The two-year anniversary of Murray’s ACL tear is Thursday – an injury suffered against the Patriots, who by coincidence are the next opponent, Sunday at State Farm Stadium once again – and Murray said he “low-key thought about that” while driving to the practice facility on Wednesday morning.
“It’s a little weird,” Murray said with a chuckle. “But we’ll try not to let that happen again.”
Perhaps it’s fitting, given the timing and the opponent, that Murray works to get back on track.
Since the bye, Murray has thrown five interceptions in three games, compared to the mere three he threw in 10 pre-bye games. His statistics throwing under pressure are also markedly different pre- and post-bye, leading the league with 61 percent completion beforehand and struggling to 39 percent the last three games.
Opponents matter. The Vikings have one of the best defenses in the league, and the two games against the up-and-coming Seahawks defense – and a head coach who is known as a defensive savant – clearly made a difference.
Murray also felt like, after his interceptions, his play wasn’t poor. Yet the two “crucial” turnovers felt like they turned the game in his mind.
“As a player, you always feel you could do more in any loss,” wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said. “The game is not on him at all, though. He’s got us to this point. When we win it’s not one person’s success and when we lose it’s not one person’s failure either. We have to do a good job picking each other up.
“Obviously, we need him.”
Murray understands that. He will “be water.” There are talks between he and the coaches about not only his physical play but his mental state, especially of late.
“It’s not like he throws one or throws two (interceptions) and I’m like, ‘We can’t throw the ball the rest of the game, he’s a mental wreck,'” offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said. “That’s not the type of player he is, that’s not the type of competitor he is. But that is certainly that check-in and a reminder almost, of ‘Hey dude, flush it. Move on.'”
With four games left, that won’t be a problem.
“I don’t need anyone to think that the world is ending,” Murray said. “My confidence will never waver in myself at all. That’s what it is. I’d rather have guys not text me. Because I’m OK.”
