Teams are heading back to London for the Week 8 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns for a Sunday edition of Thursday Night Football at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network/CBS locally (live stream).
Vikings vs. Browns 2017: Start time, TV channel for NFL London at Twickenham Stadium
Cleveland is the “home” team in this international matchup. (Like it matters.)
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings snagged a win last week over the Ravens with a stellar defensive performance that should give Browns QB DeShone Kizer reason to be unnerved. Not only a rookie, Kizer was benched during the second half of Cleveland’s Week 7 loss and then had to face questions about partying late into the night earlier that weekend.
Still winless now halfway into the 2017 season, the Browns are only one of two teams yet to claim a victory — and it doesn’t look like that streak will be ending anytime soon. Sure, “any given Sunday” and whatnot, but it’s the Browns ... and they have not been good. Conversely, the Vikings are riding a three-game winning streak and are in the driver’s seat of the NFC North with a 5-2 record.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
- Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham
- TV: NFL Network/CBS in Vikings and Browns markets
- Streaming: NFL Network
- Odds: The Vikings are favored by 7.5 points
Vikings vs. Browns news:
- One Viking not making the trip is starting safety Andrew Sendejo, who was suspended for one game after his huge hit on Mike Wallace last week.
- The Browns will be without perhaps their most important player, Joe Thomas, on Sunday, after the left tackle tore his triceps in Week 7.
- Minnesota’s offensive line has been overhauled due to injuries, but head coach Mike Zimmer thinks some linemen will return this week.
- Cleveland is 0-7, and despite a decent start during last week’s overtime loss, the team isn’t doing itself any favors by way of penalties and odd play calling.
The Browns shot themselves in the foot with silly mistakes. In the first 30 minutes, the Browns committed three offsides penalties. Even Myles Garrett jumped early for the Browns, and did so again later in the game.
Mistakes on the offensive side of the ball hurt the Browns again, setting the offense back in bad situations. A holding call and illegal hands to the face penalty by the Browns’ blockers brought back promising plays and made things tougher for the offense.
Vikings vs. Browns predictions:
The law of averages says at some point the Browns will claim a victory. This week is probably not that week. Vikings leave London with another win, and the Browns head back to Cleveland with even more questions needing answered.
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