EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW ORLEANS -- Kyler Murray produced a vintage performance Sunday in his third start with the Minnesota Vikings, scrambling more times than he has in a game since 2020 in leading the team to a 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints.Murray scrambled out of dropbacks seven times for 54 yards, converting third downs on three of those plays. He also completed a series of off-schedule downfield throws once he had broken the pocket, most notably a 32-yarder to receiver Jeshaun Jones and 11 yards to running back DeeJay Dallas. The conversions came as the Vikings played most of the game without four injured offensive starters: left tackle Christian Darrisaw, guard Donovan Jackson, receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson."I think that's what today called for," Murray said. "Not trying to go out and force it or anything like that. When it's there, it's there. It kind of ignited us offensively in moments, trying to make plays on my feet. And downfield when everything's broken down, there were a couple plays that I was able to extend. So I love to do it when it's there, but it's not something I'm going out there searching for, trying to throw it in the rhythm of the offense. And if it happens, it happens. But today kind of turned back the clock a little."Murray entered the NFL in 2019 as a dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. But he has cut back on those scrambles significantly as injuries piled up and schemes changed, and the last time he took off at least seven times in a game was in Week 14 of the 2020 season.Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has typically used a traditional dropback scheme in Minnesota, but he has been talking for months about Murray's ability to accumulate first downs on the run."It's just great to see those plays get made," O'Connell said. "It's great to see Kyler running the offense, but also we're seeing his own spin on it. His ability to use his legs and convert third downs helps the bigger picture of what we want to do."Murray also demonstrated Sunday that he is growing more comfortable with the Vikings' passing game, completing his first 12 passes and finishing 24-of-30 for 229 yards, including a pinpoint 15-yard touchdown throw to receiver Justin Jefferson against triple coverage in the third quarter. Jefferson laughed and said he "definitely wasn't the most open" on the play, and O'Connell joked that Murray fit the throw into a "two-by-two" box."It was a great throw," Jefferson said. "I mean, there was nothing else that I could do besides just put my hands up and make the grab."Dating back to the third quarter in Week 4, Murray has completed 40 of his past 48 passes."I just think it's time," O'Connell said "It's just game reps. I mean, you can talk about every practice rep you want against a scout card or even a training camp rep, but the game reps have been it. ... We were doing some shuffling within the lineups, but we've had a lot of practice at that, and he just kind of stayed the course. Tremendous poise all day long, decision-making using his athleticism. I think this performance like the second half from [Week 4] is a lot for us to build on for sure."
