Former NFL GM Randy Mueller analyzes the 0-2 Vikings

Former Saints and Dolphins general manager and current NFL analyst Randy Mueller spoke with KSTP Sports about the 0-2 Vikings.

***Click the video box above to watch our conversation with Mueller***

Mueller currently helps football clients with advising, and appears in numerous publications with his takes on the NFL. He was the NFL Executive of the Year in 2000.

The 0-2 Vikings have their home opener on Sunday vs. 1-1 Seattle. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. Vikings coach is Mike Zimmer is 0-5 vs. Seattle.

Numbers, per the Associated Press:

OPENING LINE: Seahawks by 1, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Seahawks 1-1, Vikings 1-1.

SERIES RECORD: Seahawks lead 13-5.

LAST MEETING: Seahawks beat Vikings 27-26 on Oct. 11, 2020 in Seattle.

LAST WEEK: Seahawks lost to Titans 33-30 in OT; Vikings lost to Cardinals 34-33.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (19), PASS (10), SCORING (9).

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (31), PASS (22), SCORING (16).

VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (10), PASS (8), SCORING (11).

VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (28), RUSH (21T), PASS (26), SCORING (27).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Seahawks plus-1; Vikings plus-1.

SEAHAWKS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Tyler Lockett. The deep ball is back as a big part of the offense due to the talents of Lockett, who had TD receptions of 69 yards in Week 1 and 63 yards in Week 2. He’s one of six wide receivers in history with TD catches of 60 or more yards in each of the first two games of a season. No player has done so in three straight games out of the gate.

VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: K Greg Joseph. The team’s new kicker has made three FGs from 52-plus yards this year, but he missed an extra point and what would have been the winning 37-yard FG on the final play at Arizona.

KEY MATCHUP: Seahawks CBs Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed vs. Vikings WRs Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Shaquill Griffin’s exit as a free agent thinned the CB group for Seattle, and Minnesota’s WR tandem — with K.J. Osborn emerging as an impactful No. 3 option — is as dangerous as any in the league.

KEY INJURIES: Seahawks rookie WR Dee Eskridge did not practice Wednesday, still not cleared from a concussion suffered in Week 1. … Seahawks RT Brandon Shell sprained his ankle against Tennessee and was held out Wednesday, with Jamarco Jones the likely replacement. … Vikings RB Dalvin Cook sprained his ankle last week and was held out of practice Wednesday. Coach Mike Zimmer said he expects Cook to play. … Vikings LB Anthony Barr missed the first two games with a knee injury but returned to practice Wednesday.

SERIES NOTES: The Seahawks have won seven straight games against the Vikings, last losing at the Metrodome in 2009. This is their first visit to U.S. Bank Stadium. … Minnesota lost at Seattle in each of the last three seasons.