The bounce back began as the Minnesota Vikings hoped.
New offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s offense produced 41 points — albeit a mid-game lull — and the defense sacked Ryan Tannehill nine times in a 41-17 victory.
After taking a 21-0 lead through one quarter, the Vikings let the Dolphins get within four at 21-17 early in the third quarter, but a late 20-0 spurt kept the visitors at bay to dodge a soul-crushing collapse. Kirk Cousins threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, Dalvin Cook rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, and Minnesota scored its most points since Week 16 of the 2015 season.
The Vikings bookended the game beautifully on offense, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and 17 points in the fourth quarter.
But what a first quarter it was.
Six plays, 76 yards, six plays, 60 yards, seven plays, 70 yards. Those were the first three Vikings drives that all resulted in touchdowns, one for Cook, one for Stefon Diggs and one for Latavius Murray. Minnesota averaged over 10 yards per play in their first quarter under Stefanski, posting 21 points before the teams switched ends of the field. They used an up-tempo rhythm, mixed in more play-action and ran the ball at will in their highest-scoring quarter since 2011. In the previous four games, the Vikings had scored seven points combined in the first quarter.
You want balance? The Vikings had 101 rushing yards and 101 passing yards heading into the second quarter.
That’s when the momentum twisted the other way. After a long Cook run was nullified by a holding call, the Vikings faced a 3rd and 15. Cousins tossed a wide receiver screen to Stefon Diggs, but it was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by first-round rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick. It was the 17th turnover of the year for Cousins and the fifth defensive touchdowns he’s allowed (three via interception).
The Vikings failed to pick up a first down on their next four drives while the Dolphins climbed back into the game. Miami struck on the first play of the second half when Kalen Ballage evaded Harrison Smith’s run blitz and ran it 75 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Dolphins within four. While Minnesota’s offense scuffled, it took the defense to reestablish the Vikings’ mojo.
The Dolphins gained minus-16 yards on four consecutive second half drives as Minnesota sacked Tannehill four times and stopped Ballage for a 3-yard loss along the way. Aside from Ballage’s 75-yard run, the Vikings allowed just 10 yards in the second half and sacked Tannehill eight times.
Cousins put the game on ice in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard strike to Aldrick Robinson, his fifth touchdown of the season on 17 catches. After Miami’s turnover on downs, Dalvin Cook produced his finest moment of the season on a 21-yard spinning, juking touchdown run.
Special teams was a rare difference-maker for Minnesota. Marcus Sherels had his best game of the season with five returns for 116 yards, including a 70-yard burst down the right sideline that nearly went for a touchdown if not for Leonte Carroo’s shoestring tackle. That return helped set up one of Dan Bailey’s two field goals, which put the Vikings up by two possessions in the second half.
The Vikings can no longer win the NFC North because of Chicago’s victory over Green Bay, but they bolstered their odds of clinching the second Wild Card spot.
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