A Quick Synopsis
The Minnesota Vikings are going into Week 3 with two major victories over divisional opponents. Hopefully, after Sunday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, our favorite football team is 3-0.
On another note, the divisional rival Green Bay Packers were absolutely embarrassed by the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons, at home, on international livestream (lol). I have to say I am LOVING this new era of Packer football. The years of Hall of Fame quarterbacks are over! I foresee a fired head coach in the near future.
In week 1, the Vikings were able to hang in the game long enough for the Packers to do Packer things and blow a lead to end up losing by 17 points. In week 2, the Vikings reigned victorious on a drenched Soldier Field with a 9-3 field goal bonanza extravaganza. Minnesota did this with backup quarterback Carson Wentz.
Divisional wins are always important, especially early in the season, when the division is known as one of the most competitive in football. However, Green Bay’s abysmal performance on Thursday night has me wondering: are the Vikings actually good, or have we played weak opponents? Only being two games into the season, it is difficult to know whether the current path is sustainable. I think this defense is legitimately a top-tier unit.
After showing weakness in game one against long passes to Christian Watson, Flores really clamped down, and Minnesota closed out the home opener holding Green Bay to zero points in the second half. If we ignore the first half of that game, the Vikings are looking great.
We know what this defense is capable of. What we still don’t know is how effective this offense can truly be with Kyler Murray behind center. We have so far seen an offense that is committed to the run, which has helped with the time of possession battle and, I believe, has been a huge contributor to the success in these first two wins. However, with Aaron Jones banged up, and in the later phase of an NFL running back career, I anticipate we will see significantly more passing plays and Kyler scrambling for a million yards. Jones needs a break this week, and if Deejay Dallas and Demond Claiborne are the alternative options to hand off to, I’d say passing the ball is the best option.
Shall We Consult the Gods?
Now that I’ve gotten some of my thoughts and feelings out of the way, it’s time to base the rest of this piece on the eternal wisdom of Odin and Co. Last week was the first rune reading I did for the Minnesota Vikings, where I asked if the Vikings have a path to the playoffs.
The answer that I received was a rousing: “Yes, maybe, depending on what challenges the team faces and how they approach those challenges.” This practice does not generate results in a yes-or-no fashion; instead, it is meant to guide your actions to achieve the outcomes that you desire. It is about gaining insight into the past and present. I asked the Daily Norseman faithful to propose some questions in the feed. There were definitely some interesting ones, but what I want to focus on involves the quarterback position.
Here is the question I posed: “Is Kyler Murray going to be a successful starting quarterback for the Vikings this season?”
I did a three-rune reading for this. This type of reading is informed by the past, present, and future. Alternatively, it examines the situation, challenge, and outcomes.
Here’s the Run(e) Down
The first rune that presented, which represents the past/situation was Algiz (al-geez), which translates to elk/protection. It acts as a shield to ward off negative energy. The way I am interpreting this is in regard to the narrative around Kyler Murray. His tenure in Arizona didn’t end on the highest note, and there are many detractors who think he is “overrated” or “washed.” Algiz presenting itself tells me that Murray has not lost his confidence. This rune perfectly encapsulates Kyler’s transition to the present in that he is in a prove-it year on a vet minimum salary. He is here to play and win football games (I hope).
The second rune is an interesting one. The rune that presented is Perthro (pear-throw), which translates to fate, with an emphasis on rebirth. There is also a shroud of mystery that accompanies this rune. The challenge for Murray seems to entail reinventing himself to maximize his output. Perthro is rife with hidden knowledge and “secrets yet to be revealed,” as well as the unpredictability of life and certain outcomes.
The challenge for Minnesota’s starting quarterback is going to be navigating through many obstacles and challenges with a growth mindset. I think Kevin O’Connell is the coach to bring the best out of him, as growth is a major aspect of his coaching philosophy. We could see a rebirth for Kyler Murray, but it won’t happen in one or a few games. This evolution is going to run its course throughout the duration of the season.
The final rune presented, which represents the future/outocmes, is Hagalaz (hawg-ah-laz). This one is incredibly interesting. It translates to “hail” and represents the wrath of nature, uncontrolled forces, and destruction. Now, the runes present themselves in a certain way, and it is my job to interpret them. This rune presented itself upright and in its normal position. I talked in my Rune article last week about how anything can happen in the NFL season, and that theme is continuing with today’s reading. The wrath of nature seems to be referring to the nature of the NFL season, which, as we all know, has its ups and downs with uncontrolled forces creating unpredictable situations. However, my focus here is on the word destruction.
What is being destroyed? I choose to believe that there are two answers to this. The first is the destruction of the current narrative surrounding Kyler Murray. A player who had a great start to his career, who maybe didn’t make football his primary focus, and who ended up fizzling out with the team that drafted him. I think the fact that he is playing this season for pennies on the dollar shows his willingness to prove himself. The other destruction I foresee is that of our enemies. We have already vanquished the Packers at home and Chicago on the road. What other enemies will we conquer? My hope is for a revenge playoff game against the anointed NFC favorite LA Rams. Before they get there, however, the Vikings need to conquer the division and destroy perceptions of them as the team that fizzles out after great regular seasons.
I am leaving this reading feeling positively about what the season has in store for Kyler Murray. The game in Tampa Bay will reveal a great deal of what that journey is going to look like. If the defense can keep playing the way it has, and Murray can protect the football, I envision a fruitful Sunday.
Until next Skol!
