PERFECTLY UGLY

VIKINGS 23

BUCCANEERS 16

The most important thing to come out of this game is further evidence that we have a Vikings defense that could be generationally great. 

And we know this because for the 2nd straight week, that defense bailed out a largely hideous performance from the offense.

Kyler Murray was back after missing a week with a concussion. The Vikings were facing a Bucs squad that was 0-2, and considering that and last season's collapse, have a head coach in Todd Bowles whose seat has to be blazing hot.

A desperate team can be dangerous, but the Vikings assumed control early. An opening drive field goal and a fantastic 86-yard punt return touchdown by Myles Price paced them to a 10-0 lead. 

Tampa responded with a TD drive, really the only series all day they got the best of our defense. And a short time later, they added a field goal to tie things up. The Vikings offense had negative yards since their opening drive (and lost Justin Jefferson to an ankle injury), but awoke following the game being tied. Murray fired downfield, and hit two big plays to Jordan Addison, the 2nd a leaping grab at the endzone to get the lead back.

Hilariously, the next THIRTEEN drives combined gained no more than 17 yards. Punt after punt. Tampa actually closed the gap after a batted Murray pass was picked, but Tampa couldn't move the ball.

Brian Flores's defense was dominating Mayfield just like it dominated Caleb Williams. The Vikings offense was shutting itself down through an odious combination of poor play and dreadful playcalling. 

As good as the defense played, when your offense can't pad the lead, you're always just one mistake away from getting burned. A stupid personal foul on Josh Metellus prolonged a Tampa drive, but the defense stiffened and only let up a field goal to cut the lead to 1.

The Vikings followed this by getting to the edge of field goal range themselves. A pair of penalties left them with a tricky choice of punting or trying a 56-yard field goal. But Will Reichard continues to be an amazing weapon, and he drilled the kick.

The next series might get Bowles fired. Faced with a 4th and long in their own end, he chose to go for it instead of punting with 3 timeouts. The defense made Mayfield run for his life, backwards, eventually firing a prayer that was picked off by the Gink. Worse for Tampa, Mayfield's hand hit someone's helmet and he was done (potentially for weeks) with a thumb injury. 

That was pretty much it. The Vikings ate up most of the remaining clock, Reichard kicked another field goal, and the defense fended off a couple fruitless throws from rookie backup Jalon Daniels. 

Being 3-0 is great. Having this defense is great. The rest of the division being weak so far is great. This could be a special season.

But what is up with this offense? There's no weather excuse this week. You had your QB1. Jefferson was out, but this offense has looked a mess most of the season regardless of personnel. Everything looks chaotic and hard. 

I can't put the blame anywhere but on KOC at this point. He calls the plays. He is the one stubbornly trying to make Murray a full time pocket passer. Why even sign Murray if you aren't going to utilize his legs? 

And why is he trying to kill Aaron Jones? Jones has already been banged up, but he's getting virtually all the carries, even at the end when they were just killing clock. Jones will not survive the season like this.

Stacking wins when things aren't clicking means you get more time to fix them. The Vikings have a very good chance to hit the bye at 4-1 at worst. But I'm already looking down the line at tougher games coming after, against teams who you WILL need to perform well on offense to beat. I don't want this to go to waste.