Kevin O'Connell Considers Trading for Travis Jones to Strengthen Minnesota Vikings’ Defense
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell may be eyeing a potential trade for defensive tackle Travis Jones as a way to significantly improve his team's defense. With the Vikings looking to bolster their defensive line and become more competitive, O'Connell is reportedly considering this move as a straightforward yet impactful solution.
Jones, known for his strength and disruptive ability on the defensive line, could provide the Vikings with a much-needed boost in their efforts to contain opposing offenses. O'Connell has been vocal about his desire to improve the team’s defense, and Jones’ skill set could be the perfect fit for the Vikings' needs.
“We’re always evaluating ways to improve our roster and strengthen our defensive unit,” O'Connell said in a recent interview. “Travis Jones is a player who brings a lot to the table, and we believe he could be a key piece in helping us become more dominant on defense. We’re exploring all options to make sure we’re prepared for the challenges ahead.”
The Vikings have struggled at times this season to stop the run and generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. Jones, with his size and ability to disrupt plays, could provide immediate help in these areas, making him an attractive option for Minnesota as they look to solidify their defensive line.
While no official trade has been made yet, the possibility of adding a player of Jones' caliber to the roster is one that could pay immediate dividends for the Vikings as they continue to pursue postseason aspirations.
With O'Connell’s commitment to strengthening the defense, this trade could represent a crucial step in improving the Vikings' overall competitiveness as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
Patriots vs. Saints Prediction, Odds, Spread, Injuries, Trends for NFL Week 6
The New England Patriots are coming off one of the biggest upsets of the season, taking down their AFC East rival, the Buffalo Bills.
Now, they're trying to carry that momentum into their Week 6 game when they take on the New Orleans Saints, who are coming off their first win of the season, taking down the New York Giants.
Let's dive into the odds and my best bet for this interconference showdown.
Patriots vs. Saints Odds, Spread, and Total
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- Patriots -3.5 (-115)
- Saints +3.5 (-105)
Moneyline
- Patriots -210
- Saints +176
Total
- OVER 45.5 (-115)
- UNDER 45.5 (-105)
Patriots vs. Saints How to Watch
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 5
- Game Time: 1:00 pm ET
- Venue: Caesars Superdome
- How to Watch (TV): CBS
- Patriots Record: 3-2
- Saints Record: 1-4
Patriots vs. Saints Betting Trends
- Patriots are 4-2 ATS in their last six games
- The OVER is 8-4 in the Patriots' last 12 games
- Saints are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games vs. Saints
- Patriots are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games
- The UNDER is 7-1 in the Patriots' last eight games vs. NFC South opponents
- Saints are 6-12 ATS in their last 18 games
- Saints are 1-5 straight up in their last six games vs. AFC opponents
Patriots vs. Saints Injury Reports
Patriots Injury Report
- Antonio Gibson, RB - Out
- K'Lavon Chaisson, LB - Questionable
- Keion White, DE - Questionable
- Layden Robinson, G - IR
- Isaiah Iton, DT - IR
Saints Injury Report
- Isaac Yiadom, CB - Questionable
- Chase Young, DE - Questionable
- Cesar Ruiz, C - Questionable
- Justin Reid, S - Questionable
- John Ridgeway III, DT - IR-R
Patriots vs. Saints Key Player to Watch
- Drake Maye, QB - New England Patriots
Drake Maye has gotten off to an unbelievably strong start to his sophomore season with the New England Patriots. Despite having limited weapons and a terrible offensive line, he has completed 73.9% of passes, averaging 252.2 passing yards per game, along with seven touchdowns through the air.
Patriots vs. Saints Prediction and Pick
I've been on the "Spencer Rattle isn't that bad" train for the past two weeks, and the Saints quarterback continues to climb up quarterback rankings, now ranking above the likes of Bo Nix, Justin Herbert, and Jayden Daniels in EPA+CPOE (expected points added + completion percentage over expected). With that being said, I don't have much faith in the Saints' defense, so I'm going to bet the OVER in their Week 6 game against the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are built to be the perfect OVER team. The Patriots rank 10th in EPA per play but 23rd in opponent EPA per play. When looking at the advanced metric called DVOA, these two defenses rank 27th and 29th. I'm surprised the total is set in the mid-40s, so give me the OVER.
Pick: OVER 45.5 (-115) via FanDuel
