The Miami Dolphins fell to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday by a score of 15-10. While keeping it close only really counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades, as they say, it was Miami’s narrowest defeat of the season through four tough contests. This team is getting better, despite the considerable limitations they are under regarding the mammoth amount of dead cap they are currently dealing with, and I don’t think it’s long before they steal a victory to finally get into the win column this year.
Of
course there are still glaring problems on this team — covering tight ends has been one of those problems. T.J. Hockenson was targeted 13 times yesterday — he caught all 13 passes for a game high 119 yards receiving. Special teams is another — with multiple errors leading to fantastic starting field position for the Vikings on numerous occasions.
FINS UP
Our Fins Up player from Miami’s week three loss is defensive tackle Zach Sieler. It had been a rough start to the season for Miami’s veteran defender, however, on Sunday against the Vikings, Sieler unleashed his frustrations on Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray — sacking the diminutive passer twice on the afternoon to account for half of Miami’s four sacks on the day.
Sieler hadn’t sacked an opposing quarterback since Week 16 of last season. He finished last season with just 5.5 sacks after having 10 sacks in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. If he can continue the momentum he began building on Sunday, Miami’s monster in the middle could easily surpass last year’s sack total in short order.
FINS DOWN
This week’s Fins Down personality is once again special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. Tabor, a respected coach in the National Football League, has now been named in our Fins Down section twice this season — also earning the dubious distinction after week one’s dismal performance from his unit.
All afternoon long, Minnesota’s offense was treated to great starting field position due to Miami’s inability to cover kick returns with any competency. Tabor is working with what he has — and what he has is a bunch of young, inexperienced football players trying to make their mark on an undermanned Dolphins squad. However, it is his job to coach them up and maximize their abilities. Unfortunately, he isn’t doing such a great job at that just yet…
His next opportunity to show that he should remain on Miami’s staff will come this Sunday when the Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium.
