The Miami Dolphins travel to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, Oct. 4, to face a Minnesota Vikings team that has started 3-0 while Miami has dropped all three of its games.
Minnesota is coming off a 23-16 win over Tampa Bay and is averaging 23.7 points per game while allowing just 13.7. Miami, by contrast, lost 24-10 to Kansas City last week and is averaging only 12.0 points per game while giving up 28.7. Oddsmakers have Minnesota as a 10.5-point favorite, with a total of 38.5 points, a moneyline of -617 for the Vikings and +455 for the Dolphins.
Miami’s Offense Under Pressure
Quarterback Willis has thrown for 627 yards through three games with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, including a 20-of-36, 210-yard, one-interception outing against Kansas City last week. Miami has already allowed 9 sacks on the season, and the offensive line will be tested again against a Vikings defense that leads the league with 14 sacks and is tied for first with 4 interceptions.
Minnesota’s defense has allowed just 13.7 points per game, second-best in the NFL. Miami’s defense, meanwhile, has yet to record a single sack this season.
Vikings Lean on Addison With Jefferson Out
Receiver Addison took on a larger role in Week 3 after star receiver Justin Jefferson left with an ankle injury, catching 5 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in the win over Tampa Bay. Jefferson is out again this week with an ankle sprain, putting more weight on Addison, who is coming off his best game of the season.
Minnesota’s passing game has otherwise struggled for balance, averaging only 137 yards through the air and absorbing 9 sacks of its own this year.
Defense Has Carried Minnesota
Van Ginkel is part of the Vikings front that has overwhelmed opposing quarterbacks all season. Minnesota has racked up 14 sacks through three games, the most in the league, forced 6 takeaways and held opponents to 13.7 points per game. Van Ginkel himself has an interception this season.
Miami has managed just 36 total points through three games with only 1 passing touchdown and has turned the ball over 4 times. That combination of a struggling offense and a defense that has yet to register a sack puts the Dolphins squarely in the path of the NFL’s most productive pass rush this Sunday.
