Cricket wrote:

So despite having only Jones at RB, we are still middle of the pack in rushing offense.

One question, I thought I saw that we had only allowed 3 sacks this year, but we have 9 according to this.

greediron wrote:

So despite having only Jones at RB, we are still middle of the pack in rushing offense.
One question, I thought I saw that we had only allowed 3 sacks this year, but we have 9 according to this.

We've had 3 in each game.

"Do the little things right and normally, when we do those things, you turn on the tape and there's something good happening." - Coach Kevin O'Connell on third downs pic.twitter.com/pg5t6QYz2L

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 30, 2026

greediron wrote:

So despite having only Jones at RB, we are still middle of the pack in rushing offense.
One question, I thought I saw that we had only allowed 3 sacks this year, but we have 9 according to this.

I did a double check to make sure my mind remembered correctly.

NFL says 9 / 3 per game

PFF says 3 total - They are wrong.

Cricket wrote:

I did a double check to make sure my mind remembered correctly.
NFL says 9 / 3 per game
PFF says 3 total - They are wrong.

Ah, so I did see it somewhere. I thought that was off. Thank you for checking.

"Total credit to Nolan, his pro staff, and just how they work together and the organization of it. They're so ready to roll at a moments notice" - Coach Kevin O'Connell on adding to the practice squad pic.twitter.com/3duFk79obM

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 30, 2026

Justin Jefferson won't practice Wednesday with ankle sprain. https://t.co/AVshMer90u

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 30, 2026

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/VikeFans/status/2105296789033411067?s=20

Total number of people overweight = 0

https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/onsi/why-hafley-feels-the-dolphins-offense-is-prepared-for-the-flores-flurry-01m3st9fvyw8

Why Hafley Feels the Dolphins Offense Is Prepared for the Flores Flurry

The Miami Dolphins will be facing their former head coach in Week 4

Facing former head coach Brian Flores obviously will be among the biggest storylines for the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, but there are a lot more significant ramifications to the reunion.

For the Dolphins, how they can deal with Flores' blitz-crazy approach could end up being the biggest factor in whether they can record their first victory of the season with an upset of the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Through the first three weeks of the 2026 regular season, the Vikings lead the NFL in just about every category related to blitzes and quarterback pressures.

At the top, according to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings lead the NFL in pressures (hurries, knock-downs and sacks) with 54, 13 more than the second-place Las Vegas Raiders.

The stat that jumps out the most, though, is the blitz percentage, with Minnesota at a crazy 66.4 percent clip, dwarfing the next-most blitz-happy team, the Chicago Bears at 39.8 percent.

The Kansas City Chiefs are fifth in that category at 36.7 percent, and head coach Jeff Hafley says having faced them just this past weekend will provide valuable experience.

"What helps is we just went against a blitz-crazy defense with Spags (coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and the Chiefs," Hafley said before practice Wednesday. "I mean, Spags will zero you, he's going to show all up. He's going to bluff out, and they're going to do the same thing. So back-to-back weeks of playing really good defenses, really good coordinators, really good schemes, it's going to be a challenge for (the offensive line)."

It's encouraging at that sense that Malik Willis wasn't sacked once against the Chiefs after he was taken down nine times in the first two games.

But it needs to be said that nobody blitzes or creates more pressure than the Vikings, and that will put quite a strain on not only the offensive line but the entire offense to be on point with their assignments.

"It's not just going to be the front, and that's just like the case last week," Hafley said. "It's going to be everybody. It's going to be the receivers responding the right way, the tight ends responding the right way, Malik's ability to communicate, where’s our back, is he where he's supposed to be, is he seeing everything the right way. I mean, it's going to take all 11. I think a lot of times you just want to put it on your offensive line, but a lot of times you'll see a quarterback getting ready to make a throw and the receiver's supposed to break out and he doesn't break out, or he's supposed to break in and he doesn't break in, or the running back was supposed to step up in this gap and he didn't. It's going to take all 11. We're going to have to be on the same page. It's going to be loud, so communication is going to be a key to this game."

So what would be a good outcome for the Dolphins in terms of handling the Minnesota pass rush?

The Vikings recorded four sacks in their opener against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, four again against the Chicago Bears in Week 2, and then a season-high six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.

Willis has the mobility to get out of the pocket when pressured, but the running game likely can't be counted on very much in the immediate aftermath of De'Von Achane's season-ending knee injury.

Thinking that the Dolphins can shut out the Vikings in the sack department Sunday seems like a pipe dream, but holding them to something like two probably would have to be considered a win.

THE FLORES-HAFLEY CONNECTION

Hafley handled the same role as Flores in the same division the past two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, but their connection goes deeper.

Some 20 years before Hafley became head coach at Boston College, Flores was a defensive back at the school.

"Got to know him when I was at Boston College," Hafley said. "I mean, he'd come by and we'd spend time together, just being two defensive guys in the NFL. I think he's a great play caller and he's done a tremendous job there."

The Dolphins have gone up against Flores once before following his dismissal as Dolphins head coach after the 2021 season, though Flores was a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for Pittsburgh when the Steelers played a Sunday night game at Hard Rock Stadium in 2022. The Dolphins won that game, 16-10.

Cricket wrote:

https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/onsi/why-hafley-feels-the-dolphins-offense-is-prepared-for-the-flores-flurry-01m3st9fvyw8
Why Hafley Feels the Dolphins Offense Is Prepared for the Flores FlurryThe Miami Dolphins will be facing their former head coach in Week 4
Facing former head coach Brian Flores obviously will be among the biggest storylines for the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, but there are a lot more significant ramifications to the reunion.
For the Dolphins, how they can deal with Flores' blitz-crazy approach could end up being the biggest factor in whether they can record their first victory of the season with an upset of the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Through the first three weeks of the 2026 regular season, the Vikings lead the NFL in just about every category related to blitzes and quarterback pressures.
At the top, according to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings lead the NFL in pressures (hurries, knock-downs and sacks) with 54, 13 more than the second-place Las Vegas Raiders.
The stat that jumps out the most, though, is the blitz percentage, with Minnesota at a crazy 66.4 percent clip, dwarfing the next-most blitz-happy team, the Chicago Bears at 39.8 percent.
The Kansas City Chiefs are fifth in that category at 36.7 percent, and head coach Jeff Hafley says having faced them just this past weekend will provide valuable experience.
"What helps is we just went against a blitz-crazy defense with Spags (coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and the Chiefs," Hafley said before practice Wednesday. "I mean, Spags will zero you, he's going to show all up. He's going to bluff out, and they're going to do the same thing. So back-to-back weeks of playing really good defenses, really good coordinators, really good schemes, it's going to be a challenge for (the offensive line)."

If he thinks going against the Chiefs is good prep for Flores? Well that sounds like it will be fun to watch.

Yes I know, it is coach speak.

The #Vikings first injury report of Week 4 pic.twitter.com/e8SUdVEkcW

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 30, 2026

The #Giants are signing #Vikings edge rusher Jihad Ward to their 53 man roster, per @TomPelissero. Ward was on Minnesota’s practice squad. pic.twitter.com/LdtFJy6rxe

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 30, 2026

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings returned to practice Wednesday in advance of hosting the Dolphins at 3:05 p.m. (CT) Sunday in Week 4 of 2026.

The Vikings are also scheduled to practice Thursday and Friday. Players will receive game status designations on Friday.

Receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle), cornerback Chuck Demmings (hamstring) and punter Brett Thorson (right hamstring) did not participate Wednesday.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said he considers Jefferson "day-to-day" after the star receiver left because of a sprain that occurred on his seventh snap at Tampa Bay Sunday.

"He's feeling a little bit better as the week progresses, but not in any place right now to talk about what that means for the weekend," O'Connell said.

The coach added they will not rush Jefferson back before he's at "a certain place where we feel like he can go be himself."

Linebacker Blake Cashman (elbow) was listed as limited on the initial report.

Running back Aaron Jones, Sr., was issued a rest day.

A man of the people.@rodgers_isaiah

📺: https://t.co/tiCY4MqNLv pic.twitter.com/ruiXPoV24u

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 30, 2026

This team is 3-0 lmao https://t.co/GpeKgMuKve

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 30, 2026

Seen a lot of “fan policing” this week so in case anyone needs a reminder: people can feel whatever they want. Want to be stoked the team is 3-0? Hell yea. Worried about the offense? Makes sense. Excited for the big decisions coming for the franchise this spring? Totally cool.…

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 30, 2026

Seen a lot of “fan policing” this week so in case anyone needs a reminder: people can feel whatever they want. Want to be stoked the team is 3-0? Hell yea. Worried about the offense? Makes sense. Excited for the big decisions coming for the franchise this spring? Totally cool. Bummed the highest drafted QB in team history didn’t work out? Reasonable.

Who is a #Vikings player that doesn’t get talked about enough but should?

I will start: Blake Cashman pic.twitter.com/Dk8gNMkdPW

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 1, 2026

The Vikings are running the ball at one of the NFL’s highest clips.

But they’re also facing more third downs than most.

A lack of explosives on the ground adds more pressure to the currently unpolished passing game. This is notable:https://t.co/LOc7UBB7vR

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) October 1, 2026

The Minnesota Vikings have one of the NFL’s best defenses. Their run game still needs to improve

EAGAN, Minn. — Offensive requirements change based on the strength of the rest of an NFL roster. A poor defense requires an offense with more firepower. Exceptional special teams allow an offense to be more mindful of field position.

Everything is intertwined. That is why, day after day and week after week, coaches reiterate the importance of playing “complementary football.”

In 2023, coming off a season with one of the NFL’s worst defenses, the Minnesota Vikings believed they would need to score a lot of points. They had a reliable quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who thrived off play action. Their passing offense seemed promising with superstar receiver Justin Jefferson, rookie first-round pick Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

That informed what coaches felt they needed in the running game at the time: efficiency.

“Second-and-5 is a really great place to be for an offense like ours, with the type of personnel we have,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said that spring in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine. “What hurts is second-and-10, second-and-11, second-and-12 into a third-and-8 on the road with crowd noise. … When we run the football better, hopefully we can give ourselves a lot more friendly circumstances to try to attack.”

The Vikings made moves with this philosophy in mind. They parted with running back Dalvin Cook, who was approaching the end of his career. They made Alexander Mattison the lead back. They even signed exceptional run-blocking tight end Josh Oliver. Injuries to Jefferson and Cousins made it impossible to see the plan through, but they sit in stark contrast with the present.

Three years later, the Vikings’ offense looks different. Its needs are, too. The Minnesota defense hovers near the top of every statistical chart and ranking, and the special teams unit has become a force. Those variables allow the Vikings to play a different style. And in many ways, they have.

Only the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens have a higher run rate than Minnesota through three games this season. Those figures stay the same regardless of the score. In other words, even when trailing, the Vikings think their best path to winning is to rely on the run game.

Running gives the defense more time to rest and recover. Running shrinks the game by reducing the number of possessions. Running lessens the burden on quarterback Kyler Murray, who is still acclimating to Minnesota’s complex system.

But there’s an important sticking point: If a team fails to produce explosive plays, running can also put a team in more tough third-down situations.

That’s what’s happening in Minnesota. Only the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans have faced more third downs in 2026 than the Vikings (43 attempts). O’Connell is aware of this number.

“Running the football, there’s a few teams in this league where you turn on the tape and watch that explosive run reel, and it’s the usual cast of characters with the ball in their hands,” O’Connell said. “That’s no slight on anybody, or how we’re blocking our schemes or anything like that.”

The Vikings have five runs of 10 yards or more this season, the second fewest in the NFL, ahead of the Cardinals. Until the Vikings generate more explosive plays in the run game, third-down attempts will keep climbing, creating more of a burden for Murray and the passing attack.

There are only so many ways to smooth over this dynamic, especially at this point in the calendar.

The Vikings’ current running back room leaves the phase in a difficult spot. Aaron Jones, a 31-year-old veteran who is revered for his locker-room presence and knowledge of the system, ranks near the bottom of qualified running backs in yards after contact and missed tackles forced.

Behind him are special teams leader DeeJay Dallas and rookie sixth-round pick Demond Claiborne. Dallas has carried the ball only 25 times since the start of the 2023 season. Claiborne offers explosiveness, but he is still getting comfortable in the offense.

“I think he’s learning every snap he gets,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said this week. “Sprinkled him a little bit more this past game, and I think he’s going to grow as we go forward.”

The Vikings added two potential options, Audric Estime and Devin Neal, to their practice squad. But the biggest temporary boost will come from Jordan Mason’s return from injured reserve.

Last season, Mason ranked No. 2 in the NFL in missed tackles forced, according to Next Gen Stats, hovering near Kenneth Walker III, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson. Mason also ranked near the top of running back metrics for the number of times topping 15 mph.

Mason reported thumb soreness after Minnesota’s Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers, and he underwent a procedure to repair the injury. The Vikings placed him on injured reserve. His four-week window aligns near the Week 6 bye, which could give him an extra week to prepare.

That so much is riding on Mason’s health speaks to the shaky setup. Perhaps the Vikings could explore a bigger addition via trade, looking ahead to future contention. Maybe Murray’s adjustment to O’Connell’s system will happen quickly, alleviating some of the third-down stress. It’s even conceivable that, without Oliver (who tore his biceps Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), the Vikings could swerve to a new schematic path with jumbo packages featuring extra offensive linemen. Other bespoke run designs could clear the runway for more success.

Regardless, an adapted road map is necessary. As long as the Vikings’ strengths remain what they are, improvement in the run game seems paramount.