Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (0-3) and Minnesota Vikings (3-0) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 4 game at U.S. Bank Stadium (4:05 p.m., Fox):

When the Dolphins run: Miami is dealing with the devastating news that it will not be able to count on star running back De’Von Achane the rest of the way after he tore his ACL. The team must move on with a combination of Jaylen Wright, who missed last Sunday’s game against Kansas City due to a foot injury, and Ollie Gordon II, who took 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Chiefs.

As the Dolphins can also utilize quarterback Malik Willis, who led the team in rushing against Kansas City with 56 yards, in the ground game, they go up against the NFL’s fourth-best rushing defense. Vikings defensive coordinator and former Dolphins head coach (2019-21) Brian Flores has a good track record against running quarterbacks, so look for his blitzes to, not only pressure Willis in the pass game, but also contain him on the ground. Linebacker Blake Cashman leads the Vikings with 25 tackles, and safety Josh Metellus, a South Florida kid who played at Flanagan High, is strong in run support coming down into the box.

So, it will be a challenge for Miami, but this team wants to establish an identity of physicality and running the football, so whoever is carrying the football should get behind the big left side of the offensive line of guard Kadyn Proctor and tackle Patrick Paul, while center Aaron Brewer gets out to deliver blocks all over the field with his athleticism. Edge: Vikings

When the Vikings run: The Dolphins have held back-to-back opponents with some of the top running backs in the NFL under 100 yards rushing as a team. They contained the Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker, who entered Week 3 leading the league in rushing, to 70 yards on 18 carries, although he scored a rushing and receiving touchdown. The week prior, it was a very formidable effort against the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey. Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been all over the field with 28 tackles, even adding an interception during the Chiefs game. He, fellow linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and Zach Sieler lead a run defense now tied for 12th, which stood strong against Kansas City on back-to-back third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 runs up the middle at one point.

The Vikings don’t have a fearsome ground game. Veteran running back Aaron Jones, as Jordan Mason is on injured reserve, is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Minnesota has good tackles, but it is still developing the interior of the offensive line, with 2025 first-round pick Donovan Jackson at left guard. Quarterback Kyler Murray is also swift and needs to be contained when scrambling. Edge: Dolphins

When the Dolphins pass: Willis was 20 of 36 for 210 yards, an interception and a fumble lost in the loss to the Chiefs. He operated with a combination of finding easy throws underneath on slants and such, but he also took a number of deep shots that didn’t connect. More will be on his plate with Achane now gone.

It would be a challenge for him to be without rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas due to his ankle injury, but in his absence against the Chiefs, Chris Bell (67 receiving yards), Malik Washington (56) and tight end Greg Dulcich (55) all stepped up. Douglas was still not practicing to start the week. The Vikings have experienced playmakers all over the secondary, including 37-year-old safety Harrison Smith, Metellus, cornerback Byron Murphy and others. Flores can mix and match them in different coverages, so Willis will get a series of different looks.

Although the Vikings rank 22nd against the pass, they lead the NFL in sacks and third-down defense and are second in scoring defense. They get after the quarterback and collected six sacks in last Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, injuring quarterback Baker Mayfield. It can be former Dolphins outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Kyle Van Noy. It can be young edge rusher and South Florida product Dallas Turner. Or Cashman, Metellus, anyone. Flores’ defense leads the league in pressure percentage (40.3) and blitz percentage (66.4), which is much higher than the next highest, the Chicago Bears at 39.8%. The entire offensive line — and Willis — will have to be on high alert. Edge: Vikings

When the Vikings pass: Minnesota has the lowest passing total this season, but there are reasons for that. Murray, after signing there this offseason, suffered a concussion early in the opener, which caused him to miss Week 2. Then, star wide receiver Justin Jefferson suffered an ankle injury against Tampa. Jefferson’s status is in doubt this week, but if he plays, the Dolphins could be in for the first true look at the Murray-Jefferson combination in a controlled indoor environment.

The Dolphins are going to need to get to the quarterback, as they are the only defense still without a sack through three games. They got close a few times against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, with Chop Robinson even getting questionably penalized for a hit on Mahomes, but this would be a good time for Robinson, Josh Uche on the opposite edge or Sieler to apply pressure, along with some blitzing from the second and third levels. Tackles Christian Darrisaw on the left side and Brian O’Neill on the right side form one of the better combinations of bookend tackles in the league.

While plenty of focus will be on Jefferson, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley highlighted that fellow wideout Jordan Addison is one of the most underrated players at his position. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is a known commodity, too, and Miami has had breakdowns in coverage allowing tight ends to get open for big gains each of the past two weeks. The young Dolphins cornerbacks seemed to hold their own against Chiefs receivers, so that’s a plus, and Hafley may have found the safety combination he wants to stick with, in Michael Taaffe and Dante Trader Jr. I’ll split this matchup down the middle for now, but I’ll say it tilts in either direction depending on if Jefferson plays. Edge: Even

Special teams: Dolphins special teams coordinator Chris Tabor’s unit had a better day against the Chiefs than it had in the first two weeks and the preseason, but this group still needs to do it consistently. And this unit is still shuffling personnel, the latest addition being linebacker Shaka Heyward off the Bengals practice squad. With Wright back but having to handle more on offense, it will be interesting to see if Tabor keeps going with Washington and Kevin Coleman Jr. on kick returns.

Minnesota has had kicker Will Reichard make all seven of his field goals and six of his extra points this season. Return specialist Myles Price just had an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown last week. Edge: Vikings

Intangibles: The Dolphins have plenty to build on after playing the Chiefs tight for 57 minutes, but as an 0-3 team they face another unbeaten, as all three of their prior opponents are also 3-0 at this point. U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the loudest in the NFL, and the young Dolphins will be in for a pregame scene when Vikings fans do the “SKOL” chant at the start, which Willis said, from playing with the Green Bay Packers, is impressive. Edge: Vikings

PREDICTION: Vikings 27, Dolphins 13

Dolphins Deep Dive: Can Miami overcome a Flores-led Vikings defense? | VIDEO