Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Rout could put Fail in the coffin
The Miami Dolphins suffered a 41-17 blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, souring their hopes of contending for a playoff berth this season.
While the Dolphins got two big-play touchdowns from rookies Minkah Fitzpatrick and Kalen Ballage, their defense ultimately put the offense in a steep deficit early that Miami was unable to overcome.
In the process, the Dolphins lost their sixth road game this season.
The Dolphins (7-7) would need to win their final two games, and get some help from other teams beating the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans (who each improved to 8-6 on Sunday) to get back into the playoff mix.
There is also an outside possibility if Miami wins its remaining games, and the New England Patriots lose their next two games (at home against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets), that the Dolphins could win the AFC East.
Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s report card, evaluating how the Dolphins performed against the Vikings:
Passing game: F
The Dolphins followed their best offensive performance of the season against the Patriots last week with one of their worst against the Vikings. Minnesota’s defensive pressure, highlighted by nine sacks, disrupted coach Adam Gase’s offense throughout the game. The Dolphins were unable to run on early downs and forced in a number of third-and-long situations that exposed the entire offense. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill did not turn the ball over, but he completed only 11 passes in the game for 108 yards. That’s before taking into account that he was sacked for a loss of 71 yards.
Run game: D
Rookie Kalen Ballage was unleashed and ran for a career-high 123 yards. His 75-yard touchdown run to start the second half pulled the Dolphins within four points, but they could not get the offense humming the majority of the game. The Vikings consistently stopped runs on first and second down to keep the Dolphins off schedule. Ballage was thrust into the mix after Frank Gore suffered a left foot injury and left the game in the first quarter. Kenyan Drake, who played despite shoulder and ankle injuries, only had one carry.
Defending the pass: F
The Vikings’ dynamic duo of receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs had only six catches, while the Dolphins played without star cornerback Xavien Howard (knee) for the second straight game. That would be a more encouraging statistic if Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins did not need just 14 completions to get 215 yards and two touchdowns to pace Minnesota. Cousins efficiently led three straight scoring drives to put his team up, 21-0, in the first quarter, and delivered the dagger with a 40-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
Defending the run: F
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, a former Miami Central and Florida State standout, had the best game of his young career with 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns against his hometown team. It marked the fourth time the Dolphins defense has allowed a running back to set a career high in rushing yards this season. The Vikings used Cook to establish a balanced attack that made the Dolphins pay, especially during play-action plays.
Special teams: B
One drive after trimming the Vikings’ lead to 21-17, Dolphins punter Matt Haack outkicked his coverage and Miami nearly let Minnesota score a punt return touchdown that could have started the rout in the third quarter. Luckily, Dolphins receiver Leonte Carroo’s tackle during the return prevented the score. Miami’s special teams allowed the defense to force Minnesota into a field goal, and a 24-17 lead, to keep the game close at a crucial juncture before it got out of hand in the fourth quarter.
Coaching: F
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil said the Dolphins knew the Vikings were going to blitz often, but the offense was not prepared enough to handle the pressure. The Dolphins offense had a stretch where five straight drives produced -27 yards. Receiver Kenny Stills, who had his best game of the season last week against the Patriots, had his only catch of the game in the fourth quarter. And while the Dolphins defense held Minnesota to two field goals during the second and third quarter, they gave up 21 points in the first quarter and the offense could not climb out of that hole. Credit Minnesota, but Gase and defensive coordinator Matt Burke looked inept during Miami’s most important game of the season.
Stock up: Ballage
Ballage, Miami’s fifthround pick in this year’s draft, was used as the featured back after Gore’s injury. Gase prefers to use Drake as an option to catch passes out of the backfield, clearing the way for Ballage to get more touches going forward. Ballage, who entered the game with only 11 rushing yards on limited handoffs in Wildcat formations, made the most of his opportunity against Minnesota.
Stock down: McCain
Bobby McCain may be the Dolphins’ best option as a nickel cornerback, but he has taken on too much responsibility with Howard out due to a knee injury. McCain started at boundary cornerback and needed to play both roles for the Dolphins secondary against the Vikings. That meant trying to defend Theilen on occasion, being the last line of defense on several plays, and being on the bad end of each of the Vikings’ first three touchdowns in the first quarter. McCain bit on a play-action fake when Diggs scored, took a bad angle before Cook scored a touchdown, and took a wicked stiff arm from Vikings backup running back Latavius Murray as Miami fell behind early.