The Miami Dolphins are barely alive in the AFC playoff picture, and they'll need a win against the visiting Minnesota Vikings in order to stay that way. Though the latter has nothing to play for after being eliminated from the postseason, the development of rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to be a primary area of concern for the team. On the other sideline, third-year signal caller Ryan Tannehill will look to give his team a fighting chance to play past December.
Vikings vs. Dolphins 2014 picks and predictions: Miami expected to stay alive in the playoff hunt
The Vikings are out of the postseason picture, but they can play spoiler with a win on Sunday against the Dolphins.
According to OddsShark, the Dolphins (7-7) are a 7.5-point favorite on their home turf, with the over/under at 42.5. The Dolphins’ defensive unit has the capability to stifle opponents, and Minnesota’s young squad has struggled to move the ball consistently down field and put up points.
That combination could be detrimental for a team that lacks game-breaking talent. With the continued absence of Adrian Peterson and the ineffectiveness of former playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson, second-year wide receiver Charles Johnson has been a welcome surprise. He'll need to have a big game on the outside to complement the run game against a balanced defense.
As far as the expert prognosticators go, ESPN is all in on Miami by a 13-0 margin. CBS Sports’ panel sees it closer by a 5-3 mark.
The squad at SB Nation almost reached a consensus, with all but one picking the Dolphins to win at home:
| Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | PFT Commenter | Matt Ufford | OddsShark Computer | |
| MIN @ MIA | MIN | MIA | MIA | MIA | MIA | MIA | MIA | MIA |
See More:
