Dolphins’ luck runs out
Miami playoff chances suffer major blow in 41-17 loss to Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS — There were no miracles in Minnesota for the Miami Dolphins. Instead, a hard dose of reality.
The Dolphins defense put Miami’s offense in a hole they ultimately could not climb out of against the NFL’s fifth-best defense, resulting in a 41-17 blowout loss to the Vikings in front of an announced crowd of 66,841 people at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
With the loss, Miami’s sixth in seven road games this season, the Dolphins’ aspiration of clinching a playoff spot appears quite bleak with two games remaining in the regular season.
“We just couldn’t stop them,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said.
After surviving the final plays of their last two games, victories against the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots that kept their season afloat, the Dolphins (7-7) were able to create some magic with two big
plays against the Vikings (7-6-1). But they needed a few more. The Dolphins appeared listless and uninspired after falling behind, 21-0, in the first quarter, allowing the Vikings to score with relative ease despite having a new offensive coordinator calling plays for the first time in his career Sunday.
The Dolphins climbed back into the game, scoring 17 unanswered points, with a 50-yard pick-six from rookie defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in the second quarter, and a 75-yard touchdown from rookie running back Kalen Ballage to begin the second half.
The Dolphins defense responded, forcing the Vikings to settle for two field goals and a 27-17 lead, but Miami’s offense could not keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill upright or find the spark it needed to steal a much-needed road victory.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to receiver Aldrick Robinson with 9:54 remaining, and running back Dalvin Cook, a Miami native, scored his second touchdown of the game with 7:49 left to put the Dolphins’ season in peril.
Especially on a day where the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans to 8-6 with victories.
“We got our a-- whooped,” cornerback Bobby McCain said. “Our [playoff ] fate is in other peoples’ hands now.”
A week after playing perhaps their best offensive game of the season against the Patriots, the Dolphins offense could not help their defense during the most important game of the season.
Fitzpatrick, who was tested in the first quarter, jumped Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs’s screen route to inject some life into the Dolphins with his interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Fitzpatrick and several teammates celebrated in the end zone by clapping their hands over their heads, mimicking the Vikings’ skol chant.
If only they could have mimicked Minnesota’s offensive output in the first quarter.
Cousins found Diggs for a 13-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game, Cook scored on a 13-yard run and backup running back Latavius Murray scored on an 18-yard run as the Vikings scored in seven plays or fewer with each drive lasting less than 4 minutes.
“It surprised me how fast they got points on the board,” Fitzpatrick said. “That hasn’t happened all season — 21 points is way too improved much.”
The Dolphins’ final drive of the first half stalled after reaching inside the 10-yard line in the final minute, settling for a 25-yard field goal by Jason Sanders to trim the deficit to, 21-10, at halftime.
Ballage opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, injecting some more life into the Dolphins’ efforts.
And the Dolphins defense found its stride after an important special teams stop in the third quarter, holding the Vikings to a field goal and a 24-17 lead after Leonte Carroo had a shoe-string tackle to prevent a punt return touchdown.
After giving up three touchdowns on the first three drives, the Dolphins defensive adjustments paid dividends with Fitzpatrick’s touchdown, three punts and just two field goals for the Vikings.
Unfortunately, after Ballage’s 75-yard touchdown, the Dolphins offense netted -27 yards on its next five drives of the game.
The Vikings sacked Tannehill nine times, laying punishing hit after punishing hit on the hobbled Dolphins quarterback who was playing through an injured shoulder and a bum ankle.
“We’ve got to keep plugging away,” Tannehill said. “Things are out of our control at this point, but we just got to keep playing.”
Running back Kenyan Drake, last week’s hero, also played hurt with a shoulder and ankle injuries, while 14-year veteran Frank Gore suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Ballage finished with 123 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Tannehill completed 11-of-24 passes for 108 yards and a 59.0 passer rating.
It didn’t matter the Dolphins played without their best player, cornerback Xavien Howard for the second straight game as Diggs finished with four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown, while the NFL’s leading receiver Adam Thielen had just two catches for 19 yards.
Cook, a former Miami Central High and Florida State standout, had a career-high 136 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
The Dolphins will look to regroup in their final two games, hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday, then the season finale at Buffalo on Dec. 30.
“The playoff picture is in somebody else’s hand right now,” left tackle Laremy Tunsil said.
“It’s kinda tough. But you know. Miracles do happen.” never