Stephen Nover's Preseason Saturday Top Ticket - 75% Preseason Winners
(NFL) Indianapolis vs. Minnesota, 08/21/2021 8:00 PM, Score: 12 - 10
Money Line: -135.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
Mike Zimmer was furious after the Broncos embarrassed his Vikings, 33-6, last week. Expect much better from Minnesota's reserves. Zimmer not only has kicked their butts, but he's going to be playing starters in this preseason game after sitting out 31 players against Denver.

The key Viking who is going to play isn't Kirk Cousins. It's star defensive lineman Danielle Hunter, who had a combined 29 sacks in 2018-19 before missing last season with injury.

Hunter is going to be a nightmare matchup for the Colts, who are extremely vulnerable at offensive left tackle with Eric Fisher out.

Colts coach Frank Reich is going to look at some of his starters, although his incentive to win probably can't match Zimmer's. The Colts just want to come out healthy having already been hit by injuries, including losing Carson Wentz. That has forced a starting QB battle between Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger. Both looked good last week. However, that was against the reserve unit of the Panthers.

The Vikings' defense will present much more of a test, so much that Reich may not want to risk too much playing time for Eason and Ehlinger. This would mean minutes for fourth-stringer Brett Hundley, who shouldn't even be on an NFL roster after multiple failures to impress.

Minnesota should stay on the attack even after Cousins departs. The Vikings have a backup QB job on the line between Jake Browning and Kellen Mond.