As QB Kyler Murray is cleared to return, here's what Kevin O'Connell took from from his brief Week 1 appearance. (Hint: Don't throw interceptions.) Plus, the Vikings know they can't just hand it to Aaron Jones 24 times a game until Jordan Mason returns.https://t.co/B3cw4SqK51

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 21, 2026

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟑 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞
Minnesota is searching for its first road win against Tampa Bay since 2014. The Vikings-Buccaneers matchup is split at 14-14 when playing in Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/TAg2LCJ2I7

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) September 21, 2026

Vikings at the Bucs Week - 1983: Tommy Kramer goes down to injury (this brought Archie Manning to MIN) and Steve Dils leads the offense after. Terry LeCount scores and the first Viking soccer-style kicker (Benny Ricardo) wins it. pic.twitter.com/D94dO5Bong

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 22, 2026

😂😂

Lore accurate Vikings defense.

🎥: apotatochip17 on TikTok pic.twitter.com/7GOq57XhYp

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) September 22, 2026

@purplefaithful ~ Are you able to get the entire article?

Can the Vikings get to 3-0 with Kyler Murray back? What to know ahead of their game vs. the Bucs.

Murray returns to start in Tampa Bay, where the 0-2 Buccaneers are trying to jump-start a sputtering offense that no longer has star receiver Mike Evans.

The Minnesota Star Tribune

September 22, 2026 at 5:15AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) will start Week 3 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after clearing the NFL concussion protocol. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Minnesota Vikings keep the show on the road and travel to Tampa Bay for Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Buccaneers.

Here’s what to know about the game, including our prediction, betting odds and how to watch.

Kyler Murray returns as Vikings try for 3-0 start vs. Buccaneers

Two offenses trying to find their footing meet when the Vikings (2-0) and Buccaneers (0-2) play at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is off to a lackluster start after contentious contract negotiations this offseason ended with a new three-year, $165 million contract.

That deal hasn’t led to immediate success. Tampa’s offense is producing like a group trying to find itself after moving on from star receiver Mike Evans, who spent 12 years with the Bucs before leaving to sign with the 49ers this offseason. Tampa Bay has averaged 19.5 points and 298 yards over its first two games. Mayfield is still trying to get his top target, second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka, going. Egbuka has been limited to eight catches for 79 yards and a score so far.

Quarterback Kyler Murray is also trying to get going after he was knocked out of Week 1 on his 11th snap. Murray cleared the NFL concussion protocol and will start this week, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday, sending Carson Wentz back to the bench.

The Vikings were opportunistic in their 39-22 win over the Packers in their season opener, but their offense has averaged just 243 yards per game so far, the fewest in the NFL. They only had one snap in the red zone in their 9-3 win over the Bears in rainy conditions in Week 2.

We havent won in TB since 2014?! wtf

Just realized this is a 3:00 kick off

• The Buccaneers pass defense looked suspect in its first two games against Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson. Tampa Bay has allowed a 75.4% completion rate — the second-worst mark in the NFL — and 24 passing first downs.

• 27 points off turnovers. The Buccaneers appear turnover prone. Mayfield fumbled the ball three times in Tampa Bay’s Week 1 loss to the Bengals; only Buffalo’s Josh Allen (73) has more fumbles than Mayfield’s 71 since he entered the league in 2018. Running back Bucky Irving, a former Gopher, also fumbled in that game, helping the Bengals score 24 points off turnovers. The Buccaneers surrendered another three points off a turnover Week 2 against the Browns when Mayfield was picked off. The Vikings offense could be gifted some short fields.

• Strength on strength? Irving has looked pretty good through two weeks, taking 25 carries for 134 yards [a 5.4-yard average]. The Vikings, on the other side, continue blitzing their way to a stout run defense. Minnesota has held opposing running backs to 158 yards on 46 carries [a 3.4-yard average] thanks to strong play from defensive linemen Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez as well as linebackers Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson.

• Bucs close to breaking a kickoff return? The Vikings kickoff team surrendered a 59-yard return to the Packers’ Bo Melton in Week 1. They fared better in the rain against the Bears’ Zavion Thomas, but Buccaneers returner Kameron Johnson is dangerous. He just had a 48-yard return against the Browns a week after one of his teammates had a 47-yard kickoff return.

  
  

purplefaithful wrote:

We havent won in TB since 2014?! wtf
Just realized this is a 3:00 kick off

Sorry about that. I usually include time & Network in opening post. I did edit it. 3:05 Central on FOX.

Also note that there's only one other game scheduled at that same time & network: the Cardinals at 49ers. I'm sure hoping our game is the one being aired for me. 😊

The last game I went to in Tampa was 1999 Monday Night. It was a good game but Jeff George threw a pick 6 early even though Carter warned him before the snap that the blitz was coming from his side. One thing I never forgot was how arrogant some Bucs fans were. I was invited to go this week but don't really want to go back.

FLVike wrote:

The last game I went to in Tampa was 1999 Monday Night. It was a good game but Jeff George threw a pick 6 early even though Carter warned him before the snap that the blitz was coming from his side. One thing I never forgot was how arrogant some Bucs fans were. I was invited to go this week but don't really want to go back.

Yep, my wife and I almost decided to drive up and go to this game, a bunch of fans from the S. Florida Vikings fanclub are going. I think there'll be a lot of purple in the stands.

Cricket wrote:

@purplefaithful ~ Are you able to get the entire article?
Can the Vikings get to 3-0 with Kyler Murray back? What to know ahead of their game vs. the Bucs.Murray returns to start in Tampa Bay, where the 0-2 Buccaneers are trying to jump-start a sputtering offense that no longer has star receiver Mike Evans.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 22, 2026 at 5:15AM
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) will start Week 3 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after clearing the NFL concussion protocol. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The Minnesota Vikings keep the show on the road and travel to Tampa Bay for Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Buccaneers.
Here’s what to know about the game, including our prediction, betting odds and how to watch.
Kyler Murray returns as Vikings try for 3-0 start vs. BuccaneersTwo offenses trying to find their footing meet when the Vikings (2-0) and Buccaneers (0-2) play at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is off to a lackluster start after contentious contract negotiations this offseason ended with a new three-year, $165 million contract.
That deal hasn’t led to immediate success. Tampa’s offense is producing like a group trying to find itself after moving on from star receiver Mike Evans, who spent 12 years with the Bucs before leaving to sign with the 49ers this offseason. Tampa Bay has averaged 19.5 points and 298 yards over its first two games. Mayfield is still trying to get his top target, second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka, going. Egbuka has been limited to eight catches for 79 yards and a score so far.
Quarterback Kyler Murray is also trying to get going after he was knocked out of Week 1 on his 11th snap. Murray cleared the NFL concussion protocol and will start this week, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday, sending Carson Wentz back to the bench.
The Vikings were opportunistic in their 39-22 win over the Packers in their season opener, but their offense has averaged just 243 yards per game so far, the fewest in the NFL. They only had one snap in the red zone in their 9-3 win over the Bears in rainy conditions in Week 2.

Don't the Bucs have a new OC? I read that Baker is having issues getting in sync with the play calling. But they were on track pretty well last week until the 2 hour rain delay. Then the field was a mess, Baker mentioned he needed to give his WR time to come out of the break on that last throw because the field was so bad.

Points of interest: Dallas Turner draws Tristan Wirfs this week. Wirfs is probably the best pass blocker Turner has faced this year. Next to him is Max's brother Ben Bredeson. Skule's back in Tampa as their swing. Really good DL with Vea, Bain Jr and Kancey, but their secondary is banged up and vulnerable. Jacob Parrish may not play.

MaroonBells wrote:

Points of interest: Dallas Turner draws Tristan Wirfs this week. Wirfs is probably the best pass blocker Turner has faced this year.

No doubt Wirf's is the best he's faced to-date. It'll be a good measuring stick, but I am not betting on another 10 pressure game lol!

I'm more concerned about our OL vs their DL.

And I dont know what we got in K1 yet? He's got some rust to knock off and it's going to take how long to do that???

I said it before the season and I’ll say it even louder now: the Vikings are far too talented to not be a playoff team.

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) September 22, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:

Points of interest: Dallas Turner draws Tristan Wirfs this week. Wirfs is probably the best pass blocker Turner has faced this year. Next to him is Max's brother Ben Bredeson. Skule's back in Tampa as their swing. Really good DL with Vea, Bain Jr and Kancey, but their secondary is banged up and vulnerable. Jacob Parrish may not play.

They are a very good team despite being 0-2. Mayfield gave the game away Week 1 with all his turnovers and threw 62 times and got sacked 7 times against Cleveland. But Minnesota at some point is going to have to put up some offense to win games, probably starting with this one or they'll lose. I think they are last in offensive yardage in the NFL right now?

The national narrative on the Vikings offense is reflecting the fact we've had to play Qb2.

All we know is they were scrappy the first 2 games (tough divisional games) with a washed out Wentz at QB.

We have no idea (yet) what this offense really will be...If the D continues to hold serve and the offense steps-up?

Well, we might have something this year.

It is an even year remember....

purplefaithful wrote:

The national narrative on the Vikings offense is reflecting the fact we've had to play Qb2.
All we know is they were scrappy the first 2 games (tough divisional games) with a washed out Wentz at QB.
We have no idea (yet) what this offense really will be...If the D continues to hold serve and the offense steps-up?
Well, we might have something this year.
It is an even year remember....

After two games we have a better idea what this team could be this year.

The three big questions going into the season were, can Turner progress enough to pick up the slack for Greenard and consistantly bring pressure, can the the offensive line gel and provide above average protection and run blocking, and will Kyler Murray play at an above average level?

Turner is a yes and the offensive line seems be getting there. Murray is the remaing unknown.

I was a little hard on Wentz with his 31.6 QBR,11-20 completions for 143 yds passing and missed opportunities against the Bears. But he did hit a couple of drive sustaining passes and protected the ball for the most part, which allowed the Vikings to win. He is a good number 2 QB for the Vikings system.

Murray on the other hand has historically thrown a pick for every 2 touchdowns and fumbles a bit, so we shall see.

The Vikings have turned the NFCN predictions upside down with two division wins. Should the O-line continue to play solid football and Kyler Murray plays above average football. The Vikings have the potential to be a championship team.

LIVE: Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores https://t.co/5QPrCjIASN

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 22, 2026

LIVE: Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips https://t.co/rPNJY9ZNJo

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 22, 2026

LIVE: Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels https://t.co/Iu0H5alxZz

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 22, 2026

I read somewhere long ago that when Tampa Bay built their stadium, it was designed to expose the visiting team on their sideline to the sun and heat during its games, and the Bucs would be sitting on their sideline in the shade where it was cooler.