It’s a win. It wasn’t a pretty win. Actually, it was a nice game from the defense and special teams but the Vikings offense has to get better. A lot better.
I’d like to say that the Vikings offense looked rough because receiver Justin Jefferson left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He spent most of the rest of the first half on the sideline with his helmet on his head and looking itchy to get back in the game. He never got back in the game and the offense definitely missed him.
Kyler Murray looked out of sync all game. Very little looked right with him. At least he finished the game. Murray’s best throw was his first throw. It was probably the only throw that looked in rhythm. Of course, the throw went to Justin Jefferson. A nice 22-yarder to start one of the two best drives of the game. The last offensive play of the drive was a 10-yard catch-and-run to Jefferson. Unfortunately, that 10-yard play was on 3rd-and-19. The Vikings had to settle for a 54-yard Will Reichard field goal.
The other good drive of the game came after the Buccaneers had tied the score at 10-10. Unlike the first good drive, this good drive ended with a touchdown. Four plays, 73 yards. 71 of those yards came on two plays. The first was a 30-yard sideline throw to Jordan Addison. The great toe-tapping catch of Addison saved Kyler Murray from another overthrow. Three players later, Murray chucked a 41-yard pass to Addison. He caught the ball at about the three, hit the ground untouched, and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. 17-10 Vikings with about four minutes remaining in the first half. That was the score at the half.
Thanks to strong defenses on both sides, neither of the offenses moved the ball much. The Buccaneers punted nine times. The Vikings punted 8 times. 17 punts. The teams combined for 20 first downs. Combined, the offenses were 4-32 on third down. It was that sort of game.
The difference in the game may have been the 86-yard punt return touchdown by Myles Price. It’s been ten years since the Vikings returned a punt for a touchdown. Price showed big return potential as a rookie last season. His 68-yard kick return in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers was one of the key plays in that wild comeback win. His 86-yard punt return score yesterday against the Buccaneers provided the winning margin. On a day the Vikings offense struggled, the special teams score was critical.
After a rough first half in the Week 1 game against the Packers, the Vikings defense has been outstanding. With the offensive struggles, the Vikings needed that sort of performance.
Kyler Murray and the Vikings offense have to get things figured out. Hopefully, Justin Jefferson misses zero games. Things can get difficult when a team loses their best and most explosive player. Still, the Vikings have too many playmakers, not named Jefferson, on offense to make moving the chains so difficult. Maybe being at home next week will ignite the offense. Next up is a home game against the Miami Dolphins. A rematch of Super Bowl VIII.
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