The Minnesota Vikings are 3-0 after a 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. But 16 of Minnesota's points came from special teams, with Myles Prices returning a punt for a touchdown and Will Reichard adding nine points on field goals. Defensively, the Vikings held the Buccaneers to 243 yards of offense.
Perhaps dominance in those phases amplified Minnesota's offensive deficiencies. They managed only 230 yards of offense. Kyler Murray, starting for the first time since getting knocked out on the third series of the Vikings' season opener against the Packers, completed just 15/29 passes for 168 yards, throwing one touchdown and an interception.
Murray's interception came off a batted pass, highlighting the diminutive quarterback's height.
The turnover put Tampa Bay in field-goal range, so even though they managed only two yards on the subsequent drive, they cut Minnesota's lead to 17-13.
After the performance, it was fair to wonder if the offense would be better off with Carson Wentz under center. In two games, Wentz completed 59% of his passes for 276 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also stands 6-foot-5, providing him a better view looking downfield than the 5-foot-10 Murray.
But should the Vikings revert back to Wentz? Although he wasn't credited with any turnovers, Wentz had one interception in the red zone overturned by a penalty against Green Bay, and then another pass slipped through the hands of Bears linebacker Devin Bush in Week 2.
Murray also missed the final 12 games of the 2025 season and only played 11 snaps in Week 1 against the Packers. He admitted after the win over Tampa Bay that although he needs to be better moving forward, he is still getting back into the flow of playing football for the first time since last October.
He also completed 3/4 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown on 20-plus-yard downfield throws, per Next Gen Stats. The play-by-play efficiency wasn't always optimal, but Murray stretched the field in ways that eluded the Vikings last year. J.J. McCarthy completed only 8/31 such passes for two touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025. Wentz completed 7/18 passes for 239 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions last year before going 2/4 for 69 yards and a touchdown (no picks) in two games this year.
Kyler Murray with a rocket to Jordan Addison for the TD 🚀@MINvsTB on FOX/FOX One
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We also didn't see Justin Jefferson after the first drive of Sunday's game. He left with an ankle sprain, although he could return for next Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Jefferson caught two passes for 32 yards on his lone drive, including a 22-yard reception on a dagger concept, which is a staple of Kevin O'Connell's offense.
Let Murray run the offense with another game under his belt and Jefferson at his disposal. If things don't improve over the next two games against the Dolphins and Saints, then the Vikings should reconsider their starting quarterback plans heading into the bye week.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Should the Vikings consider starting Carson Wentz in Week 4?
