The Minnesota Vikings got exactly the kind of win that leaves you both relieved and a little irritated. They stayed unbeaten at 4-0, but it took a grind against the winless Miami Dolphins, a first half that never really sparked, and enough help from defense, special teams, and one very busy tight end to get it done.
Minnesota came in with the clear setup of a “get right” spot, even without Justin Jefferson. Miami had not won a game, and Brian Flores was facing the organization that fired him under dubious circumstances for the first time. Instead of a clean offensive breakout, the afternoon turned into a messy, low-scoring fight that was 9-0 at halftime with the Vikings defense holding firm and the offense still searching for answers.
Miami finally reached the end zone first in the third quarter after the teams had traded field goals to open the half. Minnesota answered by stretching its lead to five, and then T.J. Hockenson delivered the smartest moment of the day, sliding near the goal line late in regulation to help finish off the Dolphins and send the Vikings to 4-0.
There was no shortage of numbers that told the story of how this one unfolded.
1
The Dolphins got their first sack of the season after exactly one snap, and it set the tone for a rough day up front. Before the game, Kevin O’Connell told Fox that the Vikings wanted to make things as easy as possible for Kyler Murray.
That idea lasted only briefly after a strong Myles Price return gave Minnesota a good start. On the very first play, though, a Dolphins defensive tackle was already in Murray’s lap.
Things only got tougher from there. Murray was already working without Justin Jefferson and Jordan Mason, then Minnesota lost the entire left side of its offensive line when Donovan Jackson and Christian Darrisaw exited with injuries.
The Vikings’ line has generally been one of the better stories of the early season, and as a unit it has outplayed last year’s version. But this was its worst performance so far, and it came against a Dolphins front the Vikings were supposed to control.
10
Minnesota now has at least two sacks in 10 straight games, and even with less blitzing than in the first three weeks, the defense still got home. Miami quarterback Malik Willis spent plenty of the afternoon dealing with pressure.
Dallas Turner kept building on his strong start to the season, piling up two sacks before halftime, including a strip sack. It was the latest example of his habit of getting to the ball and the man at the same time, and it was his fifth career strip sack.
The defense also got work from Andrew Van Ginkel and Jake Golday, who saw their first extended action. The pass rush remains the defining trait of this group, and Turner’s emergence continues to justify the front office’s decision to deal Jonathan Greenard.
12
O’Connell became the 12th coach in NFL history to open multiple seasons 4-0. Plenty of fans will leave this game with complaints about the offense, especially the way receivers struggled to get out of their blocks early.
Even so, the Vikings keep finding ways to win. That part matters, even if the offense needs to clean things up fast.
The defense has been historic so far, but the balance issue is obvious. Against better opponents, Minnesota will need more than survival mode.
35
Will Reichard has scored 35 of Minnesota’s points since Week 1, and that number says plenty about how this offense has survived. The Vikings have had trouble finishing drives in the end zone, but special teams and Reichard’s steadiness have covered for a lot of that.
Myles Price, the reigning special teams player of the month, added another strong day with a pair of big returns that helped put Minnesota in Miami territory. The offense still couldn’t fully cash in, and Reichard stepped in again.
Vikings fans have every reason not to take his consistency lightly. A reliable kicker can disappear into the background, but Minnesota would not be undefeated without Reichard.
679
Hockenson finished with 13 catches for 119 yards on 13 targets, giving him his first 100-yard game in 679 days. Since his ACL tear, he has looked a step slower at times. He appeared healthier last season, but he also spent more time blocking and saw his production dip.
This season, the Jefferson-Murray connection got most of the attention, but the Hockenson-Murray pairing was always a sneaky storyline. In Arizona, Murray leaned heavily on Trey McBride and Zach Ertz. With Jefferson out, Hockenson took on that burden and gave the offense the lift it needed.
He capped the afternoon with the kind of selfless play that closes games: sliding before scoring, then helping drain the final seconds with a series of kneel-downs. It wasn’t flashy, but it was enough.
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