The Minnesota Vikings have yet to lose. The Miami Dolphins have yet to win.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell does not want to hear about it. He is more eager to discuss the relevance of his team’s first home game since the season opener when Minnesota (3-0) faces Miami (0-3) on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
“We’re going to need them,” O’Connell said of the home crowd. “You can throw, this early in the season, records (out the window). I know for us, our record means absolutely nothing to us, and we’re preparing accordingly for a good, young team.
“… We know it’s going to be a heck of a competition.”
The Vikings sit alone in first place in the NFC North as they have beaten the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in successive weeks to establish themselves as one of five unbeaten teams.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins lost their first three games against the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Each of those teams remains undefeated, and now Miami travels north to face another team that has yet to stumble this season.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley acknowledged that his team’s early-season schedule has been difficult, but he said it provides opportunities for his team to grow.
“We’re playing really good teams; it makes it challenging,” Hafley said. “It makes it exciting for some of our young guys who are getting to play and gain experience against some really good teams. … I think we’ve all embraced it. Each week, we just try to go 1-0 and not look ahead or behind.”
The Dolphins won’t have to plan for All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, who left last week’s game against the Buccaneers because of an ankle sprain. O’Connell said Jefferson was feeling better, but the All-Pro was ruled out Friday.
Kyler Murray will make his second straight start at quarterback for the Vikings after returning from injury. Carson Wentz remains in the backup role for Minnesota, which dealt 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants earlier this week.
Minnesota will be without cornerback Charles Demmings and punter Brett Thorson due to hamstring injuries, but everyone else is good to go.
Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis will make his fourth start. He has struggled to start the season, completing 57% of his passes for 627 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for a 74.1 passer rating.
Miami will play its first game without top running back De’Von Achane, who sustained a torn ACL last Sunday. Achane’s absence could lead to a more prominent role for reserve running backs Ollie Gordon II (20 carries, 48 yards) and Jaylen Wright (three carries, 10 yards).
The Dolphins ruled out wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle), edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. (hamstring) and cornerback Storm Duck (knee).
The Vikings have registered a league-high 14 sacks, led by Dallas Turner (3 1/2). The Dolphins are the only team yet to record a sack this season.
–Field Level Media
