Ryan Clark didn’t waste any time taking a swipe at Minnesota’s offense after the Vikings escaped with a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
The former NFL safety mocked the unit in an X post, pointing to how much the defense has carried the team through the season’s first stretch.
“Vikings have such a luxury. Can stink it up all day, but that defense always keeps them in striking distance.
Score 1 TD and just like that, you good!” Clark tweeted.
That line fit the script again on Sunday. Minnesota was still trailing 10-6 entering the fourth quarter before quarterback Kyler Murray put together the drive that flipped the game.
His 35-yard scramble set up a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson, and that was enough to give the Vikings their first lead of the day.
Murray finished 14-of-24 for 150 passing yards and one touchdown, while also adding 39 rushing yards. Even with the win, the offense’s numbers remain light: the Vikings have produced only 10 touchdowns through their first six games.
The defense, though, keeps showing up and swallowing games whole. Linebacker Blake Cashman was everywhere, piling up 12 tackles, two sacks and four passes defended while helping slow down Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones. Then safety Harrison Smith put the finish on it with an interception in the final minutes.
That has been the pattern in Minnesota’s start. The Vikings have given up just 74 points through six games, the fewest in the NFL. They’ve also allowed only three points in fourth quarters this season.
While the on-field issue remains the offense’s inconsistency, there’s already chatter about what Minnesota might do if Murray doesn’t find his rhythm. The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen floated the idea of the Vikings exploring a reunion with Kirk Cousins.
Nguyen wrote that Minnesota should give Murray more time before making any move, but he noted Cousins as an option if the team grows desperate before the November 10 deadline.
“I think you still give Murray a couple of games to get it together. In-season quarterback trades rarely work out,” Nguyen wrote. “If the Vikings are really desperate to make a move closer to the deadline, they should consider trading for Cousins.”
Cousins has 16 touchdown passes and 1,877 passing yards for the Las Vegas Raiders through seven games. His time in Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system could make him a natural fit if Minnesota goes that route.
There’s one catch, though: the Raiders would have to be willing to move their veteran quarterback, especially if they decide to pivot toward rookie Fernando Mendoza.
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Jonathan Taylor Just Showed The Vikings What They're Missing
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For Minnesota, the reminder is obvious: a back like Taylor changes the feel of a game and gives an offense a different kind of edge. It is easy to see why his fit would be appealing here, even if the reality around any pursuit is more complicated, with no indication the Colts are eager to move him. [Read more 🡒]