As the Vikings closed out the 15-10 win over the Dolphins to remain one of only three unbeaten NFL teams, I witnessed something I’ve never seen or heard in all my years watching football and working in the NFL. It was the home crowd booing a team—or shall we say an offense–lined up in victory formation at the opponents’ 2-yard line to ensure the other team has no shot at a late miracle comeback.
That’s what happened on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium with the fans’ vitriol directed at the Vikings offense despite a great final drive that ate up the final 5:41 of the fourth quarter. T.J. Hockenson purposely laid down at the Miami 2 after clinching the win on a 3rd-and-5 reception from Kyler Murray. It was Hockenson’s 13th catch of the game and 10th in the second half.
But the Vikings had not scored a touchdown in the game, instead relying on Will Reichard’s five field goals (at least he got a rousing ovation when shown on the video board), a couple terrific Myles Price returns, and a defense that held the Dolphins to 10 points, eight first downs, and 198 total yards.
The boobirds either don’t understand that teams have come back from 12 points down in the final two minutes and Hockenson’s smart play made sure that wouldn’t happen. Or they had bet on the Vikings to cover as a 10 ½ point favorite and were hoping for a 22-10 win. Or they just wanted to see a touchdown by the home team.
In any event, it was bad form by the fans who booed. This is not college football with cupcake teams on the schedule for Power 5 teams. All NFL teams have professional players and there are upsets every week so any NFL win should be celebrated, especially when it keeps a team undefeated.
Next up is a trip to New Orleans to face the up-and-down Saints who were 1-2 going into their Monday night home game against the Falcons before dropping down to 1-3. The Vikings will have an edge in rest with the Saints on a short week but there are a lot of injury concerns with left guard Donovan Jackson suffering a meniscus injury that Kevin O’Connell said will require surgery and knock Jackson out for at least the regular season. Star tackle Christian Darrisaw left the game in the second half due to concussion protocol so he’ll be questionable this week. The Vikings finished the game with Ryan Van Demark at left tackle and Joe Huber at left guard and that could be the way it sets up in New Orleans. Running back Jordan Mason can not return from IR until the Colts game on October 25, which means more heavy duty for Aaron Jones this week.
1. It was encouraging to see Murray finish the game with several excellent throws on the final drive that ate up the last 5:41 of the game. He completed all four of his passes for 62 yards on that drive including explosive plays of 27 yards to Jordan Addison and 22 yards to Hockenson. Murray took advantage of the Dolphins’ split safety coverage scheme that took away deep throws but created space underneath for Hockenson to have a big game (his 13 receptions tied his career high).
Murray was inconsistent until the last two drives but did not turn it over. In the second half, he completed 16 of 18 for 135 yards while playing without his top receiver Jefferson.
2. Jones ran well with 94 yards on 20 carries and he added four catches for 34 yards. Despite the injury and penalty issues and some protection breakdowns with four sacks allowed (a couple when Murray held the ball too long), the O-line did a good enough job in the run game and with rookie tackle Caleb Tiernan taking on a run blocking role with Josh Oliver’s injury.
3. The Vikings had a great game in time of possession. They had a 39-21 minute edge and held the ball for 14 of 15 minutes in the fourth quarter. They ran 72 plays vs. 37 by Miami, went 8 of 18 on third down (and 1 for 1 on fourth down) while holding the Dolphins to 2 of 9 (22%) on third down. The total yardage edge was 336-198 for the Vikings in a game that shouldn’t have been so close.
4. Another excellent special teams day except for punting: Myles Price retuned the opening kickoff 47 yards and had a 36-yard punt return in the first quarter to set up Will Reichard’s first of five field goals.
The all-pro Reichard has now made 31 straight field goals (active NFL leader). He’s been a huge part of the 4-0 start, as has Price in the return game.
Johnny Hekker again stepped in for the injured Brett Thorson and after an excellent game by him in Tampa last week, he struggled with a 37.8 yard average. He’s done a good job as holder for Reichard but he needs to punt a lot better than he did on Sunday until Thorson’s return. 5. Dallas Turner continues his outstanding third season. He now ranks second in the league with 5.5 sacks (behind only Buffalo’s Greg Rousseau with six) after a two-sack day against Malik Willis who only dropped back 19 times.
The Vikings defense had a few run game lapses such as on a couple of Ollie Gordon runs (a 53-yarder to set up a field goal and a 12-yard TD run in the third quarter to make the game close at 12-10). Otherwise the D was excellent again with two sacks including a strip sack off his helmet by Turner for the only turnover of the game.
The defense now ranks fifth in total defense, second in takeaways (7) and second in turnover ratio (plus 5) while the team is tied for first in fewest giveaways with two. This huge improvement in turnover ratio is another major reason for the great start to the season.
6. The Vikings got some help from replay on the long TD pass that was nullified when replay showed Chris Bell barely stepped out of bounds. And on the roughing the punter call that was overturned when it was determined Ivan Pace got a finger on the ball before he ran into the punter. The Vikings wound up with the ball instead of the Dolphins getting the 15-yard penalty and excellent field position.
7. Penalties need to be cleaned up after two bad games in this area. The Vikings had 11 for 85 yards including four false starts on the offense, which is ridiculous at home. Part of the problem was the new players coming in due to injuries and perhaps some cadence issues which all must be cleaned up before a road game in a tough venue in New Orleans.
I’ll preview Vikings-Saints on Friday.
Around the NFL Observations 1. In the NFC North, the Bears running game was impressive in their 23-12 home win over the Jets. Kyle Monangai rushed for 146 yards and two TDs as part of the team’s 232 rushing yards. Tyson Bagent threw for 268 yards in place of Caleb Williams.
The Packers defense led the way in a 17-14 win in Tampa with two interceptions and three sacks against Jalon Daniels who started in place of the injured Baker Mayfield.
Detroit’s defense was awful in a 32-26 Sunday night loss at Carolina. The Lions D allowed 445 yards and 12 explosive plays as Bryce Young passed for 329 yards and two TDs with WR Tetairoa McMillan having a huge night against the Lions secondary (14 receptions, 192 yards, 2 TDs).
The Bears sit one game behind the Vikings in the NFC North at 3-1 while the Lions and Packers are both 2-2. Chicago is at Green Bay on Sunday in a key divisional matchup and Detroit is at Arizona.
2. In other big games around the league, the Patriots gave the Bills their first loss to get back in the AFC East race at 2-2. In a matchup of 3-0 AFC West teams, the Chiefs won a big road game at Las Vegas with Kenneth Walker rushing for 177 yards and two TDs to overcome a 365 yard game (two TDs) from Kirk Cousins.
The 49ers stayed unbeaten with an impressive 24-14 home win over the Broncos. And the Rams scored 14 unanswered second half points to rally from a 10-point deficit and win in Philly. Kyren Williams had 147 total yards and two TDs and the Rams D minus Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald held Jalen Hurts to 93 passing yards and only 12 of 27 passing.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
My Other Reactions to the Vikings Victory Over Dolphins
