Miami's afternoon happened in a single quarter. The Dolphins were shut out in the 1st half and trailed 9-0 at the break. They scored all 10 of their points in the 3rd, then put up nothing in the 4th. Both secondaries got thinner as the game went on. Miami lost corner Reese Taylor (quadriceps) for the rest of the game, and safety Dante Trader Jr. (knee) was listed as questionable to return. Minnesota's line took the hits on its side. Guard Donovan Jackson (knee) was ruled out, and left tackle Christian Darrisaw (head) was questionable to return.
Miami's first 3 losses came by 14, 22 and 14 points, so for an 0-4 team this was progress of a sort. The Dolphins had not been within a touchdown of anybody all season, and this time they were within 2 going into the 4th quarter. Minnesota's defense was again the steadiest unit on the field. Through 4 games it has allowed 22, 3, 16 and 10 points, and a team that gives up that little doesn't need its offense to look good.
The game turned in the 3rd quarter. Minnesota led 9-0 at halftime. Miami then scored 10 points in one quarter, which matches its total for the whole loss to Kansas City, while the Vikings managed only a field goal. That made it 12-10 heading into the 4th, the closest the Dolphins have been to a lead late in a game all year. The Vikings added 3 more points, and the Miami offense that had just woken up didn't score again.
The injuries are what to watch this week. Minnesota already had a hole at center and lost tight end Josh Oliver earlier, and now Jackson and Darrisaw have to be checked on the offensive line. Miami's secondary was already without Storm Duck and Marcellas Dial Jr., and it finished this game with Taylor out and Trader questionable. The Vikings are hoping to have Jefferson back for the Saints. An offense that put up 15 points without him will want him back.
Minnesota is now 4-0 after the 39-22 win over Green Bay, the 9-3 game in Chicago, the 23-16 win in Tampa and now this. Only the opener was comfortable, and none of them were pretty. Miami is 0-4 after an 0-3 preseason. Holding Minnesota out of the end zone for most of an afternoon is something to build on, but the Dolphins still haven't scored more than 13 points in a game.