The Minnesota Vikings pulled out a wild 15-10 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, and seriously, if you’d asked me how I felt about that game after the third quarter, my answer would be completely different right now. That fourth quarter though? It threw in a much-needed shot of hope for a struggling Vikings offense that, just maybe, has finally figured some stuff out. The operative word there is “maybe,” but after a brutal stretch, any hope is huge, right?
Finally, a Breakout for Kyler Murray?
We all know Kyler Murray can sling it, but this season? Man, it’s been a tough watch. However, in the final two drives against the Dolphins, Murray went off: 13 of 14 for 120 yards, and didn’t take a single sack. That kind of clutch performance doesn’t just happen. It actually lined up with a shocking development: the Vikings decided to put Murray in an environment where he’s always been more comfortable. They took 54 snaps from shotgun on Sunday. That’s the most they’ve run since Kevin O’Connell took over as head coach in 2022.
Look, two things can be true at the same time. You can’t deny that injuries and that absolutely dreadful weather in Chicago back in Week 2 played a role in the offense looking so flat. Absolutely. But it’s also totally fair to say KOC wasn’t doing Murray or the offense any favors earlier in the season. They just weren’t being put in the best spot to succeed. We’ve seen KOC scheme receivers open like a magician in the past, but it wasn’t happening, and Murray was stuck trying to play in a system that wasn’t playing to his strengths. Honestly, it was baffling. But hey, better late than never, I guess? Despite all the head-scratching moments, the Vikings are somehow 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the NFC, and 2-0 in the division. If this new, comfortable Murray is what we get the rest of the season, especially with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Mason due back, this offense could be scary good. We’re definitely not out of the woods, but it felt like KOC might have finally hit on something to get this thing off the ground. We can hope!
The Unsung Heroes of a Nail-Biter
While the offense was busy trying to find its footing, a couple of guys were absolutely carrying this team. First up, Will Reichard, the kicker. This dude is the real Most Interesting Man in the World, no joke. The baby-faced assassin with hair like Fabio went viral for a reason: since Week 2, he’s accounted for an insane 32 of the team’s 44 points. And minutes after that graphic aired, it jumped to 35. “Will the Thrill” is simply amazing.
Then there’s Dallas Turner, who’s basically channeling Lawrence Taylor out there. This guy’s early Defensive Player of the Year resume just keeps getting stronger. Against the Dolphins, he notched two sacks and a ridiculous five pressures. He’s an absolute force.
So, where do the Vikings go from here? That 4-0 record is a huge cushion, but if Murray and the offense can consistently play like they did in the fourth quarter, with those shotgun snaps freeing him up, this team has real potential. It’ll be all eyes on the offense to see if KOC keeps things rolling and they finally live up to the hype.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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