Minnesota Sports Forum

The defense playing well enough to carry the Vikings to a 2-0 start is kind of encouraging. I still doubt Wentz can lead the team to the promise land, but the Murray era gets a restart down in Tampa against a struggling team.

The OpTIMism meter is rising!

I think Tim is likely right, any chance we have of going all the way, we'll need better QB play against those top teams. You can't just hope the defense keeps forcing turnovers and such, just like the Bears last year. It works up to a point, then it doesn't. Though I think our defense has the potential to be a top 2-3 defense, unlike the Bears last year which I think were mediocre at best but forced a lot of TO's.

So can Kyler be something like the 12th best QB this year (based on QBR or EPA whatever), considering the solid run game and defense we have I think we then have a small chance to go all the way.

TB looks for sure beatable, but we'll see. Its the NFL and anything can happen week to week. Teams are too close talent wise. Not even knowing the line, I'd guess we're a 3 point fav, maybe 3.5? IDK.

I'll say

Vikes 24
TB 20

Nobody wants to play an 0-2 team that started the season with playoff aspirations, so this one will not be easy...especially with us having one RB hurt and one a little gimpy after 23 carries last week. TB is going to be hungry, because you aren't making the playoffs if you start out 0-3, so normally I would be picking them. But Flores seems to finally have the personnel he needs to work his defensive game plan, and the Bucs are missing 2 starting LBs, so I'll pick the Vikes 20-17.

Vikes are only favored by 1.5. I thought it'd be 3 but I guess thats why I'm a homer.

Tight game so far. Kyler is an upgrade on Wentz, but has been rather meh so far. I feel we are lucking to be up, thanks to a punt return for a TD. But it doesn't matter how pretty or dominant it is, just win.

I really have no idea what we are trying to accomplish on offense... Put our defense back on the field as quickly as possible?!?

60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2026 4:52 pm Tight game so far. Kyler is an upgrade on Wentz, but has been rather meh so far. I feel we are lucking to be up, thanks to a punt return for a TD. But it doesn't matter how pretty or dominant it is, just win.

I'm not so sure Kyler has been an upgrade on Wentz. He had a lot of time to throw for most of the game and either the WR's were completely inept, the play designs were or he was. I'm not sure where the blame goes for lack of passing, but I think a decent share is on Kyler.

Also the crap run blocking was a concern as well, as good as they passs blacked in general, the run blocking was bad. I think we have to credit TB for making Kyler a pocket passer and maybe trying to force him deep. But still. Other teams will simply do the same and if you can't beat them deep, then they'll sit on all your 8 yard outs.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2026 5:43 pm I really have no idea what we are trying to accomplish on offense... Put our defense back on the field as quickly as possible?!?

Ha, hard to figure out...we're below average on offense when JJ is in, and far below when he's not! After the Monday night game, we will be last in average yards per game and it won't even be close, but we'll still be 3-0...never seen anything like that before! I honestly don't know if we're very good or not, but we're in first place in our division and heavily favored to win our next two games to go to 5-0. Love the defense and the line play, not so sure about Murray. But did I mention we're 3-0?

Pretty sad to believe that JJ lost the QB battle to this inept duo...

Kyler is straight up trash and can't run KOCs offense cause he can't get to those staple routes over the middle of the field.

The defense is pure joy to watch and you gotta love how bought in everyone is on this team, but this offense is depressing

Like I said in an earlier post we shouldn't be wildly surprised if Murray doesn't look good in this game. He barely played week one and then got a concussion. It's fair to expect more from a vet QB who has played as much as him in the NFL but still. He just wasn't making some throws at times that were open and they weren't the middle of the field throws either.

I thought the oline was decent. They were opening up some holes before Jefferson got hurt. Having him out was a pretty big deal for the offense. You gotta be able to do something with him out especially with other legit talented guys out there but yeah. Oh and the Vikings remembered how to get penalized in this one!

Now the defense got it done but there are also some real concerns there. I'll stick to some positives though.

Kyle Van Noy is looking like a heck of a signing. This game he was really good.

Ivan Pace looks like he has gotten some of his mojo back. I thought he was possibly gonna get cut with some you get guys flashing in training camp and preseason. They got hurt and Pace is still here and my goodness he was blowing people up in this game.

Eric Wilson was also insanely good in this game.

Overall this game wouldn't even been close if Baker wasn't Houdini out there at times. This is why Murray will get some rope because he can make plays and be a threat to run. McCarthy has some of that too but he doesn't have the experience Murray has.

Look this isn't the greatest team out there or whatever but they have done enough to win. They are gonna have to get on offense. The RBs other than Jones must be really meh I'm sure he wants to be out there but he is taking a beating. Claiborne might take a while to get there. He didn't follow his block on one play where he could have likely at least got back to the LOS if he had. Hopefully Jefferson's ankle isn't too bad.