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Facing a team that had allowed 10 sacks in its previous two games, the Minnesota Vikings' pass-rushers seemed ready for a productive day on Sunday in Miami. But a week after the team failed to sack Matthew Stafford on the road in Detroit, the Vikings didn't find much more success getting to Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The Vikings brought Tannehill down just twice, with the first sack coming after the Dolphins' offensive line appeared to be confused on the snap count. For the day, the Vikings pressured Tannehill on only 13 of his 49 dropbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and when they brought standard pressure, the third-year quarterback shredded them. He was 27-of-33 for 323 yards and four touchdowns when the Vikings sent four or fewer pass-rushers, and the Vikings' lack of pressure helped him go 9-for-13 -- for 217 yards -- on throws that went at least 10 yards.
"We couldn't cover anybody," coach Mike Zimmer told reporters in Miami. "We didn't rush and we didn't cover. That's a pretty hard combination."
It's difficult to know what kind of an effort the Vikings will get next week from their opponents -- the Chicago Bears haven't won in a month, and have been awash in locker room drama lately -- but it's worth recalling the game plan the Bears used on Nov. 16, dialing up a series of short passes that kept the Vikings from getting to Jay Cutler. It stands to reason the Bears will try to get the ball out quickly quickly, especially if Jimmy Clausen is at quarterback again. The Vikings are likely also feeling the loss of linebacker Anthony Barr, who commanded plenty of attention in the team's double-A gap blitz look. Whatever the reason, they got burned on Sunday when Tannehill had plenty of time to throw.
"Our biggest thing: Defense has got to come out and play way better than we did," defensive end Everson Griffen said. "Offense, they came out, they scored 35 points. That's what you'd ask for. It's up to us to maintain the drive and help them out and that's what we didn't do today."
In case you missed it on ESPN.com:
The Vikings' last five losses have been by a combined 16 points, and they left Miami kicking themselves after a two-point defeat on Sunday.
Teddy Bridgewater continued his impressive second half with a good performance in his hometown, and his play on third downs has been particularly encouraging.
We broke down what Sunday's game meant to the Vikings in our Rapid Reaction piece.
The NFL is pushing Adrian Peterson to begin a counseling program in order to be eligible for an April 15 reinstatement, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.
Best of the rest:
The Vikings' defensive performance had Mike Zimmer steaming, writes Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Chad Greenway played with a heavy heart on Sunday after the death of his father Alan, according to Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.