The Minnesota Vikings are headed to the late window again this Sunday, and for the third time in the first four weeks of the season they’ll be there while hosting the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium.
It’s an odd setup all around. The Vikings are the only late game on the FOX family of networks this week, even though CBS has the doubleheader for the second straight week.
That means CBS will carry three late games, while FOX has just the one. The Dolphins-Vikings matchup falls in the orange area on the coverage map from 506 Sports.
There’s one more wrinkle for viewers: because CBS has the doubleheader again, there won’t be an early game on your local FOX affiliate if Dolphins-Vikings is being shown in your area. Every other FOX game on the map is in the early window.
If you’re outside the orange area, the game will be on YouTube TV Sunday Ticket.
There’s also a schedule note for Sunday. Open Threads for the windows when the Vikings aren’t playing will go back to being regular posts instead of being placed in the Feed. That first post is set for around 11:30 AM Central Sunday morning, with the game Open Thread arriving at the usual time, 30 minutes before kickoff at 2:30 PM Central.
The Vikings will return to the early window in Week 5, though some viewers could still get caught in a tricky spot again for reasons that will be laid out next week. The plan is to have that coverage map post ready on Wednesday, once 506 Sports releases the maps.
In Other News...
Vikings Suddenly Face A Big Question About Their Early Edge
Through five weeks, the Vikings have spent much of the season looking like one of the leagues most opportunistic defenses, and that has been a big part of why theyve stayed in the conversation early. The weekly numbers also show how quickly the turnover picture can shape the standings, with Minnesota sitting near the top of the league in takeaways alongside Las Vegas and still benefiting from a defense that has given the offense extra chances.
The concern now is whether that early edge is still as sturdy as it looked a couple of Sundays ago. Minnesota has not been getting the same splash plays lately, and the timing matters with a Week 6 slate that will keep the pressure on every team trying to separate itself from the pack. If the takeaways slow down, the Vikings may have to prove they can keep winning without the shortcut that helped them build momentum in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Cris Carters Advice To Justin Jefferson Says Plenty About Vikings QB Drama
The quarterback carousel around Minnesota has been hard to ignore, even with the Vikings off to a 5-0 start behind Kyler Murray. Justin Jefferson has handled the constant change better than most stars might, putting together 19 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns in four games while still trying to build the kind of timing that usually comes only with stability under center.
Cris Carters counsel helps explain Jeffersons public restraint, since the former Vikings receiver urged him to avoid airing complaints about the quarterback situation. Jefferson has been open about being frustrated by the lack of consistency, but he has stopped short of turning that into a public issue, choosing instead to keep working with Murray and let the on-field connection speak for itself. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Have One Missing Piece In Their Undefeated Start
The Vikings are still sitting among the NFLs unbeaten teams after Week 5, but the path theyve taken has looked a little different from the leagues other early heavyweights. Their offense has not matched the kind of efficient production usually associated with top contenders, which has led some around the team to look for a more sustainable formula than simply asking the quarterback to carry everything.
Minnesota does have pieces of that formula already in place. The defense has been the best in the league at keeping opponents out of the end zone, and special teams has taken a step forward as well. The remaining question is whether the ground game can become sturdy enough to round out the formula and give the Vikings the kind of balance that could keep their unbeaten start from feeling fragile. [Read more 🡒]