Kyler Murray — Week 3: A Hundred Twelve, Then Fifty-Six
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Murray completed 15 of 29 throws for 168 yards, a touchdown and an interception, took three sacks and scrambled twice for 17 yards. He was 6 of 10 for 112 yards before halftime, including the 41-yard touchdown to Jordan Addison, and 9 of 19 for 56 after it. Minnesota's pass plays succeeded 19 percent of the time, lowest of the 28 teams to have played Week 3, in a 23–16 win over the Buccaneers.
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10 all, four 17 left in the second quarter, third and eight at the Tampa Bay 41, no huddle. Kyler Murray threw deep left to Jordan Addison for a 41-yard touchdown. +5.4 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 18.2 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it, the largest swing on any pass or run in the game. Three snaps earlier he had hit Addison for 30 deep left from the Minnesota 27. It was his first touchdown pass as a Viking, and it put Minnesota ahead for good.
The line: 15 of 29 for a hundred 68 yards, one touchdown, one interception, three sacks for 16 yards, −12.1 expected points on 32 pass plays; two scrambles for 17 yards and a first down. The halves tell it. Before halftime: six of 10 for a hundred 12 yards on 12 pass plays, with three completions that traveled 20 or more yards in the air — 22 to Justin Jefferson on the first snap, and the 30 and the 41 to Addison. After halftime: nine of 19 for 56 yards on 20 pass plays, and none of his three throws of 20-plus air yards was caught. The interception was third and 11 at the Minnesota 31 with eight 41 left in the third, up 17 to 10, short middle for Addison, picked off at the 22 with no return; Tampa Bay kicked a field goal from it. On third down he had 14 pass plays, six completions and one conversion, the touchdown; his other conversion was a 12-yard scramble on third and 11 in the first quarter. The worst sack was nine yards on third and four at his own 19 in the second quarter.
Where it sat: Minnesota's 32 pass plays gained expected points six times, 19 percent, the lowest rate of the 28 teams that have played this week, with the Rams, Broncos, Eagles and Bears still to go. Jefferson caught both of Murray's opening-drive throws to him and did not return from a first-quarter ankle injury, per MPR News; after that the targets went nine to Addison, six to Aaron Jones and four to T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings scored 23 with one offensive touchdown: Myles Price's 86-yard punt return, three Will Reichard field goals, and the throw to Addison.
Back in June the preview called Murray a watchlist: a quarterback with no starting job yet, a career floor built on his legs, and one condition — a named job, with J.J. McCarthy the alternative. In Week 1 he had the job and lasted five throws before a concussion, per Lindsey Young at Vikings.com, and in Week 2 he was ruled out, per CBS Sports. Sunday was his first full game as a Viking: the job, all four quarters, and a win that makes Minnesota three and oh. The passing was two first-half scoring drives and a second half of 56 yards; the legs showed up twice. One full game is one game. Minnesota is home to the Dolphins on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
When Kyler Murray's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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