The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys: Game time, TV, preview

By Dan Zinski

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The eternal drudgery that has been the 2015 preseason continues Saturday night in Dallas when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Cowboys at the Jerry Dome. Kickoff is slated for 6 PM CT.

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If you care to catch tonight’s game, here is the full list of stations that will be carrying it.

The game will also be broadcast on radio on KFAN 100.3 FM and across their network. Paul Allen and Pete Bercich as usual will be on the call.

The game can also be streamed at NFL Game Pass.

Mother nature should not be a factor tonight as the game is being held inside AT&T Stadium. Last week’s game at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis was interrupted for over an hour by lightning.

The Vikings are expected to start their regulars with the exception of Adrian Peterson who is sitting out the entire preseason as usual. Teddy Bridgewater and the rest of the first team offense should play the majority of the first half.

The Cowboys also are expected to give their regulars a good run around the track though they will not have receiver Dez Bryant who is sitting out the remainder of the preseason with a strained hamstring.

The no. 1 area of concern for Minnesota is the offensive line. The line did a decent job last week against the Raiders, even without starting center John Sullivan, and they hope to continue that tonight.

Pass protection has not been a big issue yet but the men up front obviously have not truly been tested thus far. LT Matt Kalil has received good reviews both from coaches and outside analysts, leading to hopes of a resurgent season for the former top-10 pick.

If the Vikings have a main goal for tonight offensively, it’s to get the ball in the hands of wide receiver Mike Wallace, who has been quiet so far in preseason.

Teddy Bridgewater may not yet have good chemistry going with Wallace, but he does have great chemistry with Charles Johnson who caught a TD pass last week and looks like the Vikings’ clear #1 receiver.

Defensively, the Vikings’ main concern is the cornerback position. Rookie Trae Waynes and veteran Terence Newman both struggled last week vs. Oakland.

It will be interesting to see how Mike Zimmer shuffles his cornerbacks tonight. Will he give Captain Munnerlyn any snaps with the first team?

The Vikings are expected to change things up a bit at linebacker tonight, giving Gerald Hodges a start at the Mike position. Last week’s starting Mike Eric Kendricks is expected to play in nickel situations.

Robert Blanton is still the starter at safety alongside Harrison Smith but the return of Antone Exum from his hamstring injury will give us and the coaches another chance to see if he can push Blanton out of that job before the start of the season.

And then of course there is Blair Walsh, the embattled kicker. Walsh missed four kicks last week in the windy, rainy conditions of TCF Bank Stadium and was given an earful on the field by Mike Zimmer.

With the Vikings playing indoors this week and the long snapper situation now settled after the release of Cullen Loeffler, hopefully Walsh can settle down and kick a few long ones to help his confidence.

It would be a shame to see him get reamed out by Zimmer on live TV again.

Next: Mick Tingelhoff enters Hall of Fame

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