MINNEAPOLIS — The Miami Dolphins are getting closer to that first win under their new regime, but it still escaped them in Sunday’s defensive struggle against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
While the Dolphins defense kept the Vikings out of the end zone, with an assist from Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson sliding short of the goal line late in the fourth quarter to run out the clock, the offense did not get the job done against former Miami coach Brian Flores’ Vikings defense.
That said, second-year running back Ollie Gordon II recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance, so the run game was a plus in the first full game without De’Von Achane, who is done for the season with a torn ACL.
There are encouraging signs coming from a young, winless team to again fight until the end against an unbeaten team, this time on the road in a hostile environment, but players are not satisfied with simply playing a strong opponent tight.
Miami returns home to host the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) this Sunday before its early bye week, looking for that elusive first win of the 2026 season.
Here’s the Sun Sentinel’s report card on the Dolphins in Sunday’s 15-10 loss to the Vikings:
Run game: A-
Achane’s out, and the Dolphins had a 100-yard rushing performance against the stout Minnesota defense, which entered Sunday fourth against the run? Exceptional. While Jaylen Wright (five carries, 7 yards) started, Gordon rose to the occasion with exactly 100 yards plus a touchdown on just nine carries. He had a 53-yard rush and would’ve had another long one, possibly for a touchdown if a Vikings defender doesn’t get a finger on him while he’s on the ground. This is the identity Miami wants to have on offense with its blocking up front, and that’s not limited to when Achane was available.
Pass game: D-
Quarterback Malik Willis completed just 9 of 17 passes for 85 yards and lost a fumble. The stat line would look a bit different if wide receiver Chris Bell hadn’t stepped out of bounds by a toe on his route for what would’ve been a long touchdown from Willis on a play he impressively extended. Willis was under duress against Flores’ pressures all game and only took two sacks, but in the got-to-have-it moment on his final third-down pass, he threw over the middle off his back foot to a covered Bell when he had Kevin Coleman Jr. wide open to the right for an easy first down and then some. It’s not an F because the pass game did have a big play called back on a fluky penalty and Willis didn’t throw an interception.
Run defense: C
This was an area where Miami had been strong the past two weeks, but it took a step back Sunday. Vikings running back Aaron Jones had 94 yards on 20 attempts. In a slow, grind-it-out game, Minnesota nearly doubled Miami in time of possession in large part because the Vikings were steady on the ground. At the end of the game, the Dolphins defense couldn’t get off the field to give the offense one last shot. It should be noted that rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez set a Miami rookie record with 18 tackles.
Pass defense: B-
This group couldn’t stop Hockenson, who caught all 13 of his targets for 119 yards as the Vikings were without star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. That part of it isn’t good enough. The pass rush did get going, though, and that’s a big deal. Zach Sieler had two sacks, as Chop Robinson and Josh Uche each registered their own. Robinson hit quarterback Kyler Murray, who threw for 247 yards on 37 pass attempts, three times and accounted for a whopping eight pressures as he dominated his matchup and made life tough on Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill. Rodriguez said the defensive communication has improved “tenfold,” so that’s encouraging.
Special teams: D-
The special teams woes continue to pile up. Here were the first five special teams plays against the Vikings: a 47-yard opening kickoff return allowed; Malik Washington muffed a punt while Julius Wood commited an illegal block above the waist, but Washington was fortunate a Minnesota player touched it to send it to the end zone for a touchback with Miami starting at the 10 because of the penalty; a 36-yard punt return surrendered; and after a Vikings made field goal, Wright muffed the ensuing kickoff, one of two muffs for him, before returning it.
Coaching: B-
There’s two sides of this. Yes, play-calling could always be criticized in some regard when the offense doesn’t put up points and is 2 for 9 on third down, although Willis or the pass protection shoulder blame for some of those. And penalties continue to limit this team. But after committing eight accepted penalties for 50 yards in the first half, Miami only had one for 5 yards after halftime — a sound adjustment. And at the end of the day, this unproven team is steadily showing signs of improvement against this tough early-season schedule.
Stock up: Ollie Gordon II
Gordon seized the opportunity. It’s as simple as that. While Wright got the start after missing the previous week with a foot injury, Gordon should have the upper hand going forward in this backfield until the tides turn where Wright starts to make more of his opportunities.
Stock down: Malik Willis
Context is needed to Willis’ performance as he’s missing Achane and wide receiver Caleb Douglas and was up against one of the NFL’s toughest defenses. But in a game where the opponent is held to 15 points and the offense has a 100-yard rusher, even with the penalties and special teams mishaps, the quarterback needs to at least manage enough plays to earn a win. Willis impressively kept plays alive against the heavy pressure he faced, but he’s uncomfortable at times just standing in the pocket and making the necessary throw, failing to read the defense properly and find the open target.
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