The Minnesota Vikings have opened 2-0 by embracing a far more conservative formula than the high-volume passing attack Kevin O’Connell once envisioned, and the approach delivered a rain-soaked 9-3 road win over the Chicago Bears. With quarterback Kyler Murray expected back for Sunday’s visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota hopes its passing game can begin to catch up with its defense, special teams and recent run of victories.
Key takeaways
- Minnesota has won seven straight games dating to last season and will face Tampa Bay at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox.
- The Vikings have called designed runs on 50% of their offensive snaps this season, trailing only Seattle in that category.
- Murray played just 11 snaps before suffering a concussion in Week 1, while running back Jordan Mason was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury.
- Minnesota has produced an NFL-low 13 plays of at least 10 yards through two games.
- The Vikings are tied with Seattle and Cincinnati for the fewest giveaways in the league, with one turnover.
Winning has reshaped Minnesota’s offensive approach
O’Connell’s message after the Soldier Field victory focused on the result rather than the style. He praised his players for continuing to search for solutions during a difficult game, then drove home the larger point: the outcome is what counts.
The head coach has increasingly emphasized that lesson entering his fifth season in Minnesota. From 2022 through 2024, the Vikings ranked third in the NFL with 12,886 passing yards despite using designed runs on only 35.3% of offensive plays, the fifth-lowest rate in the league. Justin Jefferson was at the center of that identity, averaging an NFL-best 100.4 receiving yards per game across those seasons.
Since then, the production has shifted dramatically. Minnesota ranks 31st in passing yards over that span with 3,093, while its 197 offensive gains of 10 or more yards are the fifth-fewest in the NFL. The Vikings have failed to reach 200 passing yards in 16 of their last 21 games.
That does not mean O’Connell has abandoned his preferred approach. He said he still values explosive plays and wants the offense to take available yardage while operating with the precision he expects from his quarterbacks and receivers.
But circumstances have required a different formula. Murray’s concussion limited him in the opener, Mason’s injury depleted the backfield after one week, and heavy rain in Chicago made last Sunday’s game especially difficult for a passing attack led by backup Carson Wentz.
Rather than force the issue, O’Connell leaned on the ground game and avoided the mistakes that can flip close games. Minnesota’s defense and special teams have supported that approach, ranking third and seventh in expected points added, respectively, during the broader stretch of reduced offensive production.
Jefferson, Addison and the passing game await their opportunity
A dry afternoon against Chicago likely would have prompted Minnesota to attack through the air more aggressively, especially after the Bears had surrendered 387 passing yards to the Carolina Panthers in their previous game. Instead, the conditions dictated a low-scoring contest and a restrained offensive plan.
Jefferson enters Week 3 ranked 20th in the NFL at 73.5 receiving yards per game. Jordan Addison has only two catches on seven targets, and no other Vikings wide receiver has recorded a reception through two games.
Jefferson said he would welcome the huge individual numbers that come with a 150-yard, three-touchdown performance, but he viewed the Chicago game as one in which production had to take a back seat to execution and team success. He pointed to the weather, hostile setting and adversity as reasons the Vikings needed to rely on one another rather than chase statistics.
O’Connell cited Jefferson’s willingness to view the bigger picture, while stressing that Minnesota’s modest passing totals reflect unusual circumstances rather than a fundamental offensive malfunction. He noted that a Bears defensive holding call cost the Vikings a chance at a much larger gain, believing Jefferson otherwise had a strong chance for a 68-yard touchdown. A pass interference penalty would have placed the ball at the spot of the foul instead of bringing only five yards.
The coach also highlighted Addison’s blocking work and said the receiver’s statistical breakout will come. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips echoed that confidence, saying the unit understands it must continue developing and be ready to carry the team in games when the defense and special teams need help.
For now, Minnesota’s priority remains clear: protect the football, adjust to the opponent and health of the roster, and find a way to win each Sunday. The next opportunity comes in Tampa, where the Vikings will look to extend their streak while giving Murray and the passing offense a chance to regain their rhythm.
