The Vikings just snagged their third straight win, beating the Buccaneers 23-16, but don’t let that 3-0 record fool you. This was a bizarre game under the Florida sun, and the offense, especially Kyler Murray, looked absolutely lost out there. The defense played lights out, and special teams came up huge, but the cracks are showing on offense, big time.
Murray’s Do-Over Season Needs a Do-Over
Kyler Murray, man, what a rough start to his “do-over” season debut. Despite the win, his player grade came in at a dismal 4.9. He went 15 of 29 for only 168 yards, tossed one touchdown, but also threw an interception that got batted and caught near the line of scrimmage. That passer rating? A shockingly low 66.5. He just missed so many throws and clearly wasn’t on the same page with his pass-catchers on multiple plays. It’s just one game, sure, and his track record suggests he can improve, but let’s be real: this performance was not an upgrade on what the Vikings have seen from Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy over the last couple of seasons. The only real bright spot in his day came on the Vikings’ lone offensive touchdown drive, where he made two nice throws to Jordan Addison.
O’Connell’s Offense Is Stalling, But Addison Shines
Murray definitely gets a share of the blame, but head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense has been struggling pretty much since the start of last season, and that’s with four different quarterbacks. His player grade reflects that at a 4.1. The running backs averaged less than three yards per carry, and the passing game was a complete mess outside of that one drive to Addison. You know it’s bad when you go 2 for 15 on third down and rack up nine penalties. O’Connell’s play-calling and the team’s overall execution on offense need a massive overhaul.
But hey, amidst all that offensive struggle, Jordan Addison was a real spark. After a catch-less opener and only two grabs for 21 yards last week, Addison stepped up big time with Justin Jefferson sidelined early in the game. He pulled in five catches for 90 yards and snagged that crucial touchdown. This kid is clearly a talented receiver who just needs his quarterback to give him some chances. He and Murray actually showed a strong connection in offseason practices, and he could have had an even bigger day if he’d hauled in another deep ball from Murray, which was under-thrown but still potentially catchable.
So, yeah, 3-0 feels good on paper, but how long can a team rely on its defense and special teams to bail out an offense that keeps shooting itself in the foot? The fact that they’re winning despite these offensive issues is a testament to the other units, but it’s also a ticking clock. This team has to get Kyler Murray and O’Connell’s offense in sync, and fast, if they want to keep this winning streak going against tougher competition. They need to figure this out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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