EAGAN, Minn. — Those of us of a certain age can remember welcoming John Madden into our homes on Thanksgiving.
Although hundreds or even thousands of miles away, Madden's delivery made it feel like he was there, grateful for the opportunity of a gigantic football family gathering.
The tradition will be renewed again throughout Thursday during the three scheduled NFL games (Bills at Lions, Giants at Cowboys and Patriots at Vikings) as the league introduces the inaugural "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration" in honor of the Pro Football Hall of Famer who made his mark on so many as a coach, broadcaster and innovator who passed away Dec. 28, 2021, at age 85.
Minnesota (8-2) is set to host a Thanksgiving game for the first time in franchise history, welcoming New England (6-4) in front of an NBC nationwide television audience.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. (CT), and the Vikings will also be wearing their #PrimetimePurple uniforms.
Each network (CBS has Buffalo-Detroit and FOX has New York-Dallas) will have special broadcast tributes to Madden and select a "Madden Player of the Game."
Each stadium's field will have a Madden logo, and players will have Madden decals on their helmets.
The Vikings are 6-2 all-time on Thanksgiving, having gone 3-2 at Detroit and 3-0 at Dallas on the holiday. It will be Minnesota's first appearance since 2017.
Note: We usually include comments from Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels, but they did not have their media sessions because of the short week.
BROADCAST TELEVISION
NBC (KARE 11 in the Twin Cities)
Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. (CT)
Play-by-Play: Mike Tirico
Analysts: Tony Dungy & Jason Garrett
Sideline reporter: Melissa Stark
ON MOBILE
Because it is a national broadcast, fans from coast to coast will be able to watch the game on their iOS mobile devices with the Vikings app or Vikings mobile site (Safari browser only).
LOCAL RADIO
Radio: KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK (1130-AM) and the five-state Vikings Radio Network
Radio Pregame Show: Hosted by Mike Mussman (5 p.m.)
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline reporter: Ben Leber
New this year: People in Minnesota will be able to listen to the Vikings Radio Network broadcast through the iHeartRadio app on their smart devices.
SPANISH RADIO BROADCAST
New for the 2022 season, the Vikings will air a Spanish broadcast of all games.
You can hear the Vikings on Tico Sports at WREY "El Rey" 94.9-FM and 630-AM in the Twin Cities and on Tico-Sports.com, elrey949fm.com and vikings.com. Additionally, the stream will be available as part of NFL+.
Look back on images from past games between the Vikings and the Patriots.
Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith (22) gets in on a play during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) runs into the end zone on a 25-yard pass past New England Patriots strong safety Devin McCourty (32) for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Minneapolis Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, left, wide receiver Greg Jennings, center and running back Matt Asiata, right, celebrate Asiata's touchdown on a 25-yard pass during the fist quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Minneapolis Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) celebrates in front of the fans after running a 25-yard pass into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Minneapolis Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Julian Edelman, de los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra, se escapa del free safety de los Vikings de Minnesota, Harrison Smith, luego de atrapar un pase en el encuentro del domingo 14 de septiembre de 2014 (AP Foto/Ann Heisenfelt)
New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) carries the ball as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley and linebacker Chad Greenway (52) defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel, right, scrambles for a 13-yard gain as New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis defends during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
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Play-by-Play: Gabriel Rios
Color commentary: Isaias Nunez Zendejas
NATIONAL RADIO
Westwood ONE
Play-by-Play: Bill Rosinski
Analyst: Ryan Harris
SATELLITE RADIO
New England: SiriusXM 82 or 225 and the SXM App
Minnesota: SiriusXM 85 or 227 and the SXM App
National: SiriusXM 88 and the SXM App
VIKINGS MOBILE APP
Keep the Vikings nearby wherever you go with the Minnesota Vikings mobile app. A source for news and exclusive features, the app also will stream video broadcasts of games for people in the market/broadcast area of each game.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 14, 2023.
1 K Greg Joseph
1 K Greg Joseph
2 RB Alexander Mattison
2 RB Alexander Mattison
3 CB Cameron Dantzler
3 Cam Dantzler
4 RB Dalvin Cook
4 RB Dalvin Cook
5 WR Jalen Reagor
7 CB Patrick Peterson
7 CB Patrick Peterson
8 QB Kirk Cousins
8 QB Kirk Cousins
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
66 P Ryan Wright
17 WR K.J. Osborn
17 WR K.J. Osborn
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
19 WR Adam Thielen
19 WR Adam Thielen
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
25 S Theo Jackson
25 S Theo Jackson
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
27 CB Kalon Barnes
27 CB Kalon Barnes
29 CB Kris Boyd
29 CB Kris Boyd
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
33 LB Brian Asamoah
33 LB Brian Asamoah
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
43 LB Luiji Vilain
43 OLB Luiji Vilain
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Josh Metellus
45 LB Troy Dye
45 LB Troy Dye
47 LB William Kwenkeu
47 LB William Kwenkeu
54 LB Eric Kendricks
55 LB Za'Darius Smith
55 OLB Za'Darius Smith
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garett Bradbury
58 LB Jordan Hicks
58 LB Jordan Hicks
62 G/C Chris Reed
62 G/C Chris Reed
63 T Vederian Lowe
63 T Vederian Lowe
64 T Blake Brandel
64 T Blake Brandel
67 G Ed Ingram
71 T Christian Darrisaw
71 T Christian Darrisaw
72 G Ezra Cleveland
72 G Ezra Cleveland
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
90 DL Esezi Otomewo
91 OLB Patrick Jones II
91 DE Patrick Jones II
92 DT James Lynch
92 DT James Lynch
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
96 DT Ross Blacklock
96 DT Ross Blacklock
97 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
99 OLB Danielle Hunter
99 DE Danielle Hunter
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Click here for the full bevy of options that include over-the-air, cable, satellite, over-the-top and streaming methods.
NFL+ AND NFL+ PREMIUM
Start your free trial of NFL+ today to watch Vikings preseason games live or on-demand.
NFL+ and NFL+ Premium provide all the action when you are on the go. It is available in the NFL app and at NFL.com/plus.
NFL+ is available for $4.99/month or $39.99/year and offers the following:
· Live out-of-market preseason games across devices
· Live local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet
· Live game audio (home, away & national calls) for every game of the season
· NFL library programming on-demand, ad-free
NFL+ Premium is available for $9.99/month or $79.99/year and offers all of the NFL+ features and the following:
· Full-game replays across devices (ad-free)
· Condensed game replays across devices (ad-free)
· Coaches film (ad-free)
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SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota is 4-9 all-time in 13 games against New England, which has a five-game winning streak in the rare series.
The Vikings are trying to secure their first win against the Patriots since September 2000 when Daunte Culpepper threw touchdowns to Johnny McWilliams and Matthew Hatchette in the second quarter of a 21-13 win.
