Dolphins-Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings had to win this home game against the Miami Dolphins. After two rough weeks on the road, the offense had to come out and do something against the Dolphins. It took one quarter for the Vikings to exceed their scoring of the past two games. They scored 17 combined points against the New England Patriots (10) and Seattle Seahawks (7). They scored 21 points on only 19 plays in the first quarter. In jumping all over the Dolphins defense for those 21 points the Vikings offense gained 202 yards. 101 yards rushing. 101 yards passing. Balance.

The Vikings defeated the Dolphins 41-17.

The scoring pattern was a little different than most 24-point wins.

Vikings score 21 points.
The Dolphins score 17 points.
The Vikings score 20 points.

It was a game of runs. Fortunately, the Vikings had one more run than the Dolphins.

After jumping out to the 21-0 lead, the Vikings offense was on it's way to making it 28-0 early in the second quarter. A questionable holding penalty called on left guard Tom Compton erased a 15-yard run by Dalvin Cook. Instead of 1st-and-10 on the Dolphins 27 it was 1st-and-20 from the Vikings 48. A few plays later Dolphins corner Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Kirk Cousins and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, Miami had some life. The play did what it should and ignited the Dolphins play on both sides of the ball. It also helped that the Vikings offense went took a nap for the rest of the second quarter and most of the third.

On the Dolphins' pick-six, it's easy to call the interception a blunder by Cousins. That's because everything is easy in hindsight. It's a bit more involved than simply saying that Cousins can't make that throw. It was a short screen to Stefon Diggs and Fitzpatrick made a terrific play getting through traffic to get to the ball. I'm fairly certain that the play was drawn up for tight end Kyle Rudolph to be in Fitzpatrick's path. Fitzpatrick got past him. He made the play. Plays are drawn up to succeed. Even if the play is properly executed the defense/defender sometimes makes a play. At least, that's the way that I saw it.

The Dolphins only sustained drive of the game came just before the end of the half. The 14-play, 61-yard, six minute drive delivered three points. The Dolphins only big offensive play of the game came on the first play of the second half. Kalen Ballage ran 75 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, the 21-0 Vikings lead was 21-17.

Then the Vikings defense took over. Actually, the defense played great for all but the sustained field goal drive and Ballage's burst. But, the defense truly took over after the Dolphins had cut the lead to four. The Dolphins took only three second half snaps on the Vikings side of the field. The Vikings sacked Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill nine times. Eight of those sacks came after Ballage's touchdown.

The Vikings defensive play can be best seen in the six Dolphins possessions after the Ballage burst:

5 plays/4 yards
3 plays/-3 yards
3 plays/-10 yards
3 plays/-9 yards
4 plays/-9 yards
8 plays/22 yards

The Dolphins ran 26 plays for -5 yards after that one-play drive.

Tannehill's stats:
11/24
108 yards
59.0 rating

Those aren't 2018 NFL quarterback stats.

Subtracting the 71 yards lost on sacks the Dolphins passing attack generated 37 yards.

For the game, the Dolphins had 193 total yards. 75 of those yards came on that Ballage run.

The Vikings offense started the game and the defense finished it.

Except for the mid-game nap, the Vikings offense did what head coach Mike Zimmer has wanted it to do all season. Be productive, be balanced, score points.

Passing: 198 yards
Rushing: 220 yards

The Vikings offense was so balanced that backup tight end Tyler Conklin was the leading receiver with 2 catches for 53 yards.

Vikings Rushing:
Dalvin Cook:
19 carries
136 yards
2 TDs

Latavius Murray:
15 carries
68 yards
1 TD

Cook's 136 yards are a career high. His 19 carries are a season high. Even though he missed several games to a hamstring injury the fact that Cook hadn't carried the ball 19 times prior to this game was one of the biggest reasons for their offensive inefficiencies. Hopefully this is the sort of running game that the Vikings put on the field for their remaining games.

The Vikings special teams made an impact. Dan Bailey kicked two field goals and all five extra points. No misses. Punt returner Marcus Sherels was a diving slapped ankle away from a 92-yd punt return touchdown. He flipped the field position on that return and a couple others. If there was one thing that the Vikings did wrong it was not converting Sherels' 70-yard punt return into in a touchdown. He catches a punt at his own 8 and returns it to the Dolphins 22 and the offense can't put it in the end zone. The offense only gained four yards and settled for a field goal.

Offense, defense, and special teams contributed in the 41-17 win.

There was one amusing moment if it wasn't so infuriating. On the Vikings' fourth extra point the Dolphins were called for the penalty that wasn't called on the Seahawks last Monday. When the official announced that the Dolphins were called for leverage on an illegal attempt to leap over the line there was an audible reaction from the crowd.

The Vikings are now 7-6-1 with two games remaining.
@Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears
At this time of the year teams want control of their playoff path. The Vikings control their path. They just have to win and they're in.