The Vikings improved to 5-1 with a 24-16 highway win over the Miami Dolphins. It wasn’t a factor of magnificence, but it surely’s the newest instance of the Vikings gutting out a victory regardless of taking pictures themselves within the foot time and again. Listed below are 5 issues that stood out. 

1. Justin Jefferson the lone shiny spot

Take Justin Jefferson away from the Vikings and the offense may not transfer the ball in any respect. However due to Jefferson the Vikings had been in a position to put collectively a few scoring drives in an in any other case inept offensive exhibiting. 

Jefferson had 44 yards on a pair of catches to arrange Minnesota’s first scoring drive within the second quarter. That one ended with a brief landing cross to Irv Smith Jr. Then he had a key 47-yard catch and run to set the Vikings up with a first-and-goal to start out the fourth quarter. 

Two performs later Kirk Cousins related with Adam Thielen for a 3-yard landing to place the Vikings forward 16-3. 

Jefferson had six catches for 107 yards. He surpassed Jerry Rice for essentially the most receiving yards in a participant’s first three seasons, and Jefferson nonetheless has 11 video games to go. 

2. Cross rush lastly confirmed up

Za’Darius Smith and Patrick Jones II placed on a pass-rushing clinic as they hounded Skylar Thompson and Teddy Bridgewater all sport. Jones had two sacks, Smith had two sacks and it will be fascinating to see his Professional Soccer Focus stats on Monday as a result of he was within the QB’s face all day. 

Danielle Hunter and Jordan Hicks every had a sack, too, as Minnesota lastly put a full sport of strain on tape. 

3. 10 of 14 drives lasted solely 3 performs

The Vikings regarded like they had been strolling by means of fast sand as that they had seven three-and-outs within the first half, together with 4 straight to start out the sport. Their first half drive abstract: 

• 3 performs, 8 yards – punt
• 3 performs, 1 yard – punt
• 3 performs, 3 yards – punt
• 3 performs, 3 yards – punt
• 7 performs, 75 yards – landing
• 3 performs, 6 yards – punt
• 3 performs, 26 yards – area aim

Issues needed to get higher within the second half, proper? Improper. Second half drive abstract:

• 3 performs, -12 yards – punt
• 3 performs, 5 yards – punt
• 3 performs, -7 yards – punt
• 7 performs, 73 yards – landing
• 3 performs, 9 yards – punt
• 2 performs, 59 yards – landing
• 3 performs, 7 yards – punt

4. Second down struggles

The Vikings had quite a few drives that went 3-and-out, however whereas the third down failures had been notable, it was excessive struggles on second down that put the Vikings in lots of third-and-difficult conditions. This is how they did on second downs. 

• 2nd-and-2 – run no acquire 
• 2nd-and-9 – run no acquire 
• 2nd-and-10 – cross 3 yards
• 2nd-and-7 – Cousins sacked 
• 2nd-and-7 – cross 1 yard 
• 2nd-and-18 – cross 14 yards 
• 2nd-and-10 – incomplete cross 
• 2nd-and-16 – run 1-yard loss 
• 2nd-and-7 – incomplete cross
• 2nd-and-10 – cross no acquire
• 2nd-and-2 – run 1 yard
• 2nd-and-4 – cross 47 yards
• 2nd-and-3 (aim) – cross 3-yard TD to Thielen
• 2nd-and-10 – cross 9 yards
• 2nd-and-4 – run 53-yard TD by Cook dinner
• 2nd-and-8 – run 1 yard

It wasn’t till late within the third quarter when Minnesota beginning making performs on second down, together with their two greatest performs of the day – the 47-yard catch and run by Jefferson and Cook dinner’s 53-yard landing run. 

5. Vikings can run away within the NFC North

At 5-1, the Vikings personal a two-game cushion within the NFC North due to the Packers dropping 27-10 at dwelling to the New York Jets. Inexperienced Bay is 3-3 and reeling whereas the Bears (2-4) and Lions (1-4) do not appear to be threats. 

What’s extra is that Minnesota is 3-0 in opposition to the Packers, Bears and Lions. 

The Vikings are off in Week 7 earlier than internet hosting Arizona after which going to D.C. to play the Commanders. Wins there would put them at 7-1 coming into back-to-back video games in opposition to the Payments and Cowboys, adopted by a brief relaxation sport on Thanksgiving evening in opposition to the Patriots. After that, the Jets, who do not look like a joke this season. 

If the North is a two-team race, then the strain is on Inexperienced Bay. They play on the Commanders in Week 7 adopted by a gauntlet at Buffalo, at Detroit, at dwelling in opposition to Dallas after which a Thursday dwelling sport in opposition to the Titans earlier than they go to Philly.