The Vikings didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard Sunday, but they found enough answers on defense and special teams to leave Tampa with a 23-16 win over the Buccaneers.
Brian Flores’s defense was the headliner. Minnesota sacked Baker Mayfield six times and forced the interception that effectively closed the door just after the two minute warning. Tampa Bay still managed a late field goal after Mayfield exited, and rookie Jalon Daniels finished out the game because Mayfield was already in the locker room.
Mayfield’s day ended in painful fashion. After throwing that interception, he was hit and slammed his right thumb into Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman.
The reaction was immediate and unmistakable on the Fox broadcast, with Mayfield screaming in pain before heading straight to the locker room once he got back to his feet. He finished 17-of-34 for 217 yards and a touchdown, and the 0-3 Bucs will be waiting to hear whether the thumb injury is as bad as it looked.
Minnesota’s offense had a rough afternoon of its own, especially after halftime. The Vikings produced just 77 yards after the break, and Kyler Murray had trouble moving the ball while going 15-of-29 for 168 yards. A big chunk of that production came on 30- and 41-yard completions to Jordan Addison in the second quarter, with the 41-yarder accounting for Minnesota’s only offensive touchdown of the day.
The Vikings also took a hit when Justin Jefferson went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter. That made the rest of the afternoon a test of survival, and Minnesota leaned hard on the other two phases to get it done. Myles Price delivered an 86-yard punt return touchdown, and Will Reichard added three field goals, including a 56-yarder after Tampa Bay trimmed the margin to one point in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota returns home next week to face the 0-3 Dolphins, with a shot at 4-0 even if Jefferson’s status doesn’t improve. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, head into a Week 4 matchup at home against a Packers team that badly needs a win of its own.
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Vikings Win Came With A Bigger NFC Twist Fans Will Notice
The Vikings left Week 3 with a win, but the result carried a wider NFC ripple after Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was knocked out late in the fourth quarter. He injured his right thumb while throwing and was replaced by rookie backup Jalon Daniels, a late-game shift that immediately added another layer to a game Minnesota had already controlled enough to close out.
Mayfield is expected to miss time and will get an MRI to determine just how serious the damage is, which matters far beyond Tampa Bays sideline. For a Vikings team trying to build momentum in a crowded conference race, the injury to a familiar NFC opponent is the kind of development fans notice right away, especially with the playoff picture never staying quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]
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For Minnesota, the move is another reminder of where McCarthy stands after arriving as a 2024 first-round pick. He remains under contract through 2027 with a fifth-year option for 2028, so the Vikings still have control for the long haul, but this kind of interest also underscores how other teams are still willing to invest in him as a quarterback worth developing. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Need DeeJay Dallas Fast And His Rise Says Plenty
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What stands out is how quickly Dallas has taken to the Vikings offense and how familiar he already is with the organization and coaching staff. In a season where injuries have already started reshaping the running back room, that kind of comfort can matter just as much as raw ability, and it gives Minnesota a player who may need to be ready for a much larger role sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]