This is a 10* SPECIAL on the Vikings.

Minnesota needs to win out and get some help to make the playoffs. We're coming down the home stretch of the regular season.

The Vikes are off back-to-back losses, most recently a 29-27 setback at Detroit last weekend.

Pittsburgh's clawed its way back into contention at 6-5-1 after last weekend's come from behind 20-19 upset win at home over the Ravens.

The short turnaround won't be doing Ben Roethlisberger any favors this week though. Kirk Cousins though is quietly having a huge season with the Vikings with an average of 271.7 passing yards per game.

Minnesota catches a break here as well. The Vikes have a poor pass defense, but Roethlisberger isn't being asked to throw very deep down the field to often anymore.

Both teams have injury issues to key players, but I think that Cousins steps up and delivers at home.

Lay the points, the play is MINNESOTA.

Good luck, NP