Sunday’s Vikings-Buccaneers matchup comes with a twist: the most important name might not be the one fans expected. Tyler Forness made the case that T.J. Hockenson is the real key to Minnesota’s Week 3 trip to Tampa Bay, even with Kyler Murray back in the mix and Brian Flores’ defense rolling.
Forness, speaking on The Real Forno Show with Producer Dave Stefano, said Murray’s return changes the shape of the offense in a major way. Murray played just 11 snaps in Week 1, but his mobility gives Kevin O’Connell an element this group has not had before.
“We don’t know what this offense is going to be. Nobody really does, and I’m really excited to find out because the idea of a player like Kyler Murray in this system is really fun,” Forness said.
He also pointed to the way Todd Bowles likes to defend. Bowles has called single-high coverage at a league-second 70.8%, and Forness believes that is exactly the kind of look Justin Jefferson can punish. “If you give me Jefferson single high, I don’t care if Kyler Murray throws four interceptions because you take those shots,” he said.
Still, Forness kept coming back to Hockenson as the matchup that could swing the day. “T.J.
Hockenson is your key player on Sunday. Write it down.”
His reasoning centered on Tampa Bay’s linebacker situation, with Josiah Trotter likely out and Alex Anzalone carrying a 23% missed tackle rate. That opens the door for Hockenson in the seam and on choice routes against a Buccaneers defense that leans heavily on man coverage.
The defense, meanwhile, is giving Minnesota a foundation that looks sustainable. Forness said Flores’ unit is built to force opponents into their own mistakes. “They take a look at your protection rules and they exploit them… Taking what you do, shoving it down your throat.”
He also emphasized that the Vikings’ defense is No. 1 in success rate allowed at 38%, a sign that the production is not just a one-week burst.
The injury picture in Minnesota’s backfield remains a concern, though. Forness described the running back room as one injury away from trouble, with Aaron Jones injury-prone, Jordan Mason out, and Demond Claiborne still not trusted.
There was also praise for the way the Vikings are using Dallas Turner, with Forness noting, “not everybody who plays edge rusher can do the things that Dallas Turner’s doing.” He gave Kwesi Adofo-Mensah credit for finding value in Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez as undrafted and late-round contributors.
On the other side, the Buccaneers’ pass rush has not been much of a threat. Rueben Bain Jr. has yet to record a pressure and may not play, and Tampa Bay managed only 4 to 6 pressures in Week 2.
Up front for Minnesota, the left side of the line has been a bright spot with Christian Darrisaw and Donovan Jackson playing well, while Will Fries remains a longer-term question.
Forness closed by saying Murray’s presence should lift the offense, even if the full picture is still coming into focus. “I think it’s going to raise the floor significantly, but we still have to see it,” he said.
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