The Minnesota Vikings enter Week 3 with two divisional wins in hand, and that alone changes the temperature around this team. A Sunday matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now offers a chance to make it 3-0, while the rest of the NFC North has already given Minnesota a little extra help.
Green Bay’s loss to the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night only sharpened that feeling. The Packers were embarrassed at home on international livestream, and the source of the delight was not exactly subtle.
Minnesota, meanwhile, already owns a win over Green Bay from Week 1, when the Vikings hung around long enough for the Packers to do Packer things and blow a lead in a 17-point loss. In Week 2, Minnesota handled the rain at Soldier Field and walked out with a 9-3 win behind backup quarterback Carson Wentz.
That start raises the obvious question: are the Vikings really this good, or have they simply faced softer competition? Through two games, it is still hard to say the current pace is sustainable.
But the defense looks like the real thing. After some vulnerability in Week 1 on deep balls to Christian Watson, Brian Flores tightened the screws, and Minnesota finished the home opener by shutting Green Bay out in the second half.
The offense is still the part that needs the most clarity. So far, it has leaned on the run, and that approach has helped Minnesota control the clock and win these first two games.
But with Aaron Jones banged up and in the later phase of his career, more passing may be coming. If Deejay Dallas and Demond Claiborne are the alternative options in the backfield, the case for throwing more often gets even stronger.
From there, the focus shifts to the quarterback question that frames the rest of the discussion. The question posed was simple: “Is Kyler Murray going to be a successful starting quarterback for the Vikings this season?”
A three-rune reading followed, with the first rune, Algiz, standing for the past or situation. It translates to elk/protection and serves as a shield against negative energy.
In this reading, it was tied to the narrative around Murray, whose time in Arizona did not end well and who has plenty of people calling him “overrated” or “washed.” The interpretation here was that Murray has not lost his confidence.
It also fit the idea of him being in a prove-it year on a vet minimum salary, there to play and win football games.
The second rune was Perthro, which translates to fate and carries an emphasis on rebirth. It also brings mystery and the sense of hidden knowledge.
In this case, the challenge for Murray was framed as reinventing himself to get the most out of his game. That kind of growth, the reading suggested, fits Kevin O’Connell’s coaching style.
The idea is not that Murray transforms overnight, but that any real rebirth would unfold across the season.
The final rune was Hagalaz, which represents hail, the wrath of nature, uncontrolled forces, and destruction. Presented upright, it was interpreted as a reminder of the chaos that comes with an NFL season. But the reading also leaned into the word destruction in two different ways: the destruction of the current narrative around Murray, and the destruction of opponents.
Minnesota has already beaten the Packers at home and Chicago on the road. The hope, at least in this reading, is for more of that to come - even if it eventually means a revenge playoff game against the anointed NFC favorite LA Rams. For now, though, the bigger picture is simpler: the Vikings need to keep winning the division and change the perception that they fade after strong regular seasons.
The reading ended on a positive note for Murray and for the Vikings’ season as a whole. Tampa Bay should reveal a lot about where this is headed. If the defense keeps playing at this level and Murray protects the football, the expectation is for a fruitful Sunday.
In Other News...
Vikings Win Came With A Bigger NFC Twist Fans Will Notice
The Vikings left Week 3 with a win, but the result carried a wider NFC ripple after Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was knocked out late in the fourth quarter. He injured his right thumb while throwing and was replaced by rookie backup Jalon Daniels, a late-game shift that immediately added another layer to a game Minnesota had already controlled enough to close out.
Mayfield is expected to miss time and will get an MRI to determine just how serious the damage is, which matters far beyond Tampa Bays sideline. For a Vikings team trying to build momentum in a crowded conference race, the injury to a familiar NFC opponent is the kind of development fans notice right away, especially with the playoff picture never staying quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Are Sending A Clear Message On J.J. McCarthy
The Giants latest quarterback move says plenty about how the market is viewing Minnesotas depth chart. With Jaxson Dart confirmed out for the rest of the regular season, New York is lining up a trade for J.J. McCarthy, sending a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Vikings in a deal that would give the Giants a more stable backup option behind Jameis Winston.
For Minnesota, the move is another reminder of where McCarthy stands after arriving as a 2024 first-round pick. He remains under contract through 2027 with a fifth-year option for 2028, so the Vikings still have control for the long haul, but this kind of interest also underscores how other teams are still willing to invest in him as a quarterback worth developing. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Need DeeJay Dallas Fast And His Rise Says Plenty
DeeJay Dallas went from the Vikings practice squad to the active roster in a hurry after Jordan Mason landed on injured reserve, and the timing makes his arrival feel a lot bigger than a routine depth move. Minnesota has already gotten a taste of Dallas in the first two games of the season, where he has chipped in on offense and special teams, and the teams thinning backfield has only raised the importance of having someone who can be trusted in multiple roles.
What stands out is how quickly Dallas has taken to the Vikings offense and how familiar he already is with the organization and coaching staff. In a season where injuries have already started reshaping the running back room, that kind of comfort can matter just as much as raw ability, and it gives Minnesota a player who may need to be ready for a much larger role sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]