EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Sunday will be an odd but totally typical NFL kind of day at TCF Bank Stadium.

The visiting Carolina Panthers are 3-7-1 and talking playoffs because they’re a half game behind the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Vikings are 4-7, last in the NFC North and essentially five games out and dead in the playoff run before Dec. 1.

“I’m not really into records,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “I’m just not one of those kind of guys where it’s the eighth round and I’m throwing the towel in and we’re going to put in some other puncher. I’m fighting for 10.”

The final five games aren’t meaningless for the Vikings, especially with a Collective Bargaining Agreement that is so restrictive when it comes to a coach’s ability to advance his system during the offseason. Zimmer, who is 0-4 in his division, needs these final five games to help shape his team’s future, even if it’s still missing its best player (Adrian Peterson) and is down to its third right guard and No. 2 right tackle with this week’s news that Phil Loadholt suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle.

The other person who really needs these final five games is rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. At 3-4 as a starter, he has three fourth-quarter comeback wins, but also has developed a pattern of slow and wildly inaccurate starts.

Bridgewater was asked to name the No. 1 thing he wants to improve on during the final five games of the season. His response was interesting in its simplicity.

“Just take advantage of those easy completions when they present themselves,” Bridgewater said. “There are times in the game when there could be a five-yard out route or just something that gives you consistency, something that gives you rhythm.”

Upon further review, it makes sense, however. If Bridgewater can start fast by completing the “easy” throws, he’ll convert more third downs, stay on the field longer and have a better chance of developing the rhythm to complete the deep balls that he too often misfires on.

It may help Bridgewater that Carolina ranks 26th against the pass and has lost five straight since a 37-37 tie at Cincinnati. Of course, the Panthers are coming off a bye week and, oh yeah, are still in the playoff picture.

“We have to have that mindset and go into each game with confidence, start fast and know that it’s going to be a long day for our opponents,” Bridgewater said.

Later, Zimmer joked about a possible tactic that could help Bridgewater.

“Probably what I need to do is tell him we’re behind every series when we go out there,” Zimmer said. “Tell him we need to score this series because he’s pretty good when he needs to be.”

SERIES HISTORY: 12th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead, 6-5. The Vikings are 5-3 at home, but will be playing the Panthers at TCF Bank Stadium for the first time. Last year’s 35-10 Panthers rout was played at the Metrodome. The Panthers have won two of the past three meetings, beating Brett Favre and the 12-4 Vikings 26-7 in 2009 and losing to Christian Ponder and the 3-13 Vikings in 2011. The latter was Ponder’s first NFL victory.

NOTES

–K Blair Walsh needs three more touchbacks to set the team career record. The third-year pro has 131 touchbacks in 43 games. Fred Cox, who played 210 games over 15 seasons, had 133.

–FS Harrison Smith (shoulder/ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. The physical Smith is beat up but is expected to play on Sunday.

–TE Chase Ford (hamstring/foot) sat out practice on Wednesday. With TE Kyle Rudolph back from hernia surgery, the overachieving Ford played only six snaps on Sunday.

–WR Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) missed Wednesday’s practice. Patterson, who has been a disappointment in the passing game all season, was hurt returning a kickoff on Sunday. His status is up in the air.

–RB Jerick McKinnon (low back) missed practice Wednesday and continues to battle back issues into a third week. He has played through them so far, but has had limited carries in both games.

–DT Sharrif Floyd (knee) missed Wednesday’s practice after missing last week’s game. Coach Mike Zimmer hinted that Floyd will return this week.

–RB Matt Asiata (concussion) finally passed his concussion protocol and returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday.

–LT Matt Kalil (knee), who has given up 11 sacks this season, continues to battle a balky knee that has not healed properly since offseason arthroscopic surgery. He is expected to play on Sunday. He was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

–LB Anthony Barr (knee) was limited in Wednesday’s practice but is expected to play on Sunday.