Here are among the prime takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Hard Rock Stadium:
It’s robust to maintain Dolphins QBs wholesome
When beginning quarterback Skylar Thompson left the sport within the second quarter with a proper thumb harm it marked the fourth consecutive recreation the Dolphins’ beginning quarterback was knocked out on account of harm. Tua Tagovailoa missed time in opposition to Buffalo and Cincinnati (he didn’t return to the Cincinnati recreation), Teddy Bridgewater was knocked out of the New York Jets recreation final week, and Thompson, beginning as a result of Tagovailoa and Bridgewater have been in concussion protocol throughout the week, was knocked out of the Minnesota recreation. The Dolphins solely opted for 3 quarterbacks on the lively gameday roster as soon as, and that was the Cincinnati recreation when Tagovailoa, Bridgewater and Thompson have been lively. — Chris Perkins
Penalties have been plentiful once more
The Dolphins had 9 penalties for 92 yards one week after having 11 penalties for 102 yards in opposition to the New York Jets. Against Minnesota, the Dolphins had a second-quarter drive that included 5 penalties for 36 yards. They had an ineligible man downfield, go interference, two holding and a false begin. The penalties took the Dolphins out of subject aim vary. Later within the second quarter a 24-yard acquire was aided by a roughing the passer penalty that gave the Vikings half the space to the aim. They scored one play later. In the fourth quarter guard Robert Hunt was referred to as for holding to pressure at first and 20 from their very own 48. Although it wasn’t Hunt’s fault, the possession resulted in a misplaced fumble by Jaylen Waddle that Minnesota became a 24-10 lead. Keep a watch on these penalties.
Goodbye distress, whats up paradise
The Dolphins went 2-1, defeating New England and Buffalo and dropping to Minnesota, with the NFL’s greatest homefield benefit. This was doubtless the ultimate recreation with the notorious South Florida humidity. The subsequent dwelling recreation is subsequent week’s Pittsburgh recreation, which is an 8:20 p.m. kickoff. After that, we’re into November and its nice climate with the Browns recreation on Nov. 13. Sunday’s recreation didn’t present a lot of a bonus as a result of it was cloudy for a lot of the sport. But at kickoff it was 85 levels with 65% humidity and a appears like temperature of 91 levels, which was adequate to make life a bit more durable on the Vikings. By the best way, the humidity might need gotten the perfect of Dolphins broad receiver Tyreek Hill, who needed to go to the locker room within the third quarter due to cramps. He additionally had issues with cramps at Baltimore. But Hill ended the Vikings recreation with 177 yards on 12 receptions.
Run protection performs properly
The Dolphins held Vikings operating again Dalvin Cook, who attended Miami Central, underneath management. Cook completed with 77 yards on 13 carries, a lot of it after the sport was determined within the fourth quarter, in his homecoming recreation. The Dolphins’ run protection, led by deal with Christian Wilkins, clamped down on something the Vikings tried whether or not it was up the center or on the sting. The Dolphins entered the sport thirteenth in run protection at 110.0 yards per recreation. Minnesota ended with 82 yards speeding on 16 carries.
Pass safety is leaky once more
The Dolphins have been with out left deal with Terron Armstead, their greatest lineman, and it confirmed. Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson was knocked out of the sport within the second quarter with a proper thumb harm on successful from linebacker Jordan Hicks as go safety was shaky. Thompson absorbed two sacks and 16 hits final week on the New York Jets. Dolphins quarterbacks have been underneath stress all recreation Sunday by the Vikings, who sacked reserve quarterback Teddy Bridgewater 5 occasions and had him always underneath stress. The Dolphins put Brandon Shell at proper deal with, his traditional spot after having him make his NFL debut at left deal with final week. The Dolphins put Greg Little, who had been beginning at proper deal with instead of Austin Jackson, at left deal with. Still, go safety, which additionally includes tight ends and operating backs, didn’t enhance a lot.
Punters have been standard early
The Dolphins and Vikings traded punts on the sport’s first seven possessions. The groups mixed for eight punts within the first half, 4 within the first quarter. Dolphins punter Thomas Morstead was good, nonetheless. He nailed the Vikings at their very own 6-yard line on a 26-yard punt, and at their very own 16-yard line on a 54-yard punt. The Dolphins began at their very own 11 late within the second quarter after a 41-yard punt. But quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw an interception (on a pleasant interception by Vikings security Harrison Smith) and the Vikings kicked a 34-yard subject aim for a 10-3 halftime lead. Morstead ended with six punts for a 51.2-yard common. Vikings punter Ryan Wright ended with 10 punts for a 44.1-yard common.
Mike Gesicki maintains humorousness
Credit tight finish Mike Gesicki for his good perspective. Gesicki, who completed with a season-best (six receptions, 69 yards, two touchdowns) had a 4-yard landing reception with 10:04 remaining within the fourth quarter and revisited the Griddy, the social media dance that he tried unsuccessfully however humorously after a landing at Baltimore. Gesicki, who had a number of enjoyable with social media making enjoyable of his Griddy try earlier within the season, did the dance all the best way from the tip zone to the sideline Sunday. It was loved by all.
McDaniel has no fourth-down worry
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is a heckuva playcaller and a heckuva gambler. He referred to as a comeback go to broad receiver Tyreek Hill within the fourth quarter on a fourth and 5 from the Dolphins’ 48-yard line. The Dolphins trailed, 16-10, on the time and a landing would have offered the game-tying factors with the additional level giving the go-ahead factors. Hill made a pleasant seize on a 14-yard reception to the Vikings’ 48-yard line on a go from Bridgewater, however Waddle’s misplaced fumble with 4:10 left ended the drive.
Injuries hold piling up
Cornerbacks Nik Needham (ankle) and Keion Crossen (knee), quarterback Skylar Thompson (proper thumb), and linebacker Trey Flowers (foot) left the sport and didn’t return. Defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah (again) left the sport however returned. These accidents have been piling up at an alarming price the final three weeks or so. It’s been most notably the quarterbacks however the Dolphins began the Vikings recreation with out left deal with Terron Armstead (toe), cornerback Kader Kohou (indirect) and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (beforehand in concussion protocol). Right deal with Austin Jackson (ankle) was eligible to return off the injured reserve final week however apparently wasn’t prepared. Cornerback Byron Jones (leg) has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) checklist because the season began. He was eligible to be activated two weeks in the past however isn’t prepared.
Special groups issues floor once more
Jason Sanders missed a 52-yard subject aim try broad proper late within the second quarter. That adopted security/punt returner Jevon Holland muffing a punt within the first quarter that linebacker Jaelan Phillips recovered. In the third quarter the Dolphins tried a faux punt on fourth and one from their very own 34-yard line however security Clayton Fejedelem was tackled for no acquire. You know the checklist by now: 103-yard kickoff return landing by Baltimore, the “butt punt” in opposition to Buffalo, the missed further level and a blocked 52-yard subject aim try in opposition to Cincinnati, and broad proper on a 54-yard subject aim try in opposition to the New York Jets. The Dolphins gave up a 25-yard punt return within the third quarter. The issues even leaked to Minnesota as kicker Greg Joseph missed an additional level try broad proper within the fourth quarter.
How was Connor Williams illegally downfield on a go that was out in two seconds?
Of the disgraceful 5 penalties on the Dolphins’ second possession (you keep in mind, the drive the place twice it appeared Miami had first-and-goal conditions), the flag in opposition to heart Connor Williams was simply inconceivable. Skylar Thompson dropped again and fired shortly down the left facet to Chase Edmonds to the Vikings’ 7 for a seeming first down. Despite the rapidity of the throw and it not being a display screen go, Williams nonetheless meandered downfield and obtained the huge play negated. The import from the Dallas Cowboys was flagged 17 occasions final season. He has 4 penalties this season, so he’s on tempo for double-digits once more. Can’t occur. Especially on inconceivable non-contact penalties. — Steve Svekis
Time to herald a kicker for a tryout?
With Jason Sanders’ 52-yard second-quarter shank, he plummeted to 2 for 9 on kicks from at the least 50 yards, after having been 12 for 15 from such distance within the first three years of his profession (2018-20). A group with a kicker whose reliablility evaporates outdoors of 49 yards is a group with a hobbled offense.
The Vikings’ skid in South Florida ended, leaving just one NFL group with no win in Miami Gardens
Minnesota hadn’t gained a Dolphins dwelling recreation since December of 1976 within the Orange Bowl and have been certainly one of two groups with no win at Hard Rock Stadium, which opened in 1987. That leaves the Los Angeles Rams as the one group to not have gained a recreation in Miami Gardens, additionally final profitable a Dolphins dwelling recreation in 1976 within the Orange Bowl.
The Dolphins’ interception drought is the longest because the Tony Sparano period
The quantity of enjoying time because the Dolphins’ first interception of the season, 5:08 into the season opener in opposition to the New England Patriots has stretched to 354 minutes and 52 seconds. The earlier lengthy such drought in a single season is the 386:19 from 2011.
The Dolphins falling to 3-3 after a 3-0 begin isn’t unprecedented, but it surely has been uncommon
The Miami Dolphins earned the franchise’s fifteenth 3-0 begin on Oct. 25 in opposition to the Bills. The loss to the Vikings, although, marked solely the second time Miami has falling to 3-3 after such a begin, becoming a member of up with the 2013 group, which truly fell to 3-4 earlier than registering one other win. On 5 of the earlier 14 events, Miami has missed the playoffs (1977, 1996, 2002, 2013, 2018).
The main distinction within the Dolphins’ schedule this 12 months in contrast with 2021 is now underway
Both this 12 months and final, the Dolphins performed a powerhouse first 5 opponents (In 2021: 10-7, 11-6, 10-7, 13-4, 9-8=53-32 (.624 win share) (In 2022, heading into Week 6: 2-3, 4-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2=14-11, a.560 win share). However, the following 10 opponents final 12 months boasted one mediocre quarterback after one other and had an nearly inconceivably poot win share of .347 (59-111) to grease the best way for a defense-driven 7-3 run that put Miami in place to make the playoffs as they went to play 12-5 Tennessee on Jan. 2, dropping 34-3 and being eradicated from rivalry. This 12 months? On prime of going through the Pro Bowl passer Kirk Cousins and the Vikings in Game 6 on Sunday, the Dolphins will go up in opposition to 5 different passers with a profession passer score above 91, with 4 of these video games on the street (the Bills’ Josh Allen, Chargers’ Justin Herbert, 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Lions’ Jared Goff). The win share for the ultimate 12 opponents headed into Week 6 was .492.
Tyreek Hill obtained again on tempo to interrupt the NFL single-season receiving yards report
Hill did his traditional star flip in opposition to the Vikings, piling up 177 yards and ending Week 6 with 701 yards. That places him on tempo for 1,986 for the season. The report is the Lions’ Calvin Johnson’s 1,964 10 years in the past, albeit in a 16-game season. Hill must common 115 yards a recreation within the last 11 to set that report.
On deck: Pittsburgh Steelers, Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
More than one-third of the Dolphins’ 2021 schedule was pockmarked with groups who would go on to win 5 video games or fewer (there have been six such video games). Especially with Jets’ huge enchancment, the 2022 schedule has turn into far more rigorous. However, the Steelers, with celebrity T.J. Watt sidelined by an harm, are a group bereft of expertise to a level the place a six-win season can be a plesent shock. Entering their Week 6 matchup in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh’s offense was averaging 14.0 factors a recreation and the Steelers have begun the beginning profession of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett, identified for having small fingers for an NFL quarterback (measured at 8.5 inches on the 2022 NFL Combine), had performed a recreation and a half going into Week 6 and had generated 17 factors whereas the offense spit up 5 turnovers, together with 4 Pickett picks.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com