Purple Path Forward - Week 6 - The Heat Is On.
Greetings Earthlings, and welcome to your week 6 edition of PPF. Midwinterviking isn't available this week, I think he's trekking the Amazonian jungle documenting the reproductive cycle of the ancient Patagonian moth 
(or something like that) so you got me to preview this weeks game 
The Vikings trek to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Dolphins, kickoff @ 1PM ET and Brad Rogers will be our referee.
Minnesota has an abysmal record in Miami and haven't won there since 1976, they seem to melt in the heat and humidity in Florida. The last encounter was on Dec 21 2014 when the 6-9 Mike Zimmer led Vikings lost to the 8-7 Joe Philbin Dolphins 35-37.
With the Vikings leading 35-28 with 81 seconds to play, a 3rd down Ryan Tannehill pass fell incomplete, but a PI call on Xavier Rhodes extended the drive and on the next play Miami scored to tie the game.
The Vikings got the ball back and drove 2 yards
and were forced to punt, but the punt was blocked and went out of the back of the end zone for the game winning 2pt safety.
So, fast forward to now, and the 4-1 Vikings take on a 3-2 Dolphins team starting a 3rd string rookie QB. Too easy huh?
Miami own a 2-0 home record, while the Vikings are 1-1 on the road.
Both teams average 23 ppg scored (T 12th) while the Vikings allow 20.4 ppg (14th) compared to Miami 26.2 (29th) Both offenses rely on the passing game and are in the top 10 for yards while their running games haven't been as effective.
The defenses have struggled to shut down opposing QBs passing and Minnesota has been pretty average against the run allowing 120 ypg (20th), Miami have been a bit better, allowing only 110 ypg (13th).
But enough of the stats, this game will go one of two ways.
1) The Vikings step things up on defense and pressure Thompson into mistakes and turnovers, the offense takes their opponent by the throat and puts up 40 on them, scoring TDs and not settling for field goals.
2) The Vikings sit back on defense and give the rookie time to make plays underneath and in the soft zones, similar to the Philly game, and Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki wreak havoc.
The Vikings offense stalls repeatedly and has to settle for field goals, allowing Miami to hang around, like the Detroit and Chicago games and it goes down to the wire.
This is a game the Vikings need to win if they have aspirations of making some noise in the playoffs. A loss to a third string rookie QB starting his first game would expose the Vikings as pretenders, not contenders.
(or something like that) so you got me to preview this weeks game 
The Vikings trek to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Dolphins, kickoff @ 1PM ET and Brad Rogers will be our referee.
Minnesota has an abysmal record in Miami and haven't won there since 1976, they seem to melt in the heat and humidity in Florida. The last encounter was on Dec 21 2014 when the 6-9 Mike Zimmer led Vikings lost to the 8-7 Joe Philbin Dolphins 35-37.
With the Vikings leading 35-28 with 81 seconds to play, a 3rd down Ryan Tannehill pass fell incomplete, but a PI call on Xavier Rhodes extended the drive and on the next play Miami scored to tie the game.
The Vikings got the ball back and drove 2 yards
and were forced to punt, but the punt was blocked and went out of the back of the end zone for the game winning 2pt safety.So, fast forward to now, and the 4-1 Vikings take on a 3-2 Dolphins team starting a 3rd string rookie QB. Too easy huh?
Miami own a 2-0 home record, while the Vikings are 1-1 on the road.
Both teams average 23 ppg scored (T 12th) while the Vikings allow 20.4 ppg (14th) compared to Miami 26.2 (29th) Both offenses rely on the passing game and are in the top 10 for yards while their running games haven't been as effective.
The defenses have struggled to shut down opposing QBs passing and Minnesota has been pretty average against the run allowing 120 ypg (20th), Miami have been a bit better, allowing only 110 ypg (13th).
But enough of the stats, this game will go one of two ways.
1) The Vikings step things up on defense and pressure Thompson into mistakes and turnovers, the offense takes their opponent by the throat and puts up 40 on them, scoring TDs and not settling for field goals.
2) The Vikings sit back on defense and give the rookie time to make plays underneath and in the soft zones, similar to the Philly game, and Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki wreak havoc.
The Vikings offense stalls repeatedly and has to settle for field goals, allowing Miami to hang around, like the Detroit and Chicago games and it goes down to the wire.
This is a game the Vikings need to win if they have aspirations of making some noise in the playoffs. A loss to a third string rookie QB starting his first game would expose the Vikings as pretenders, not contenders.
