Five straight wins haven’t earned Kyler Murray any benefit of the doubt from Kyle Brandt. On “First Take,” Brandt pushed back against the optimism surrounding the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings, predicting their postseason would end after one game because their quarterback has never come through with a season on the line. I think this version, I think they’re one-and-dones in the playoffs,” he said.
Murray’s thin postseason record drives the skepticism. We talked about this, Jordan. One playoff game ever,” Brandt said.
That lone appearance still sticks with him. It was one of the strangest performances I’ve ever seen,” he added. He wants one week of Murray taking over on a bad defensive day, trailing by four in the final two minutes of a postseason game in January.
Count Brandt as a doubter. Minnesota has leaned on a dominant defense and one of the NFL’s best special teams units while its quarterback play has lagged. Free agency brought Murray to Minnesota this offseason after his run with the Arizona Cardinals.
Injuries had derailed two of his three seasons before that. A concussion knocked him out of his Week 1 debut against the Green Bay Packers and cost him Week 2. Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints was different.
Murray opened 12 for 12 and finished 24 of 30 with 51 rushing yards. His 15-yard touchdown to star receiver Justin Jefferson, thrown into triple coverage, keyed a 23-13 win. A single strong game hasn’t changed the outside view.
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