Here’s a take a look at how the Miami Dolphins (3-2) and Minnesota Vikings (4-1) match up in six key areas forward of Sunday’s Week 6 sport at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., FOX):
When the Dolphins run: If there was a vivid spot from the demoralizing 40-17 loss to the New York Jets final Sunday, it was that the run sport obtained going. It began to point out flashes of what coach Mike McDaniel had in San Francisco. Raheem Mostert was the catalyst, going for 113 yards and a landing on 18 carries. McDaniel was inventive, getting the ball to Tyreek Hill on rushes to the surface and even the sneak to tight finish Durham Smythe for a landing as he got here in movement below middle.
Mostert is turning into the Dolphins’ lead again, it seems, though it may nonetheless be a matchup-based choice every week. He is coping with a knee damage, too. Miami was with out Terron Armstead for a lot of the Jets sport. His return, together with proper deal with Austin Jackson’s, probably, may present a lift.
The Vikings are twentieth within the NFL towards the run. They’re coming off their finest sport stopping the bottom sport, holding the Chicago Bears to 78 speeding yards, their first time limiting an opponent below 100. Linebacker Jordan Hicks leads the workforce with 45 tackles, and he has 2019 All-Pro Eric Kendricks subsequent to him on the within. Safety Harrison Smith is powerful in run assist. Edge: Vikings
When the Vikings run: The Minnesota run sport is surprisingly within the backside half of the league, however three-time Pro Bowl operating again Dalvin Cook can flip that round in a second’s discover. Cook, who enters with 373 yards on 81 carries (a 4.6 common) and three touchdowns, will probably be hungry to flourish in his first skilled sport at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Central High product used to crush the Miami Hurricanes in that constructing when he performed for Florida State.
The Dolphins’ run protection ranks thirteenth within the NFL. They simply allowed the Jets to attain 5 instances on the bottom towards them on Sunday, whereas rookie tailback Breece Hall went for 97 yards speeding, on high of his 100 receiving. I felt Miami can be higher at stopping the run and extra dominant up entrance than they’ve been by means of 5 video games. That entrance seven takes satisfaction in stopping the run, and it needs to be a hard-fought battle within the trenches. Edge: Even
When the Dolphins move: We now know rookie seventh-round choose Skylar Thompson will get his first NFL begin whereas fellow quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater progress by means of concussion protocol. Thompson saved the Dolphins within the sport for a lot of Sunday at New York till issues unraveled within the fourth quarter. He completed 19 of 33 for 166 yards and an interception.
Thompson took 15 quarterback hits, generally as Miami’s two backup tackles and left guard Liam Eichenberg struggled to guard and different instances from holding on to the ball being indecisive. The Dolphins may get Armstead and proper deal with Austin Jackson again for the Vikings sport. And Thompson may have Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal. The third-string passer additionally drew one other 95 yards in pass-interference penalties vs. the Jets.
The Vikings are twenty second in move protection. Aside from Smith, a standout security, they’ve former Broward County highschool standouts in cornerback Patrick Peterson (Blanche Ely) and backup security Josh Metellus (Flanagan). On the sting, Za’Darius Smith, Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum can convey the stress, so Miami higher shore up its move safety. Edge: Vikings
When the Vikings move: With quarterback Kirk Cousins and star receiver Justin Jefferson main the best way, Minnesota has the league’s eighth-ranked passing offense. Jefferson leads the NFL with 547 receiving yards. Cousins has 1,327 yards and 7 touchdowns whereas finishing 66.2 % of his passes. He can also be prone to getting picked off, throwing 5 interceptions.
That may current the Dolphins with a possibility to return away with their first interception because the season’s opening defensive collection towards the Patriots. The hope is cornerback Xavien Howard taking off the Jets sport lets his groins heal. He expects to play on Sunday, but when he’s not one hundred pc, that could possibly be problematic if the Dolphins go the route of letting him face Jefferson 1-on-1. Miami already stays with out reverse beginning cornerback Byron Jones.
Can the Dolphins move rush please present up? We perceive having Jones unavailable and Howard out final Sunday and enjoying by means of accidents the earlier a number of weeks limits the Miami protection’s means to blitz, however Jaelan Phillips, Emmanuel Ogbah and others have to begin attending to the quarterback on their very own when the Dolphins rush 4. Edge: Vikings
Special groups: The discouraging factor is the Dolphins have had one thing go improper on particular groups in just about each sport, however a few of it appears considerably fluky. Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders has missed two discipline targets and Vikings kicker Greg Joseph, an FAU alum, has missed 4, however all the sphere targets that the 2 have missed have come from past 50 yards.
Dolphins punter Thomas Morstead has been strong with the assistance of his gunners. Clayton Fejedelem’s return provides Miami a particular groups enhance. The Vikings have Ryan Wright punting, Jalen Reagor returning punts and Kene Nwangwu on kick returns. The Dolphins haven’t but reaped the advantages of utilizing high playmakers within the return sport. Edge: Even
Intangibles: By mid-October, the Dolphins’ home-field benefit from the South Florida warmth and humidity begins to put on off barely, however temperatures will nonetheless be within the 80s with 60-plus % humidity. Cook is aware of these South Florida situations, although, even when now in his sixth skilled season up north. It’ll be powerful for Miami to win with a third-string quarterback, however Thompson has the benefit of the week’s preparation, versus getting thrown into the hearth on the Jets. Edge: Dolphins
PREDICTION: Vikings 30, Dolphins 20
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com