The Vikings walk into Tampa with a perfect record, but the more interesting storyline is what kind of team they might actually be becoming now that Kyler Murray is back under center. Through two weeks, Minnesota has won in two very different ways - first with Murray briefly leaving Week 1 against the Packers after a concussion, then grinding through brutal weather in Week 2 against the Bears.
That’s not a clean identity. It’s survival.
Sunday against the winless Buccaneers offers a better read on where this thing is headed, and there are a few bold calls worth making before kickoff.
Start with Murray himself. It’s easy to get stuck on the first impression - an interception on his first pass in Purple and Gold - but the bigger picture points toward a more controlled approach.
After Carson Wentz kept the offense moving by protecting the ball, Murray and Kevin O’Connell are likely to keep hammering the same message: live to fight another down. That doesn’t mean the Vikings will go conservative across the board, but it does mean a balance between security and shot-taking feels like the plan.
Murray also has a reason to be cautious with his legs. That Week 1 hit that led to the concussion changes the calculation, and it would make sense for him to take off only when the lane is clean and he can get down or step out safely.
Fewer unnecessary collisions also means fewer chances for a fumble. The one area that could still spoil things is the exchange with center Blake Brandel, whose transition to the position has been a recurring concern since camp.
On the defensive side, Dallas Turner looks ready to keep making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. He has opened the 2026 season with 20 pressures and three sacks, and the speed off the line has been obvious.
Tampa’s tackles gave up only one pressure each in Sunday’s loss to the Browns, according to Pro Football Focus, so Turner won’t have an easy path. But the Buccaneers have already allowed seven sacks through two games, tied for third-most in the NFL, and Brian Flores has plenty of ways to keep Turner attacking.
The call here: Turner gets at least one sack.
The other player set up for a jump is Jordan Addison. It’s been a rough start - just two catches for 21 yards - but that’s also a product of the quarterback situation.
With Murray back, the matchup feels different. Justin Jefferson will command most of the attention, and Murray’s ability to move around should help create windows for Addison.
This is also a receiver trying to build toward a long-term extension after the Vikings picked up his fifth-year option this spring, so a breakout would arrive at the right time.
There’s even a little history on Addison’s side. His first NFL touchdown came in the Vikings’ last meeting with the Buccaneers, and he added 61 receiving yards on four catches in that 2023 game. That’s enough to make a big day feel within reach.
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Vikings Have A Receiver Problem Their 2-0 Start Can't Hide
The Vikings are 2-0, but the early offense has already made one thing clear: everything still runs through Justin Jefferson. Minnesota has leaned heavily on its star receiver while the rest of the wideout room has struggled to keep pace, leaving the passing game far more top-heavy than the record suggests. After two games, the secondary receivers have combined for only two catches for 27 yards, a thin return for a group the team needs to be more dependable.
Jordan Addison, the No. 2 option, has not matched the production he showed in previous seasons, and the rest of the depth chart has yet to offer much help. Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton and Myles Price have all been quiet, and the Vikings have had to navigate quarterback changes and injuries along the way. The next stretch against Tampa Bay and Miami could offer a chance to straighten things out, but for now the early wins have not masked a receiving problem that still needs solving. [Read more 🡒]
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Harbaughs own situation in Los Angeles only adds another layer to the conversation. Justin Herbert has not looked like the same player under him, and the Chargers are staring at a difficult stretch of schedule that could sharpen the pressure on everyone involved. For Vikings fans, the larger possibility is hard to ignore: if McCarthy does not settle the position, the ripple effects could reach well beyond Minnesotas depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Get A Crucial Boost While Another Week 3 Problem Emerges
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The Vikings are still walking into a matchup with some moving parts on both sidelines. Tampa Bay will be without rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter, while Baker Mayfield was a full participant in practice after dealing with an illness, leaving Minnesota to sort through its own health questions while preparing for a division test that could hinge on stability in the kicking game and protection up front. [Read more 🡒]