• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dolphins-Vikings Preview

Sep 15, 2010 - 11:03 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Returning to the Metrodome could help the Minnesota Vikings bounce back from a disappointing performance, and keep the Miami Dolphins from their best start since 2002.

After earning their first season-opening victory in five years, the Dolphins have the unenviable task of trying to hand Brett Favre his first home loss in a Vikings uniform Sunday.

Minnesota entered this season with hopes of reaching its first Super Bowl in 34 years, but that quest got off to a rocky start with a 14-9 loss in New Orleans last Thursday.

In a rematch of last year's NFC championship game at the Superdome, the Vikings (0-1) failed to score in the second half and finished with 253 yards - far below their 379.6 average in 2009.

A lack of time together in the preseason could have been partly to blame. Favre didn't return to begin his second season with the team until Aug. 17, and he finished 15 of 27 for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

"It's obvious we could be a lot better," Favre said. "I thought our timing was a little bit off."

The Vikings are missing Favre's top target from last season, Sidney Rice, because of hip surgery. Rice's replacement, Greg Camarillo, came over in a trade with Miami on Aug. 25, and fellow receiver Percy Harvin missed time during the preseason with recurring major migraine headaches. Harvin and Camarillo each had only one reception last Thursday.

Harvin, whose heart stopped beating twice after he collapsed during a practice last month, might have found the cause of those headaches as he was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. He said he hasn't had a migraine since being hospitalized Aug. 19.

Center John Sullivan also sat out most of the preseason with a calf injury.

"It's a work in progress on offense," coach Brad Childress said. "It's from a number of different spots, just getting your center back, your wideouts or your quarterback. We need to get up to speed in a heck of a hurry. I believe we will."

Playing at home could help Favre get back up to speed. Minnesota won all nine games at the Metrodome last season, including a playoff victory over Dallas, as Favre had 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions. He had a 120.7 passer rating in those games, compared to 92.2 on the road.

Favre has the Vikings riding their longest home winning streak since a 12-game run from Oct. 24, 1999-Nov. 30, 2000. They've lost just once in their last 15 games at the Metrodome.

Miami (1-0) hasn't played there since 2002 - the last time it started a season 2-0 - and has lost all three of its trips to Minnesota since 1979.

The Dolphins won on the road in their opener, 15-10 at Buffalo, but now begin a difficult stretch. This game with the Vikings is the first of four straight against 2009 playoff teams for Miami, which hosts the New York Jets and New England before traveling to Green Bay.

"Any time you get the taste of victory the first week, it's going to boost your confidence," cornerback Jason Allen said. "We're even more hungry to have that taste again."

Last Sunday, Miami got its usual solid rushing from Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who combined for 127 yards and a touchdown. Chad Henne was mostly efficient in going 21 of 34 for 182 yards and no interceptions.

The Dolphins, though, relied on a defense that gave up an NFL-low 166 yards in the opening week and nine first downs. However, they know a tougher test is in store this week.

"Now we have a bigger thing with Minnesota," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "They have a lot more playmakers than the Bills have."

The Dolphins are expected to be without starting defensive end Jared Odrick for one or two games. Odrick, the 28th overall pick in this year's draft, suffered a slight hairline fracture in his right leg last week.

Miami has won six of 10 all-time meetings between the teams, including a 24-7 victory in Super Bowl VIII. The Dolphins took the previous matchup 24-20 on Nov. 19, 2006.