Vikings Lead Dolphins 17-7 at Half
By Dan Zinski
The first half today against the Dolphins looked a lot like the first half against the Lions last Sunday.
More from Minnesota Vikings News
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
- Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson
The Vikings were able to take a 14-0 lead early against Detroit last week, largely thanks to QB Teddy Bridgewater. Today Minnesota again got up by two touchdowns early and again Bridgewater was a big reason why.
On the first offensive series it wasn’t Bridgewater though, it was Matt Asiata. Giving the ball almost exclusively to Asiata on the drive, Minnesota was able to pound and smash their way down the field with Asiata capping it off on one of his signature short TD plunges.
After getting almost nothing from his running game last week, Norv Turner came out this week determined to get it done on the ground.
The Vikings defense would also come out aggressive against the Dolphins, bringing tons of pressure against Ryan Tannehill.
Harrison Smith made the first huge defensive play of the day, picking off Tannehill to set up this Teddy Bridgewater touchdown to Greg Jennings.
Miami would quickly answer with their own TD drive capped by a Ryan Tannehill pass to TE Dion Sims after Sims torched safety Andrew Sendejo.
The Vikings wasted no time putting together their own answering drive late in the second quarter. The Vikes got big plays from Joe Banyard, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson and Chase Ford, moving briskly down the field to set up another touchdown chance.
The Vikes were unable to punch it in and had to settle for a Blair Walsh chip shot field goat to take a 17-7 lead going into the intermission.
The Vikings last week were unable to hold on after taking the two touchdown lead in the first half. Will they hold on today? We’ll find out in the second half.
If they can keep running it like they did early in the first half, they should be okay. Of course Teddy Bridgewater has to avoid turning it over. His two INTs were a big part of why Detroit was able to come back on Minnesota last week.