Vikings are undefeated despite an out-of-sync offense, carrying confidence they will 'ascend'

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The story of the start of the season for the Minnesota Vikings has been clear: win with a dominant defense, supplement with superb special teams and survive another unstable performance by a sputtering offense.

At some point soon, staying undefeated will require quarterback Kyler Murray to find a rhythm and direct a productive downfield passing attack. Even if this level of success by their teammates on the other side of the ball — and with the in-between phase of the game — is ultimately unsustainable? The Vikings are still confident they've got a group that can score, even if their early performance has concerningly looked more like 2025 than 2024.

The Vikings have won three straight games with fewer than 250 total yards gained in each of them, just the fourth team in the NFL since at least 1950 to accomplish that, according to Sportradar research. The others were Tampa Bay in 1999 from Weeks 11-13, Minnesota in 1969 from Weeks 11-13, and Cleveland in 1957 from Weeks 1-3.

Their latest slog was a 23-16 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores dialed up another effective plan that produced six sacks, two interceptions and only one touchdown allowed. The special teams units did more than their share, too, starting with Myles Price and his 86-yard punt return for a touchdown. Fill-in punter Johnny Hekker landed two of his eight punts inside the 20-yard line and averaged 46.5 yards per attempt while keeping the holding operation on track for Will Reichard, who made all three of his field-goal tries including from 54 and 56 yards.

Murray, in his first game back from a concussion, was just 15 for 29 for 168 yards and one interception off a batted ball at the line that first bounced off Vikings center Blake Brandel. He had to play without wide receiver Justin Jefferson for most of the game, though, after an early ankle injury. Running back Jordan Mason remains out with a broken thumb, too, and the Vikings averaged only 3.4 yards over 23 rushes against a stout defensive front.

“We’re going to ascend as an offense. I do believe that. I believe in our guys,” coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I believe in where we can get to as a team, and I just love the fact that collectively we’re able to come together and find a way to win football games during a time that I didn’t expect early on in the season.”

The pass rush the Vikings have consistently generated with their scheme, calls and talent on defense has been remarkable, helping them fluster three straight formidable quarterbacks in Jordan Love, Caleb Williams and Baker Mayfield. Minnesota leads the NFL in sacks per pass attempt with a rate of 12.3%.

The Vikings have the second-worst third down conversion rate in the league (30.2%), ahead of only Green Bay, after going just 2 for 15 on Sunday.

WR Jordan Addison. After a quiet start with only two catches for 21 yards over the first two games, the fourth-year player produced the highlight of the afternoon for the offense with a twisting catch late in the second quarter at the goal line for a 41-yard touchdown. He had five receptions for 90 yards.

TE T.J. Hockenson. The eighth-year veteran who took a pay cut to return in 2026 had just two catches for 11 yards at Tampa Bay. He's averaging 8.4 yards per reception, which would be a career low for a full season.

The Vikings got good news on Jefferson's right ankle, which he sprained beneath the weight of a Buccaneers player after just seven snaps. O'Connell said Jefferson avoided a long-term injury and did not rule him out of playing this week.

On the downside, TE Josh Oliver tore his biceps and will need surgery. Rookie CB Charles Demmings, who has played on special teams, has a hamstring strain and will also be sidelined for multiple weeks.

1 — Among the 327 teams to start a season 3-0 since 1939, according to Sportradar research, only one has been outgained by more than the Vikings this season and their per-game average deficit of 81.3 yards. The Seattle Seahawks had an average margin of 89.3 yards fewer than their opponents over their first three games in 2020. The Seahawks finished with an average deficit of 12.1 yards per game with a 12-4 record that season.

The Vikings return home in Week 4 to host the reeling Miami Dolphins, one of five teams in the league who have started 0-3. They lost star running back De'Von Achane to a torn ACL in their loss to Kansas City on Sunday.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) and head coach Kevin O'Connell talk during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks to pass while pressured by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Joshua Metellus (44) and linebacker Blake Cashman (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Major League Baseball has reached out to the federal government about the possibility of one day staging a game in western Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, an idea quickly met with resistance from environmental groups and others.

MLB and the players' association have played a handful of regular-season games away from the 30 big league ballparks in recent years, including in the Iowa corn fields made famous by the movie “Field of Dreams.”

An MLB official familiar with the discussions confirmed Monday that the league approached the Trump administration about possibly hosting a game in a national park. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league hadn't authorized comment on the matter and said it was among several ideas MLB has explored.

A White House official said MLB asked the administration whether hosting a game at a national park would be possible but emphasized it was not a presidential directive and was not driven by the administration. The National Park Service has not granted any permits, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no authorization to speak on the record.

MLB's special event games have included games at Dyersville, Iowa, in 2021, 2022 and 2026, with another scheduled next August between Boston and Kansas City.

In addition, regular-season games were played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2024 and at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, in 2025, and games have been held since 2017 in conjunction with the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

MLB also has played international games in London; Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico; Seoul, South Korea; Sydney; and Tokyo; plus some in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Grand Teton includes a commercial airport — the busiest in Wyoming — and a vast expanse of Jackson Hole bottomlands with spectacular views of the Teton Range. There is no shortage of flat terrain where a temporary ballpark could be built.

The possibility of building a baseball field on national park land quickly raised a host of questions.

“It’s abhorrent,” Mike Gierau, a Democratic state senator and baseball lover who represents Jackson and nearby Grand Teton, wrote in a text message. “Baseball is the American game. The national parks are America’s greatest idea. But a national park is to be protected for its undeveloped and scenic values.”

Environmental groups also came out against the idea, first reported by The Washington Post.

“Americans want to see protections for our national parks and public lands strengthened. Bulldozing these lands for a baseball stadium does the opposite, destroying the magnificent landscapes that millions of people come to experience,” Chris Kassar, the group's Wyoming director, said in a statement.

A message left with Grand Teton officials seeking more information wasn't immediately returned.

FILE - The Teton mountains reflect on Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park in Moran, Wyo., Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Amber Baesler, File)