Not Too Shabby

badgervike wrote:

https://x.com/Brawl_w_TimPaul/status/2106941940314870180?s=20

Lots of folks on X this morning trying to gaslight fans into thinking Kyler played well yesterday. Sadly, most of us have eyes.

We got the win so I’m happy but if this team is serious then Kyler and the offense needs to play waaaaay better. Pretending that yesterday was good enough isn’t helpful.

Bullazin wrote:

97% of us wanted Sam Darnold out of town, so you can count on us for objective reasoning. Seems half the board doesn't like our 47-25 Head Coach.
This offense is going to be fine, Murray was pretty good yesterday, that seam throw to Hock over the LB's head was a thing of beauty. Great to see Murray and Hock start rolling, just makes me think we can be "Dangerous in December".

Raising my hand; I was in for letting Sammie walk...

BIG mistake

I dont know if K1 is going to be the long-term guy here or not? But I'm hoping the trajectory is continued improvement. I hate to waste another year of Jettas and having BFlo here.

purplefaithful wrote:

Raising my hand; I was in for letting Sammie walk...
BIG mistake
I dont know if K1 is going to be the long-term guy here or not? But I'm hoping the trajectory is continued improvement. I hate to waste another year of Jettas and having BFlo here.

We dont need accountability from the classy ones PF lol. Hell even I relented on Sammie after the playoff, and here we are a new GM and 3 QB's later.

Murray took baby steps yesterday(Is that by necessity/design lol?) He was accurate and took care of the ball. There continue to be some crossed wires on routes and checks, and his cadence is still being worked on by the OL, but all the signals are there for this thing to grow.

pattersaur wrote:

Lots of folks on X this morning trying to gaslight fans into thinking Kyler played well yesterday. Sadly, most of us have eyes.
We got the win so I’m happy but if this team is serious then Kyler and the offense needs to play waaaaay better. Pretending that yesterday was good enough isn’t helpful.

Maybe on X, not surprising...

I dont see anyone here saying we've arrived on offense...Just that there were some positive signs that "could be seen" if someone wanted to acknowledge em...

But I get the state of Vikings Nation and ptsd, nothing new

Additional adjustments. In week 4 no less. Go figure.

pattersaur wrote:

Lots of folks on X this morning trying to gaslight fans into thinking Kyler played well yesterday. Sadly, most of us have eyes.
We got the win so I’m happy but if this team is serious then Kyler and the offense needs to play waaaaay better. Pretending that yesterday was good enough isn’t helpful.

There is no doubt that the game was yet another WTF moment. Murray going 13-14 and ran out the clock when it mattered most is noteworthy particularly with a patched up Blind Side (was there actually a Caleb Tiernan sighting?) and despite the penalties that could have upended that 4th quarter performance. They did all of that without their best player. I like Addison as a #2 but I think he might just be another of the "other guys" that play opposite JJ.

They held the ball and finished it out. They even made a well coached slide by TJH at the end to take a game ending kneel down. Hock didn't do the math and come up with that by himself in the middle of the play. I'll bet those that took the over on the -9.5 spread are fuming today.

So..when it mattered most...Murray and a depleted offense came through. Is it a trend or an anomaly? I don't know. I do know the social media age is prone to hyperbole so I tend to ignore it. Like those that are sure that KOC is on the verge of being fired. He has the highest winning percentage of any Vikings coach in the history of the franchise. Even higher than Bud Grant who has a lot in common with KOC. Both had game changing Defenses that defined their teams. Grant also had the luxury or a HOF QB. KOC has done it with 9 different QBs including the likes of Dobbs and Hall. Big difference. They also have another thing in common...neither won a Superbowl.

So..on to the Saints. We'll see what happens for that one. They've all been odd so far this year. Hopefully, the 4th quarter yesterday was a turning point.

Somewhere in the 3rd quarter there seemed to be something different about him, he seemed more comfortable and at home, maybe it all just began to slow down for him and he was able to settle in. At least we saw a QB who able to throw the ball from point A to point B, which at this point is something to feel more optimistic about. Hopefully, he can build on that next week and we can begin to look like a NFL offense again.

Jets out combined with Jennings complete ineffectiveness has not helped, teams can double Addison and take him away, hopefully he is able to come back next week, otherwise we really need to have someone else take over the #2 WR spot.

Vanguard83 wrote:

Was it me or did it seem like O'Neil got his ass kicked all day?

StickierBuns wrote:

He played better late for sure as I mentioned in another thread. The home crowd was booing the offense SO much most of the game, crazy stuff. I'll focus on the positives and the run game is certainly one of those. And keep in mind: if TJ doesn't do the very smart thing and lay down before the goal line, Murray would have had a TD pass on this stats as well. Game would have felt a little different to some fans with a 22-10 ending, which for all intents and purposes it was.
Still left as a fan not exactly sure what kind of team it is. But damn if 4-0 doesn't look great. 👍
https://x.com/aryanbundles/status/2106919360782553521?s=46&t=ohFAAgt56m6anXyDpx1btQ

Yeah, that was a pro's pro right there. KMs stat line, the offense, TJ, everyone looks so much better with that TD. But that didn't matter, the win did. I like the character of the team. If Murray and KOC can get in sync, our offense could be good. Murray needs to hit those layups, put the ball in a catchable spot for Jones and Felton rather than make them scrape it off the ground. But I saw signs of life. That was what we were hoping for this week (aside from another win).

Jefferson, Murray, they will help a ton. Jones had nearly 100 yards, 4.7 yards per carry. That isn't too shabby. Claiborne had a few, 4.0 per carry.

Bottom line, we are winning but haven't peaked yet. If we keep building and stacking wins, we will be a very dangerous team come January.

edit: didn't have 7.0 ypc, rather 4.7. Still very good.

^This

JR44 wrote:

Jennings complete ineffectiveness has not helped

Jauan Jennings stats through Week 4 (3 games played):

- 2 receptions
- 4 targets
- 9 receiving yards pic.twitter.com/pWZumHhFp3

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) October 5, 2026

pattersaur wrote:

Lots of folks on X this morning trying to gaslight fans into thinking Kyler played well yesterday. Sadly, most of us have eyes.
We got the win so I’m happy but if this team is serious then Kyler and the offense needs to play waaaaay better. Pretending that yesterday was good enough isn’t helpful.

He didn't play well. Anyone that thinks that is just talking. It was a team, an NFL team I get it, that will have the #1 overall pick in 2027. The 4th quarter that whole team quit. It wasn't because Kyler showed he "figured" it out.

Cricket wrote:

https://x.com/SleeperVikings/status/2107134266954117611?s=20

Abysmal...On the same path as Allen/Hargrave?

I hope not

He cant be happy right now either.

purplefaithful wrote:

Abysmal...On the same path as Allen/Hargrave?
I hope not
He cant be happy right now either.

JMO, but I really don't care if WR3 is happy or not. I didn't care last season if Jefferson was happy or not. Win games until things are figured out offensively, and that's what is happening. If we are still talking abysmal offense in 2 more games, yep heap on the criticism and I'll be in line for that. The Kyler supporters are already moving the goalposts for him, but he needs a full game of competency before that's even a consideration. A bad Saints defense awaits this struggling offense so giddy up.

I'll say this and its my own observation only: KOC in these pressers looks stressed. I think Kyler is leaving some meat on the bone out there as he learns this offense. The line is still inconsistent in pass protect. Its bad for business to be booed on offense at home and the home fans have seen stinky ass offensive play all of last year and now this season. Fans today don't want wins as much as they want pretty.

I’m curious, which goalposts are being moved?

Is acknowledging that Jefferson hasn’t been available moving goalposts or just reality? That several key pieces have started dropping like flies? Mason, Oliver, and now Jackson? Goalposts or reality?

Has Murray looked rusty? Absolutely. Has he shown improvement in the second half of the Phins game? Absolutely. Does that need to continue? Absolutely.

Weird how no one other than myself has noticed the adjustments KO made for the Phins.

Weirder still is supposed fans decrying wins. Find another team if the wins aren’t fucking pretty enough.

JFC. What a fan base.

JustInTime wrote:

I’m curious, which goalposts are being moved?
Is acknowledging that Jefferson hasn’t been available moving goalposts or just reality? That several key pieces have started dropping like flies? Mason, Oliver, and now Jackson? Goalposts or reality?
Has Murray looked rusty? Absolutely. Has he shown improvement in the second half of the Phins game? Absolutely. Does that need to continue? Absolutely.
Weird how no one other than myself has noticed the adjustments KO made for the Phins.
Weirder still is supposed fans decrying wins. Find another team if the wins aren’t fucking pretty enough.
JFC. What a fan base.

The goalposts being moved are Kyler is a vet....he brings maturity and would hit the ground running in this offense...he'll find the open guys. Now its 'he needs time in this offense'. Time with 'Justin Jefferson'. Are we going to deny he doesn't look skittish in the pocket? Where are the deep accurate shots? That was also the plus supposedly with K1, he'd 'open up the offense'. And he was supposed to be dynamic and avoid sacks with his feet, not seeing that yet.

I've already defended the wins, its all I've done. But don't be so sensitive to Kyler criticism. I've also talked about the upside still. Kyler hasn't done shit yet to win a football game for Minnesota. I'm not the person to be mad at on this, because I've also called out other fans for not embracing the Ws. Kyler has been QB1 in this offense since when, August 14th? Also the run game has been more effective in these 4 games than anytime last year which should be helping Murray. We had 3 times as many injuries last year than so far this year. I was sold that his guy just needed his 'baseline' to put us in the stratosphere....I guess that meant at midseason?

If Kyler is on the come now, fantastic. I've also mentioned this might be the case. But propping up one ok half of football doesn't mean a trend until we see more obviously. Its a long season and he'll have plenty of time to prove his worth, but putting his troubles down to being 'rusty' isn't what was projected by some on this board going into Game 5. Not sure why that's upsetting, its just more correct to admit he's not been SO FAR as advertised. I'm waiting for that breakout game, hopefully it comes Sunday.

Just win, baby.

Kept hearing that, no?

Whatever

JustInTime wrote:

Just win, baby.
Kept hearing that, no?
Whatever

Yeah, I did say that 😄 But are you going to say with a straight face that Murray has had ANYTHING to do with it? I mean the offense under Murray is last in the league....a wet stump could do that. Not sure why the Murray fans can't say he's a work in progress? Without the D playing like the best in the league, by far, this team is 0-4. Am I lying? Is it the worst thing to say K1 has underperformed so far?

Here's a nice article supporting K1 taking some time to jell. Fingers crossed 👍 Its a 'gift' article I believe so everyone can read it:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7663953/2026/10/06/kyler-murray-vikings-kevin-oconnell-offense/

JustInTime wrote:

Just win, baby.
Kept hearing that, no?
Whatever

Well, when you are lectured all off-season about how if the baseline QB play was even average we would be a Super Bowl contender and we signed a former 2-time Pro Bowl veteran QB who was a former #1 overall pick, talented as heck, was in a shit situation, is now surrounded by the best coaching and team than he's ever had (taking a breath)... and the baseline QB play has literally been as bad (or worse) than last year during our 5 game win streak to close the season... Forgive fans for expecting more now that we're 4 weeks into the season. The QB play HAS to get better or we won't make a playoff run despite a sweet 4-0 start.

What fans are saying right now is no different than what you and Maroon were preaching all off-season. I'll give Murray time, but I expected more glimpses of this talent than we've seen so far.