Week 7 arrives with a few quarterbacks still trying to shake loose from the slow start that has followed them through the first chunk of the season. A handful of matchups this week offer a chance to do just that, and three passers stand out as the most likely to post their best outing yet in 2026.
Kyler Murray has started to settle in for the Vikings, and the recent signs are encouraging. Two weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins, he completed 73 percent of his passes.
In last week’s win over the Saints, that number jumped to 80 percent, and he also turned in a season-high 7.6 yards per attempt while adding a season-high 51 rushing yards. He has only four starts with Minnesota and has really played only three full games, but the comfort level is clearly building.
That matters even more this week with the Vikings at home against the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis looks to be on the verge of a full-scale rebuild, and its road pass defense has been among the league’s worst in 2026.
The Colts are allowing 271 passing yards per game away from home, compared with just 186.3 at home, a glaring split that gives Murray and Minnesota a chance to take advantage.
Sam Darnold is in a different spot entirely. After another shaky outing in Denver, where he threw multiple interceptions and got away with several risky decisions thanks to his receivers, the noise around him has only gotten louder.
Seattle fans are now wondering whether Drew Lock might give the Seahawks a better shot, and this week doesn’t offer much room for another stumble. The Seahawks are hosting the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in primetime, with Kenneth Walker also returning to the building as part of the matchup.
Still, there is a path to a strong game for Darnold. Kansas City has allowed an average of 253.7 passing yards per game over the last three weeks, though that number is skewed by one outing against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Seattle will look hard at that game, especially since the Raiders, coached by Klint Kubiak, threw for more than 350 yards against the Chiefs’ defense, even with a second-half comeback required. No other team has had that kind of success through the air against Kansas City this season.
Bo Nix rounds out the list, and his season has not started the way anyone around Denver expected. This has been the worst start of any year in his career so far, and the issue is bigger than just the ankle injury he played through after last year’s playoff surgery.
He has looked more hesitant on downfield throws and too careful with the ball. That makes this week’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals especially interesting.
Arizona ranks 31st in the NFL in net yards per pass attempt this season at 7.4, and while the Cardinals just turned in their second-best pass defense performance of the year in a 194-yard effort against the Rams, Denver may be due to break through. The Broncos have shown flashes at times, including against Jacksonville and in the second half against the Rams, so the setup is there for Nix to answer the criticism with a more aggressive showing if he can take advantage of the matchup.
In Other News...
Vikings Gave Caleb Williams A Reality Check Bears Fans Hate
Rainy games at Soldier Field have a way of turning pretty football arguments into ugly ones, and Week 2 was no exception. The Vikings came away with a 9-3 win over the Bears, leaning on a defense that made Chicago work for everything and turned the game into the kind of slog that can frustrate both sides just as much as it flatters the winner.
For Bears fans, though, the lingering frustration has been less about the scoreboard than the setting. Some have pointed to the conditions and a handful of missed scoring chances as reason to question how much the result should really count, even as Minnesotas defensive effort deserves plenty of credit on its own. The debate has only added another layer to a rivalry game that already felt like a referendum on how much patience Chicago has left for Caleb Williams and the offense around him. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Eye A Major Backfield Upgrade Before The Deadline
The trade deadline chatter around Saquon Barkley has put a spotlight on a few teams that could use a backfield jolt, and Minnesota is firmly in that mix. The Vikings have reason to at least take the phone call seriously, especially with the way their run game has looked and the uncertainty hanging over their current rotation.
Aaron Jones has not provided the same production he once did, and Jordan Mason is dealing with a fractured thumb, which leaves the Vikings in a spot where help would make sense. If Philadelphia were ever willing to move Barkley, Minnesota could be one of the more aggressive teams watching closely, even if the price and timing still make this a situation to monitor rather than a done deal. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Backfield Move Just Put A Bigger Possibility In Play
The Vikings made a roster adjustment before facing the Colts, releasing DeeJay Dallas to clear the way for Jordan Mason to come off injured reserve. It was the kind of backfield move teams make this time of year, but it also gave Minnesota a little more clarity heading into a matchup where the ground game will matter, especially with Mason returning and the Vikings looking to settle in around their current rotation.
At the same time, the broader running back picture around Indianapolis has a way of keeping Minnesota in the conversation. Jonathan Taylor remains under contract after his extension with the Colts, and while there is no indication a deal is imminent, the Vikings have been floated as a possible destination if circumstances ever change. The connection is worth watching because Colts interim general manager Ed Dodds has ties to Vikings GM Nolan Teasley, a thread that could matter if the situation around Taylor ever turns into something more than background noise. [Read more 🡒]