EAGAN, Minn. — After dropping three of the past four games (all losses were on the road), the Vikings will return to U.S. Bank Stadium to host the Dolphins Sunday.
"It's good to get back home this week in front of our fans, a big game for both teams," Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday. "Hopefully our crowd will be nice and loud. We need all the help we can get with them."
The matchup between Minnesota (6-6-1) and Miami (7-6) will be the Vikings first noon (CT) kickoff since defeating the Lions on Nov. 4, a fact not lost on Zimmer.
"We've had East Coast, West Coast, night game, afternoon game, late afternoon game. It's nice to get into a routine, hopefully, here this week."
Minnesota would be the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs if the postseason started this week. Miami would miss the cut for the final spot in the AFC.
That means this is a playoff play-in game for both teams with three games left in the regular season.
According to **FiveThirtyEight.com**, the Vikings have a 57-percent likelihood of making the playoffs, and the Dolphins have a 20-percent chance.
Without accounting for any other results this week or beyond, a win by Minnesota would increase its chances to 69 percent and lower Miami's chances to 12 percent. A win by Miami bumps the Dolphins up to 41 percent and lowers the Vikings to 25 percent.
"Everybody understands the stakes of this particular game and the next couple of games," Zimmer said. "Our guys are pretty smart guys. They understand that, but I have a lot of confidence in this group. We have really good guys on this team, and they understand where they're at."
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Brandon Doughty (7) throws a pass over Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo (60) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Miami Dolphins players stand in the huddle during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Taylor Heinicke (6) drops back to pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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Here are the ways to watch and listen to this week's game.
TV BROADCAST
Kickoff: Noon (CT)
CBS (WCCO Channel 4 in Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Play-by-Play: Ian Eagle
Analysts: Dan Fouts
Sideline Reporter: Evan Washburn
LOCAL RADIO
KFAN 100.3-FM/KTLK-AM 1130
Play-by-play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman and Ben Leber
Radio Pre-game Show: Mike Mussman | 10 a.m. (CT)
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the five-state Vikings Radio Network.
NATIONAL RADIO
ESPN Radio
Play-by-play: Steve Levy
Analyst: Dusty Dvoracek
Sideline Reporter: Jeff Darlington
SATELLITE RADIO
Sirius: 133 or Streaming 818 (MIA); 105 or Streaming 819 (MIN)
XM: Streaming 818 (MIN); 232 or Streaming 819 (MIN)
NFL GAME PASS
NFL Game Pass provides access to replays of every game, the NFL Films Archive and more for fans in the United States. International fans who subscribe to NFL Game Pass can watch games live. **Click here for a free trial**.
DIRECTV NFL SUNDAY TICKET.TV
NFL SUNDAY TICKET.TV provides live streaming service for customers who cannot get DIRECTV where they live. Eligibility is based on location, residence type or enrollment in any university in the U.S.
The service allows fans to stream all live, out-of-market NFL regular-season games every Sunday (based on customer's device location) that are broadcast on FOX and CBS. The service is available on computers, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles or streaming devices.
Three different packages are available.
Click **here** or visit **NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV/VIKINGS** for more information.
