WK 03 ~ vs BUCS ~ Discussion, News, Info, etc.
We're 2-0 & Divisional wins at that!
Now it's on to Tampa to take on the Bucs. They're 0-2, but I still wouldn't take this game lightly. (Actually, I never take any game lightly.) I'm sure they're really hungry for a win.
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Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol, Kevin O'Connell says here in Minnesota, and will start Sunday at Tampa.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 21, 2026
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The Vikings vs. Buccaneers rivalry has been played 57 times, with the Minnesota Vikings winning 33 games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning 24 games.
Let's make it 34 wins!
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O’Connell said Ingram-Dawkins is considered day-to-day with his hip and he’ll provide updates later this week
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) September 21, 2026
Punter Brett Thorson is being evaluated for a hamstring issue https://t.co/5u6LPYjBQe
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If he’s forced to miss any time, I would expect Johnny Hekker to make a return: https://t.co/3KCnTBoZ3o
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 21, 2026
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield is playing more like a quarterback trying to justify his contract.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to their first 0-2 start since 2014 after making Mayfield the highest-paid player in franchise history.
Mayfield received a $165 million, three-year extension earlier this month and seems to be trying to do too much, leading to mistakes.
Emeka Egbuka had a step on the defender and was open in the end zone for what would’ve been a go-ahead score in the final minute but Mayfield fired a pass out of his reach and the Buccaneers lost 23-19 to the Cleveland Bowns on Sunday.
“Obviously, just gotta trust that ‘Mek’ is going to come out of that break a little slower with conditions and give him some air to run under it,” Mayfield said.
He threw a fade to Ted Hurst earlier in the drive but the rookie couldn’t make the catch in a driving rain.
“Yeah, obviously, not an easy catch,” Mayfield said. “Ted is somebody that I trust, that’s not going to change anything for me going forward, but yeah, tough play. I don’t know, I didn’t get a real good look at it, but I know he had a chance at it. The ball is going to keep coming back to him, going to keep finding him. We just gotta be able to make the plays in the end.”
Mayfield forced a throw in the first half that was picked and turned into three points. He took three sacks, had several negative plays and finished 21 of 34 for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
In Week 1, Mayfield lost three fumbles against the Bengals. He has 28 interceptions and 27 fumbles since 2024.
“It’s shooting ourselves in the foot, not making the plays when we need them, knowing that these are fixable things, but that also makes it more frustrating,” Mayfield said. “(We) just gotta get it corrected. We gotta be hard on ourselves, watch the tape, get those things fixed, flush it and move onto the next. (We have) another home game next week against a good opponent.”
The Minnesota Vikings (2-0) visit Raymond James Stadium this week after shutting down Chicago’s high-powered offense in a 9-3 win.
The Buccaneers are 2-9 since a 6-2 start last season. Coach Todd Bowles was on the hot seat entering the season and it's only getting hotter.
What’s working
The run game was effective at certain points. The Buccaneers rushed for 137 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Bucky Irving had 89 yards on 17 carries, including a 38-yard scamper.
What needs help
The offensive line struggled. The unit allowed three sacks and had critical holding penalties. Two holding calls on third down negated first downs and derailed drives. Another holding penalty on the final drive moved the ball from the Cleveland 13 to the 23 and the Bucs couldn’t overcome it.
Injuries
That’s the lone bright spot. The Bucs are healthy for the most part.
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Buccaneers' Next Game: Homestand Continues with Visit from Vikings
Sitting at 0-2 for the first time since 2014, the Buccaneers will seek to right the ship in Week Three against the visiting Minnesota Vikings, who are 2-0 despite losing their starting quarterback in Week One
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-2 for the first time in 12 years, and their Week Three shot at getting in the win column will come against the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota is scheduled to face the Buccaneers at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 27 at Raymond James Stadium.
The Buccaneers lost their second straight game to an AFC North opponent on Sunday in their home opener, after waiting out a 132-minute lightning delay to ultimately fall short in a bid to get the ball into the end zone in a 23-19 decision. With Carolina and New Orleans both winning in Week Two, the Bucs are now one game off the pace in the NFC South race.
Minnesota is coming off a 9-3 win at Chicago, a stunning defensive performance after the Bears opened their season with a 59-37 win over the Panthers. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams hurt his hamstring in the fourth quarter, but prior to that injury he had been held to 138 yards, no touchdowns and one interception on 15 of 26 passing. Third-year pass rusher Dallas Turner, potentially a rising star for the Vikings' defense, registered two of Minnesota's three sacks on Williams.
The Buccaneers' defense, which allowed only 267 yards to the Browns in a losing effort, will be looking to stifle a Vikings offense that put up just 246 yards in a winning effort against the Bears, with quarterback Carson Wentz completing 11 of 20 passes for 143 yards. Wentz has played the majority of the Vikings' first two games after opening-day starter Kyler Murray sustained a concussion early in the season opener.
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Per FanDuel, Tampa Bay opens as a 2.5-point underdog at home for the third week of the 2026 regular season.
The Buccaneers are coming off a 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns, dropping them to 0-2 on the season. Tampa Bay held a 16-6 lead in the third quarter before Cleveland rallied, and the Bucs were unable to finish off a potential game-winning drive following a lengthy weather delay.
Minnesota, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 after grinding out a 9-3 road win over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings failed to score a touchdown but got three field goals from Will Reichard while their defense kept Chicago out of the end zone.
The Bucs will now try to avoid an 0-3 start against a Minnesota team that has opened the season with back-to-back victories.
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“Hello, Miami?”
I doubt we take a big swing this early, but stranger things have happened. Reunite Achane with Frank Smith. Maybe the Eagles 3 and a 6th?
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
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