NFL
By: Steve Rogers
The Minnesota Vikings are once again on the road. They are headed off to Europe for the second game of their overseas world tour. This week, they meet up against the Cleveland Browns in London, England.
Game Information
8:30 am October 5th 2025
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
Minnesota Vikings (2-2)
vs
Cleveland Browns (1-3)
Gambling Guide
Vikings 2-2,1-1 away -3.5 favorites
Over/Under is 36.5
The Money Line
Vikings -195
Browns +165
This is the second game in a row for the Vikin, not only on the road but in another country altogether. Although this time, a much more familiar and perhaps comfortable place, London, England. Technically, the Vikings are still undefeated, 4-0, when playing in London. This will be the third time the Vikings are playing in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This is also the second time the Vikings are playing the Cleveland Browns in London, back in 2017 at Twickenham Stadium. Can the Vikings repeat their own history and beat the Browns again in London?
Speaking of repeating, this will be the second time this season the Vikings will face a team starting a backup quarterback, as well as themselves. That’s right, it’s the battle of the backup quarterback, take two. In the Purple corner, the Vikings are, for the third week in a row, going with veteran Carson Wentz. In the Brown corner, the Browns have announced they are going to start for the first time in the NFL, rookie Dillon Gabriel.
At 2-2 thus far is not what the Vikings organization and or fan base was expecting this season after losing a total of three games last year. Being .500 is not what the doctor ordered. After recognizing their deficiencies on the offensive line, the Vikings invested heavily in revamping the offensive line by signing two talented veterans and spending a first-round draft pick on a third to beef up the interior of the offensive line. How’s that working out?
Well, here’s the skinny or bulk of the problem. So far, the new starting five offensive linemen have yet to take a snap together in the season. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed the first couple of weeks coming back from a knee injury from last year. Center Ryan Kelly is missing this game with his second concussion of this year and fifth of his career. Right tackle Brian O’Neil is now going to miss a few games with an MCL sprain (lucky it’s not worse). Guard Will Fries is the only offensive lineman not to miss any time due to injury this year. The Vikings are once again in a mid-season scramble to put together an offensive line that can protect any quarterback starter or backup, rookie or veteran. Heck, maybe the Vikings should try and sign a couple of European strongman competitors to see if they can help block Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Both the Vikings and Browns have been struggling so far this year on offense. I think that will continue to be true for both teams this week. These two teams currently have more going for them on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, it is my prediction that each defensive unit will outscore its own counterpart offense. So the Browns defense will score more points than the Browns offense, and the same for the Vikings. Garrett might be the best player on the field for either team this Sunday. However, the Vikings have a defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, who loves to prey on young rookie quarterbacks with his fancy and exotic defensive front stunts and various hybrid looks. Flores against Gabriel, making his first-ever NFL start, against the Vikings.
That also means I would take the under for the total score of this game. This is going to be a low-scoring affair. This feels like a 17-13 or even a 13 – 10 kind of game. As usual, I’m picking the Vikings to win, but at -3.5 it’s too close to cover.
