On a positive note, the Minnesota Vikings are 6-1, and held onto their undefeated record longer than any other team in the league. That was until Sunday’s road tilt against the Detroit Lions ended a winning streak that had stretched to 11 games, going back to last season.

Brian Flores continues to blitz at a breakneck pace. It’s working, as Minnesota’s defense is among the best in football. Unfortunately, that defense can only do so much to make up for a lackluster offense, and Kyler Murray fell short in the worst way in Week 8.

There has been an expected learning curve for Murray as he acclimates to a new team and offense. It wasn’t expected to take this long, though. On Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Kyler Murray went 17-of-29 for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was also intercepted once and sacked three times.

Kyler Murray remains Minnesota Vikings quarterback

After the game, Kevin O’Connell revealed that Murray was dealing with a hamstring injury that he suffered late in the loss. Monday, the head coach told reporters that Kyler’s hamstring was sore this morning. Then, when asked by Dane Mizutani (Pioneer Press) whether Murray is still the starter, O’Connell simply said “yes.”

Of course, that comes with the caveat that his hamstring has to be healthy. Minnesota does have the benefit of a longer week, with its next game coming against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

So far, the offense and Murray have been the only things holding Minnesota back. Through six starts, he has completed 64.9% of his passes with just five touchdowns and three interceptions. His 45.8 QBR and 86.6 passer rating are both career lows.

The Minnesota Vikings knew they were getting a dice roll in Murray, at $1.3 million. But they were banking on his previous pedigree making the difference.

So far, Murray has only flashed the athleticism that once made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year. But it’s his QB play from the pocket that has proved the Vikings’ biggest problem on offense.

Dan Orlovsky calls out MN Vikings quarterback plan

Now a member of the media, former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky (ESPN) made his opinion clear in multiple appearances today on ESPN. After studying Kyler Murray’s six games with the Minnesota Vikings, the 12-year NFL veteran is convinced the fit with KOC just isn’t there.

“I do not believe that Kyler is a ideal skill set for this position in Kevin O’Connell’s offense… For this offense to be ideal, you have to be able to turn your back to the defense, set up in different spots within the pocket. It’s not just drop back, reevaluate what you’re seeing, and then, excuse me, throw the ball to space with great ball placement. Right now, Kyler from the pocket, the ball placement’s just not good enough.”

It’s hard to argue with much of what Orlovsky points out. Murray is rocking the second-lowest completion percentage of his career, and his star wide receiver has seen about enough. It’s worth wondering why the Vikings signed Murray in the first place, as Pat McAfee (ESPN) asked, but the alternative options weren’t great either.

Realistically, the best way for Murray to flourish is in a system that gets him in space. Creating extra throwing lanes and escape routes for a quarterback his size is ideal.

Should Vikings think more about a change at quarterback?

Allowing him to roll out and at least threaten the use of his legs plays to his strengths. Later Monday, on NFL Live, Orlovsky highlighted multiple plays where Kyler Murray missed an open Justin Jefferson and said straight-up that “starting Carson Wentz has to be a thought in Minnesota.”

O’Connell didn’t change his offense for Kyler Murray. Kyler Murray doesn’t really fit in the offense that Kevin O’Connell runs. While the two remain tied to each other, it’s an awkward fit for now.