MATT VENSEL: CHASE FORD WILL SCORE HIS FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN
Tight end Chase Ford, who has seen his role gradually increase with Kyle Rudolph sidelined, established new career highs in last week's win over the Buccaneers with six catches and 61 receiving yards. But the second-year tight end is still looking for his first career touchdown. He will get it against the Redskins. The Vikings haven't really utilized their tight ends in the red zone with Rudolph, but Ford may get an opportunity or two against the Redskins, who have allowed tight ends to score six times this season.
MARK CRAIG: BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A WINNING STREAK IN MINNESOTA
Monday night, the Redskins upset the Cowboys in Dallas to post their first winning streak in 25 games. In keeping with the NFL's complete unpredictability, the Redskins will now lose to a lesser team six days later. In doing so, the Vikings will, believe it or not, have an honest to goodness winning streak. And just like the Redskins last week, it will come 25 games after their last winning streak. The Vikings haven't had one of those since they finished the 2012 regular season 4-0 to make the playoffs.
MASTER TESFATSION: RGIII-AND-OUT
Sunday will mark the return of Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, if you somehow didn't know this by now. He hasn't played since Week 2 and should be rusty regardless of how"good" he looked in practice this week. Griffin is still good when healthy, but the Vikings defense will make life tough for a quarterback coming off a dislocated ankle. Expect the Vikings to create three turnovers, including two interceptions off Griffin, against the team with the third worst turnover differential in the NFL (-8).
CHRIS MILLER: A PRETTY BALLOON GETS BURST
The Vikings seem to have things going for them, with a bit of momentum off a victory at Tampa Bay and a run of defensive success. But the Redskins' blitz packages will be too much for rookie Teddy Bridgewater, and Washington will roll on with the success it had on Monday night in Dallas and pull off the slight upset.
