The Minnesota Vikings are unbeaten through four games despite an offensive profile rarely seen in NFL history. Their 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday marked Minnesota’s second touchdown-free victory of the season, leaving Kevin O’Connell’s club at 4-0 and relying heavily on defense and special teams.
A 4-0 start with a century-old historical parallel
Minnesota previously beat the Chicago Bears 9-3 in Week 2 without reaching the end zone. The Vikings are now the first team since the 1923 Chicago Cardinals to open 4-0 while recording multiple games without an offensive touchdown. The Cardinals also accomplished the feat in 1922, making them the only other franchise to do so.
The Vikings are one of three remaining undefeated teams, and their formula has been unusual:
- Minnesota’s defense is allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game.
- Over the past three weeks, special teams have produced 42 points while the offense has scored seven.
- The Vikings own a nine-game regular-season winning streak, best in the league, dating to Week 14 of the 2025 season.
- During that stretch, Minnesota has averaged 272.8 yards per game, the NFL’s fourth-lowest figure.
O’Connell acknowledged that the offense must improve its consistency, but he emphasized the value of another win. “We have to take responsibility for not moving the ball more regularly,” he said, while adding that the team is eager to correct the issues and pleased to be 4-0.
It is not the first time an O’Connell-led Vikings team has found unconventional ways to pile up victories. The 2022 team went 11-0 in one-score games, an NFL record, and became the first club to win at least 13 games while finishing with a negative point differential.
Offensive transition brings more complications
Minnesota has had little continuity around new quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray suffered a concussion on the 11th snap of the season, while wide receiver Justin Jefferson injured his left ankle seven plays into Murray’s return in Week 3. The quarterback and Jefferson have shared the field for only 18 offensive snaps.
The Vikings also lost two key linemen during Sunday’s game. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw underwent a neck/concussion evaluation, and left guard Donovan Jackson left with a knee injury. Murray is still becoming fully comfortable in the offense after taking about half the first-team work in spring sessions and the early phase of training camp during his competition with J.J. McCarthy, who was traded to the New York Giants last Monday.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill had said last week that the offensive line would need to adjust because Murray’s ability to escape the pocket changes the timing of a play. Miami recorded its first three sacks of the season in the first half, all against Murray, as frustration built inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
- The Vikings were charged with five offensive pre-snap penalties.
- Two of those penalties were false starts.
- O’Connell said the team must identify the cause of cadence-related problems.
- Murray said the breakdowns were unacceptable and placed the responsibility on himself to get all 11 players aligned.
Murray finishes strong as Hockenson helps close out Miami
The offense finally found a rhythm in the fourth quarter. Murray completed 12 of 13 attempts for 113 yards, including a 27-yard crossing completion to Jordan Addison. He also leaned heavily on tight end T.J. Hockenson, who matched his career high with 13 catches.
Those plays helped Minnesota drain the final 5:41 while protecting a one-score advantage. Hockenson deliberately went down at the Miami 2-yard line on the Vikings’ final completion rather than scoring, allowing O’Connell to finish the game with kneel-downs.
O’Connell said afterward that if Minnesota wanted more points, it should have created them earlier in the game. Hockenson said the players share the fans’ desire to see touchdowns, but stressed that the team is moving forward despite the frustration.
Defense and Reichard continue to carry the load
Minnesota’s defense kept Miami from gaining traction early, allowing the Dolphins only one snap beyond midfield in the first half. Edge rusher Dallas Turner added two sacks, bringing his season total to 5.5.
Kicker Will Reichard supplied all 15 points with five successful field goals. He is now 12-for-12 on field-goal attempts this season, and the U.S. Bank Stadium crowd gave him a standing ovation when he appeared on the videoboard late in the game. Safety Harrison Smith called Reichard “a stone-cold killer.”
The Vikings will try to stay unbeaten next Sunday when they visit the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET on Fox. Jefferson’s availability remains uncertain, and Minnesota could again be without Darrisaw, Jackson, or both. Until the offense finds more stability, the Vikings will continue leaning on a dominant defense and a perfect kicker.
