![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/10/USP-NFL_-Miami-Dolphins-at-New-York-Jets-2.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
Look out Minnesota, you’re in trouble!
The Vikings’ Week 6 opponent, the Miami Dolphins, removed the ping pong tables from their locker room this week, which can only mean one thing. The Dolphins mean business!
Miami started the season 3-0 but has since dropped two straight games, being outscored 67-32 in those games. And the losing was obviously because they played too many games off the field.
Sure, the Dolphins lost their starting quarterback to a concussion in the first loss and their backup quarterback to, well, maybe not a concussion, in the second loss. But I’m sure that didn’t have anything to do with the losing. Just like starting a third string quarterback has nothing to do with them being 3.5-point home underdogs this week.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel says he plans to start Skylar Thompson at QB Sunday vs. Vikings.
If Teddy Bridgewater is cleared from protocol this weekend, he would likely backup Skylar per McDaniel who noted Teddy will be w/ trainers today and potentially limited practice tomorrow.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 12, 2022
The #Bills have a ping pong leaderboard posted near Mitch Morse's locker lol. They also have corn hole, bubble hockey, and a basketball rim in the field house. https://t.co/z1UEAPZG1H
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) October 12, 2022
In all seriousness, if removing the ping pong tables truly helps the team to focus, then so be it. Tyreek Hill knows a thing or two about what a winning organization looks like. The decision coming from him and the other team captains makes it a little more palatable.
Head coach Mike McDaniel, who called the decision “leadership,” has also been a part of recent winners. If those guys think the ping pong tables were a distraction, then maybe they were.
But it’s still funny to think that a few locker room games are potentially what came between a win and giving up 40 points to the New York Jets. Especially when it’s conceivable the team would be 5-0 or 4-1 had Tua Tagovailoa never been injured.
Instead, the ripples of that injury, which already includes a much-needed overhaul of the NFL’s concussion policy, are now claiming the ping pong tables in the Dolphins locker room.
I hope Minnesota is ready.