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Malik Willis and the 0-3 Dolphins aren't panicking ahead of their matchup with the unbeaten Vikings

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Thames, A. (2026, September 30). Malik Willis and the 0-3 Dolphins aren't panicking ahead of their matchup with the unbeaten Vikings. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/malik-willis-and-the-0-3-dolphins-aren-t-panicking-ahead-of-their-matchup-with-the-unbeaten-vikings/article_01446d8d-1f04-5a4d-b905-d74c1803c438.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Toronto Star · collected 2026-09-30 · by Alanis Thames

Quick Summary

Malik Willis and the Miami Dolphins, who are 0-3 this season, remain optimistic ahead of their upcoming game against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Despite their winless record, Willis insists there's no panic in the locker room as they prepare to face another unbeaten opponent for the third consecutive week. Head coach Jeff Hafley notes improvements in Willis’s decision-making and emphasizes the team's focus on continuing to get better with each game, even against strong competition.
Written by AI on 2026-10-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Despite a 0-3 start to the season, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis says there's no panic in Miami's locker room as they prepare for their Week 4 matchup against the undefeated Vikings. The Vikings join the Raiders, 49ers, and Chiefs as the third straight unbeaten team the Dolphins will face this year. Coach Jeff Hafley acknowledges that playing strong teams makes it challenging but exciting for young players gaining experience. Willis noted improvements in his decision-making after Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are dealing with injuries, splitting backfield duties between Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon while running backs Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington Jr. compete for a roster spot.

Written for “NFL Week Ahead” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 NFL Week Ahead
Sports · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 3% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Toronto Star
Hedges 0 of 38 claims Outlet record 64/100
“Article A discusses the Dolphins' preparation and mindset before their matchup with the Vikings, while Article B covers the outcome of that actual game and its implications for the season.”
Toronto Star
Hedges 1 of 28 claims Outlet record 64/100
“Article A describes Malik Willis's and the Dolphins' attitude before their matchup with the Vikings, while Article B reports on the actual game between the Vikings and the Dolphins that took place after Article A was written.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
29
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
3%
1 of 29 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-01 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Toronto Star · 10443 article(s) · 27 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 27 correction(s)
2026-10-26
Correction
2026-10-24
Correction
2026-10-07
Correction
2026-09-24
Correction

Who wrote this

Alanis Thames
12 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 That definition would be key to determining how the players are being harmed by being declared ineligible.
🔮 There have been moments during the first five games of the season when Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has shown the arm talent and athleticism that made new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley bring him over from Green Bay to usher in a new era in Miami.
🔮 Joe Burrow has thrown a lot of passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the Cincinnati quarterback may need to find another top option when the Bengals visit the Dolphins on Sunday with both of his top receivers dealing with injuries.
🔮 Despite a winless start to the season, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis doesn’t see any panic in Miami’s locker room.
🔮 The Marlins will need to decide whether to exercise Alcantara’s $21 million club option for next season, but president of baseball operations Peter Bendix on Tuesday declined to discuss the contract of the club’s longest-tenured player.
🔮 The Chiefs intercepted Malik Willis on the ensuing drive, and Mahomes moved Kansas City into scoring position before Harrison Butker missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt.
🔮 The Miami Dolphins will be without rookie receiver Caleb Douglas when they host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
🔮 Cousins and Purdy completed more than 70% of their passes against the Dolphins’ young defense, which will need to brace for another veteran quarterback known for his ability to put a strain on opposing secondaries.
🔮 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Much of this season for the Miami Dolphins will be about small victories — even if actual wins are hard to come by.
🔮 Robinson’s absence Sunday could hurt a Dolphins’ defense that struggled to stop the run and generate pressure against quarterback Kirk Cousins in their Week 1 loss to the Raiders.
Also by Alanis Thames
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 12 articles by Alanis Thames →

Topics

Dolphins Kansas City MIAMI GARDENS Miami Minnesota

Subjects

Dolphins ORG · 6× Willis PERSON · 5× Hafley PERSON · 4× Achane PERSON · 3× Kansas City GPE · 2× Miami GPE · 2× Minnesota GPE · 2× Fla. GPE · 1× MIAMI GARDENS GPE · 1× Malik Willis PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Backups Jaylen Wright — who missed Week 3 because of a stinger — and Ollie Gordon figure to split backfield duties, and Hafley said the team plans to allow practice squad running backs Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington Jr. to compete this week for a spot on the active roster as a third option.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-01
🔮 Despite a winless start to the season, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis doesn’t see any panic in Miami’s locker room.

Claims (29 extracted, 1 hedged)

Despite a winless start to the season, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis doesn’t see any panic in Miami’s locker room. asserted
Willis → see → room
“We’re not the only 0-3 team, and there’s not a team that’s been undefeated in a long time,” Willis said Wednesday as the Dolphins prepared for this weekend’s game at Minnesota. asserted
Dolphins → ’re → Minnesota
“That’s how the game goes. asserted
game → ’ → ?
We don’t have a win right now, but that’s not our reality. asserted
that → have → win
We go to work and we watch the tape, and as long as we’re continuing to get better, that will lead going out and getting a (win).” asserted
that → go → win
The Vikings are the third straight undefeated team the Dolphins will face. asserted
Dolphins → face → ?
Each of their first four opponents — Las Vegas, San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota — is 3-0 entering Week asserted
Each → enter → opponents
“We’re playing really good teams; it makes it challenging,” coach Jeff Hafley said. asserted
Hafley → play → teams
“It makes it I think exciting for some of our young guys who are getting to play and gain experience against some really good teams. asserted
who → make → teams
I think they’ve embraced it. asserted
they → think → it
I know they have.” asserted
they → know → ?
Hafley said he has seen improvement in the decision-making of Willis, who made his ninth career start in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. asserted
who → say → Chiefs
Willis has completed 57% of his passes for 627 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble this season. asserted
Willis → complete → touchdown
He has 101 yards rushing on 17 carries, which is fifth-most among quarterbacks, and has led the Dolphins in rushing twice. asserted
which → have → rushing
“He got better. asserted
He → get → ?
I thought he made better decisions than he did and that’s a step forward for him,” Hafley said Monday. asserted
Hafley → think → him
“I thought the ball came out a lot on time. asserted
ball → think → time
I thought the ball came out quicker. asserted
ball → think → ?
We took a couple shots down the field that we’ll continue to work through, and I told the team we’ll keep taking them and we’ll start hitting those. asserted
we → take → those
I thought overall he got better at his decision-making process, and I think that will continue to improve.” asserted
that → think → process
The Dolphins may lean on Willis’ legs a lot more going forward after losing Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane to a torn ACL. uncertain
Dolphins → lean → ACL
Achane suffered the injury on the first drive against Kansas City and was placed on injured reserve on Monday. asserted
Achane → suffer → Monday
Hafley said the Dolphins will continue utilizing Willis in the run game situationally. asserted
Dolphins → say → game
Willis said he’s willing to do whatever the team needs. asserted
team → say → whatever
Backups Jaylen Wright — who missed Week 3 because of a stinger — and Ollie Gordon figure to split backfield duties, and Hafley said the team plans to allow practice squad running backs Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington Jr. to compete this week for a spot on the active roster as a third option. asserted
Hunter → miss → option
The third-year running back, who in college won the Doak Walker Award given to the top running back in the country, had 17 carries for 41 yards along with three catches for 14 yards. asserted
who → win → yards
“The RBs, we’re going to hold it down for (Achane),” said Wright, who practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday. asserted
who → go → Wednesday
“I know he’s going to be happy for that. asserted
he → know → that
We should try our best to make him happy, just to continue to build on what he’s been doing.” asserted
he → try → what
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