Thanks to a brief appearance in Week 1 and two starts in Weeks 3 and 4, Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t look much like Kyler Murray. The offensive version of rookie of the year. The double Pro Bowler version. The Road Runner version.
On Sunday, “meep meep” made its way to New Orleans.
Murray looked like the Murray of old again. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a passer rating of 109.6. He added 51 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
According to the Vikings, this performance made Murray the first quarterback in franchise history to throw for 200 or more yards with an 80 percent completion percentage while rushing for 50 or more yards.
The first hint of the offense’s awakening came last week, after the Dolphins cut the score in the Week 4 game to 12-10 late in the third quarter. Murray engineered the drive that extended the lead to five, then, after a three-and-out, Murray guided the offense to consume the rest of the clock.
Indeed, since Miami’s touchdown on the penultimate play of the third quarter, Murray has completed 36 of 43 passes (83.7%).
It was different this week, with Murray playing well from start to finish. Even with some significant momentum-shifting errors, Murray and the Minnesota offense were never rattled. After the Saints returned a Myles Price fumble 87 yards for the tying touchdown, the Vikings drove 70 yards in six plays for the go-ahead touchdown. Another scored goal provided the final margin of 23-13.
Now the Vikings enter the bye with a chance to get healthy and prepare for games against the Colts, Lions, Bills, Packers and 49ers in a Sunday night showdown in Mexico City.
Gn sports
