking for a bounce-back moment, but it'll be an uphill battle on Sunday, according to the experts. Check out the full picks below:
| Author | Outlet | Pick |
|---|---|
| Lindsey Thiry | ESPN | Vikings |
| Mike Clay | ESPN | Vikings |
| Colleen Wolfe | NFL Network | Vikings |
| Bucky Brooks | NFL Network | Falcons |
| Albert Breer | Sports Illustrated | Vikings |
| Connor Orr | Sports Illustrated | Vikings |
| Pete Prisco | CBS Sports | Vikings |
| Vic Tafur | The Athletic | Vikings |
For more complete picks, visit: ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated and NFL Network.
