Dolphins search for road success
The Miami Dolphins, who are 1-5 on the road this season, face a major test this Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota, which is 4-2 at home, is favored by 9.5 points, but the Dolphins don’t seem concerned.
“I know there are fans,” Dolphins running back Frank Gore said when asked about playing on the road. “But we’re not playing the fans. We’re playing the guys on the field.”
It’s a simple philosophy, but it worked this past Sunday as the Dolphins upset the New England Patriots, 34-33, on the dramatic final play of the game.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill started the play by completing a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills. Two laterals later, the play had gone 69 yards to finish off the Miracle in Miami.
Fortunately for Dolphins fans, their team hasn’t collapsed this season, overcoming three losing streaks of two games each and the five-game injury absence of quarterback Ryan Tannehill to sport a 7-6 record – still alive for a possible AFC wild-card playoff berth.
On Sunday, the Dolphins will face a 6-6-1 Vikings team that has lost two straight games and just fired their offensive coordinator, John DeFilippo.
The Vikings have scored a combined total of just 17 points the past two weeks, including one garbage-time touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday.
Minnesota, still in wild-card contention in the NFC, will try to salvage the season with Kevin Stefanski as the interim offensive coordinator.
On the Dolphins side, Tannehill is probable with an ankle injury. He has completed 67.0 percent of his passes – which is very nearly a career high – for 1,578 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Dolphins are just 42-43 when he starts over the past seven years, including 5-3 this season.
Miami’s top weapon this season – surprisingly, perhaps, due to his age – is Gore, 35, who leads the team in rushing yards (708) and average (4.7).
The Dolphins have two big-play threats on injured reserve – dynamic wide receivers Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant. But they still have running back Kenyan Drake (829 scrimmage yards, nine touchdowns), steady Danny Amendola (leads the team with 49 receptions) and Stills (leads the team with six touchdown grabs).
Defensively, the Vikings rank fifth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (323.6) while Miami is 29th (401.1).
SERIES HISTORY: 12th regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 7-4. Miami has also won the past three straight meetings, most recently a 37-35 home victory in 2014. The most recent game in Minnesota between the teams was in 2010, and that was a 14-10 Dolphins victory.
