The Minnesota Vikings have been eliminated from playoff contention. However, they can avoid a losing season by winning their last two games, including their tilt on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Vikings vs. Dolphins 2014 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Two non-playoff teams rumble in Miami.
The Vikings' 2014 season will always be known as the year of Adrian Peterson's child abuse scandal. However, in his absence, the team has actually shown steady improvement throughout the season. Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater played well a week ago in a near upset of the Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the team may have stumbled upon a starting-caliber pass catcher in second-year wideout Charles Johnson. While many issues remain on offense, there is plenty of reason for optimism moving forward in Minnesota.
Bridgewater's numbers the past three weeks have been impressive. He completed more than 70 percent of his passes in every game during that stretch, throwing for five touchdowns and twice eclipsing the 300-yard mark. The primary beneficiary of that strong play has been Johnson. A free agent signee earlier this year, he amassed 216 yards during the last three weeks. Given the lack of production from wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in 2014, Johnson's contributions have proven especially valuable.
While Miami’s strong defense kept it in the playoff hunt for most of the season, the offense sputtered one too many times, leading to the Dolphins’ elimination from the postseason last week. This marks the third time in as many years that head coach Joe Philbin has failed to produce a playoff team. Though it was suggested before the season that the team would clean house should it miss the playoffs, Philbin could conceivably save his job by winning out.
It would help Philbin's case if Ryan Tannehill performs well these last two weeks. The third-year quarterback has completed 66.3 percent of his passes this season and thrown twice as many touchdowns (22) as picks. He hasn't averaged much yardage per attempt, ranking near the bottom of the league among qualifying passers at 6.73. Miami's ground game has a chance to produce its first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011; Lamar Miller needs just 171 yards during the team's final two games to reach the milestone.
The Vikings enter the game with a record of 6-8. The Dolphins come in at 7-7.
How to watch
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile
Odds
The Dolphins are 7-point favorites, according to OddsShark.
Further reading
For more on the Vikings, check out Daily Norseman. For additional coverage of the Dolphins, head on over to The Phinsider.
See More:
