Has Kyler turned a corner?

I say it’s likely he returns to the mean of his career. 240 in the air plus another 30 on the ground.

The Saints D from 25 was pretty good. A good test coming up. Hopefully we have the ENTIRE LEFT SIDE of the OL.

StickierBuns wrote:

“That door will get kicked down soon,” Murray said. “When you keep stacking great days, great weeks — there’s no loss of confidence in that locker room. We understand who we are. … We gotta be better and cleaner, and we will be. But I have the utmost confidence in this group and what we’re capable of.”https://x.com/WillRagatz/status/2107159246555283838?s=20

Thats a good read..

I will believe it when I see it. That tight window throw to Hock was a nice throw, but on the replay I think it showed 4 or maybe 5 defenders in the immediate vicinity, that many guys in that pocket says maybe there was a better/safer option available and he was just locked onto his security blanket. Good defenses will make him pay for that type of game. With that said, it was a hell of a throw and catch and he did show glimmers at times yesterday of being something, but I am still less than impressed at the overall body of work.

Kyler Murray played well on Sunday when the protection held up. I'm excited to see what this offense looks like when Justin Jefferson returns. pic.twitter.com/U7tDYwancH

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 5, 2026

JustInTime wrote:

I say it’s likely he returns to the mean of his career. 240 in the air plus another 30 on the ground.
The Saints D from 25 was pretty good. A good test coming up. Hopefully we have the ENTIRE LEFT SIDE of the OL.

Any word on Jackson. Didn't see what happened to him, haven't heard anything other than "knee"

StickierBuns wrote:

“That door will get kicked down soon,” Murray said. “When you keep stacking great days, great weeks — there’s no loss of confidence in that locker room. We understand who we are. … We gotta be better and cleaner, and we will be. But I have the utmost confidence in this group and what we’re capable of.”https://x.com/WillRagatz/status/2107159246555283838?s=20

For much of Sunday afternoon, it was another frustrating go for Kyler Murray and the Vikings’ offense. Sacks and penalties derailed drives. When they weren’t punting, field goals were all they could muster against a young Dolphins defense. Even with another strong defensive effort, the lead never grew to more than nine points.

Miami created some nerves inside U.S. Bank Stadium by cutting its deficit to two at the end of the third quarter. The Vikings responded with their fifth field goal to go up 15-10, then forced a quick three-and-out. And with just under six minutes on the clock, Minnesota picked a good time to put together its best drive of the day: 11 plays, 84 yards, ending with the Vikings kneeling out the final seconds near the Miami goal line.

Murray, the subject of plenty of criticism from fans in his first few games with the Vikings, came to life when his team needed it most. On the final two possessions, he completed 13 of 14 passes for 120 yards and did not take any sacks. He looked like a quarterback who may be turning a corner and finding his groove in a new offense.

There were several impressive throws from Murray in Sunday’s game. Two of them stand out above the rest. They were the Vikings’ two biggest offensive plays of the day, and they came just a couple snaps apart on the final drive.

Throw No. 1: 27 yards to Addison

It’s a 2nd and 10 on the Vikings’ 33 after a first-down Aaron Jones run was stuffed for no gain. The Vikings come out in a three-receiver shotgun set, with Tai Felton and Jauan Jennings to the left and Jordan Addison the single receiver to the right.

Murray gives a cursory play-action fake to DeeJay Dallas. He takes a couple quick steps back. He uses his eyes to hold Miami linebacker Jordyn Brooks in place for a split second, then rifles the ball into a tight window to Addison on an in-breaking route. The catch is made for 12 yards, and Addison breaks a couple tackles to pick up another 15.

Vikings dial up a big play on second down!

MIAvsMIN on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MHWiSLbGmk

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026

“With the action kind of going away, Jordyn Brooks was the defender right there. Kind of had to hold him with my eyes and body posture,” Murray said. “Being able to sneak it behind him, J.A. obviously running a great route, ripping through there. Making a play. Something that we practice. We executed it in the moment when we needed it the most.”

It’s the kind of play that is a staple of Kevin O’Connell’s passing attack. The Vikings love to target Addison and Justin Jefferson on intermediate in-breaking routes over the middle of the field, either against voids in zone coverage — as was the case on this play — or by beating man-to-man coverage.

“That was awesome,” O’Connell said. “Cross-sift protection right there. Felt a little no-look (from Murray) to move that underneath player. It felt like a lot of confidence in attacking a void and vacancy, which is a big part of this offense. Conviction.”

“Once I got past the corner, I just made sure I kept my width, broke in,” Addison said. “It looked like there was a defender in the way, but the ball got to me and then, s***, break a couple tackles, get north.”

If you choose optimism on this beautiful Monday morning, this is the play to draw it from. A staple in Kevin O’Connell’s scheme. Kyler Murray holds the coverage with his eyes and finds the void in the defense. Confident. No hesitation. 27 yards to Jordan Addison on 2nd and 10. pic.twitter.com/Zwc7vNotC1

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 5, 2026

Throw No. 2: 22 yards to Hockenson

Following the Addison play, the Vikings had a false start and then an eight-yard run, setting up 2nd and 7 from the Miami 37. They’re already in Will Reichard’s range, but even with a sixth field goal, it would only be a one-score game.

The Vikings again come out in shotgun, with Jennings and Felton to the left and Addison to the right. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, in the midst of a huge day, lines up on the right side of the offensive line, with his hand in the turf. It’s a quick five-step drop. Jennings and Hockenson are running seam routes. Addison and Felton are running curl routes on the outside. Jones leaks out of the backfield as a checkdown option.

Murray gets to the top of his drop, takes a very slight hitch, and knows where he’s going with the football. Hockenson isn’t open when the ball is released, but Brooks has his head turned. There’s a window. Murray delivers a perfect anticipatory throw to Hockenson’s back shoulder. The veteran tight end makes the adjustment and secures the catch for 22 big yards.

This is the Kyler Murray we’ve been waiting to see.

Also, what a game for T.J. Hockenson. 11 for 106. https://t.co/NoeKAJc0RU pic.twitter.com/UuMtkPBsdZ

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 4, 2026

“That’s trust, man,” Hockenson said. “That’s trust. That’s a lot of trust in 1, throwing it to me. You work that a lot. That’s fun. That’s what you call football right there, just running down the seam, making plays. I love that stuff. … Even when you’re covered, you’re not covered if you’ve got a good quarterback like that.”

The Vikings know they still have a lot of work to do in order to get the offensive results they’re seeking. At the same time, they were encouraged by the way they played in the fourth quarter on Sunday and how comfortable Murray looked in the pocket. They believe they’re going to keep ascending as an offense, especially when Jefferson and Jordan Mason are back on the field.

“I think we saw it there in the second half,” O’Connell said. “The more snaps, the more time that group can get together. When we just Justin and (Mason) back and our offensive line, when we have that group out there. We’re gonna keep ascending.”

“That door will get kicked down soon,” Murray said. “When you keep stacking great days, great weeks — there’s no loss of confidence in that locker room. We understand who we are. … We gotta be better and cleaner, and we will be. But I have the utmost confidence in this group and what we’re capable of.”

I think we asked this same question about Nine after the fourth quarter of the Bears game last year.

wiviking wrote:

I think we asked this same question about Nine after the fourth quarter of the Bears game last year.

Shhh it doesn't fit their agenda.

I think "turn the corner" is a little aggressive. I think it will be more a steady improvement week to week. Also think he'll look better if the procedural penalties are sorted out.

medaille wrote:

I think "turn the corner" is a little aggressive. I think it will be more a steady improvement week to week. Also think he'll look better if the procedural penalties are sorted out.

Yes, that was awful. Hard to have any sort of drive when you go backwards every other play.