What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The 3-0 Minnesota Vikings host the 0-3 Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 4:05 p.m. EDT. The matchup reunites Brian Flores with the team he once coached: he is now Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, and he led Miami to a 10-6 record in 2020. The Vikings’ defensive reputation under Flores is backed by strong production in 2023-24, though those two-season figures do not by themselves establish the defense’s 2026 ranking.
Game details and records entering kickoff
| Matchup detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings |
| Date and time | Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 4:05 p.m. EDT |
| Records as of October 3 | Minnesota 3-0; Miami 0-3 |
Those records set up a clear early-season contrast, but the available pregame figures do not support a full statistical comparison of the teams’ 2026 performances.
Why Brian Flores is central to the matchup
Flores joined Minnesota’s coaching staff on February 6, 2023, after coaching Pittsburgh in 2022, and now coordinates the Vikings’ defense. Before that, he led Miami to a 10-6 record in 2020. His experience with the Dolphins gives this game a direct personal and professional connection: Flores faces a former team while preparing a defense against it.
That history does not, on its own, reveal what defensive calls Flores will make. It does explain why his role—not just the teams’ records—is a defining storyline of this Week 4 meeting.
#1 Best Overall
- Fanatics Pro
- NFL patch sewn onto bottom of front collar
- Printed player name and number
- Short sleeve
- Officially licensed
What the Vikings’ defense has produced under Flores
In Flores’s first two seasons leading Minnesota’s defense, 2023 and 2024, the Vikings recorded 53 takeaways, the third most in the NFL over that span. They also allowed 96.1 rushing yards per game, the third fewest. These are historical, two-season results—not a measure of the defense’s current 2026 league rank.
For a pregame snapshot of this season, an Associated Press preview republished by The Washington Post reported that Minnesota had allowed the second-fewest points in the league entering the game. The cited report gives a ranking but no points total, and the standing is specific to the pregame moment.
Rank #2
- Brand: NFL PRO LINE
- This item is non-returnable
- Short sleeve
- Printed team wordmarks, logos and sleeve details
- Machine wash, line dry
The Vikings’ own Week 4 preview characterizes Flores’s defense as one that blitzes frequently. That is the team’s description; it should not be mistaken for a separately verified measurement of blitz frequency.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Miami’s new leadership
The Dolphins arrive under new leadership in 2026: general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. Hafley was Green Bay’s defensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025. That transition is important context for a matchup against Flores, but the available material does not establish how Miami’s new staff will affect the team’s results in this game.
Rank #3
- Brand: NFL PRO LINE
- This item is non-returnable
- Short sleeve
- Printed team wordmarks, logos and sleeve details
- Machine wash, line dry
Availability and a small-sample special-teams note
NFL.com reported on October 2 that Justin Jefferson was ruled out for this game. That is a pregame report, not the final inactive list; game-day availability can be confirmed only once the official inactives are announced.
Minnesota’s preview also said a Dolphins return specialist was averaging 37.0 yards on five returns, totaling 185 yards, and described the average as an NFL best. With only five returns and an early-season, time-sensitive snapshot behind that figure, it is not evidence of a durable league-leading trend.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Officially licensed by the NFL
- Designed and manufactured by FOCO
- Decorated in team colors and logo
- Moisture wicking mesh performance fabric to keep you cool and dry
- SPF50+ protection
How to read this matchup
- Current records: Minnesota entered the game 3-0, while Miami was 0-3.
- Historical defensive evidence: Minnesota’s 2023-24 takeaway and rushing-defense figures show strong production across Flores’s first two seasons with the unit, not a 2026 ranking.
- Coaching connection: Flores faces Miami after leading the Dolphins in 2020; the matchup also comes as Miami begins a season with new leadership.
- Pregame uncertainty: Injury status and early-season rankings can change, so reports made before kickoff should not be treated as final game-day information.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
