NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

· National Football League
1-0, 1-0 Away
Final
20 - 17
0-1, 0-1 Home

Buccaneers top Vikings 20-17 as Baker Mayfield finishes strong in his debut

He had ample support from a more-than-capable defense, too.

Mayfield recovered to throw two touchdown passes without a turnover, and the Buccaneers beat Minnesota 20-17 in the season opener after three first-half turnovers by the Vikings on Sunday.

“It wasn’t our prettiest effort by any means, but we finished the right way,” Mayfield said.

Chase McLaughlin — another key offseason addition for Tampa Bay — matched his career long with a 57-yard field goal for the lead with 5:10 left, and the Buccaneers forced a three-and-out on each of Minnesota’s last two possessions.

“Baker’s gutsy. He’s tough,” coach Todd Bowles said. “The guys stayed behind him.”

Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 draft who landed with his fourth team in three years to take over for the retired Tom Brady, completed 21 of 34 passes after a 3-for-11 start. He hit Mike Evans for a score right before halftime for a 10-all tie.

“I knew they were going to get it going,” Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett said. “Once you get it going and start clicking and get some points on the board, the game is going to change.”

Mayfield hustled around right end to convert a third-and-2 around the three-minute mark at the Minnesota 39. Chris Godwin made a stretched-out fingertip catch to convert third-and-10 right after the 2-minute warning to clinch it.

“It just comes with playing quarterback for a long time,” said Mayfield, who hopped from the Browns to the Panthers to the Rams to before landing with the Bucs. “The most important play is the next one.”

Kirk Cousins went 33 for 44 for 344 yards and touchdowns to Jordan Addison and Alexander Mattison, and Justin Jefferson had nine catches for 150 yards. But after going an NFL-record 11-0 in one-score games during the 2022 regular season, the Vikings ran out of that late-game mojo.

“There was quite a few self-inflicted mistakes,” coach Kevin O'Connell said.

Rookie Jay Ward was penalized for lining up in the neutral zone on a field goal try by McLaughlin that gave the Buccaneers a fresh set of downs to finish a drive that took almost nine minutes out of the third quarter with a touchdown pass to rookie Trey Palmer that made it 17-10.

The Buccaneers, with seven starters left from the 2020 Super Bowl champions and four first-round draft picks on defense, surprised Cousins with a couple of safety blitzes by Antoine Winfield Jr. early. They consistently clogged the middle with Vita Vea and friends to keep Mattison quiet on the ground.

Winfield, whose father played nine seasons in Minnesota's secondary, recovered the fumble from his strip sack of Cousins at the Vikings 30 to set up an early field goal for the Buccaneers despite a drive that netted zero yards. Rookie Christian Izien intercepted Cousins near the goal line late in the first half.

CLOSER LOOK

Cousins was fuming on the sideline after he was picked off, a ball throw a bit behind K.J. Osborn that Izien ripped out of the receiver's hands. The first fumble in the first quarter at the Bucs' 25 was caused by right guard Ed Ingram, whose arm knocked the ball out as he blocked to his left.

“We moved the football, but we turned the ball over,” Cousins said. “The game will always be about points.”

RECEIVER RICHES

Evans and Jefferson have been eyeing contract extensions that didn't come together with their respective teams in time for the regular season.

Evans went public with his demand for a new deal entering his 10th year, all with the Buccaneers, but appears headed for free agency next spring. The Vikings have less urgency around Jefferson with two seasons left on his rookie contract.

BEST BUD

The Vikings honored former coach Bud Grant, who died earlier this year at age 95, with various tributes before the game and at halftime with about 30 of his former players on hand. Wearing a jersey patch with his signature on it this season, the Vikings donned their classic uniforms with the deeper purple hue, wider white numbering and gold trim accents they had during their 1970s heydays under Grant.

INJURY REPORT

Buccaneers: LB Lavonte David collided with his 350-pound teammate Vea in the fourth quarter and left for concussion evaluation. ... First-round draft pick DL Calijah Kancey (calf) aggravated the injury that had him listed as questionable and did not play after halftime.

Vikings: C Garrett Bradbury (back) was hurt during the second drive and didn't return. ... LT Christian Darrisaw (ankle) missed some second-quarter snaps, but he returned after halftime. ... OLB Marcus Davenport (ankle) was inactive after getting hurt in practice during the week.

UP NEXT

Buccaneers: Host Chicago next Sunday.

Vikings: Visit Philadelphia on Thursday night.

How can I watch Buccaneers vs. Vikings?

  • TV Channel: Buccaneers at Vikings 2021-22 NFL, week 1 is broadcasted nationally on CBS - Paramount+ NFL on CBS 2021 - Try it FREE!.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Buccaneers vs. Vikings on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Vikings: 67.1%
Buccaneers: 32.6%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

TB FG 1st Period 3:23 Chase McLaughlin 36 Yd Field Goal
MIN TD 2nd Period 11:15 Jordan Addison 39 Yd pass from Kirk Cousins (Greg Joseph Kick)
MIN FG 2nd Period 5:41 Greg Joseph 25 Yd Field Goal
TB TD 2nd Period 1:09 Mike Evans 28 Yd pass from Baker Mayfield (Chase McLaughlin Kick)
TB TD 3rd Period 6:01 Trey Palmer 7 Yd pass from Baker Mayfield (Chase McLaughlin Kick)
MIN TD 4th Period 13:37 Alexander Mattison 4 Yd pass from Kirk Cousins (Greg Joseph Kick)
TB FG 4th Period 5:10 Chase McLaughlin 57 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/tb.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTB https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/min.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMIN
16 1st Downs 18
9 Passing 1st downs 15
5 Rushing 1st downs 2
2 1st downs from penalties 1
6-17 3rd down efficiency 6-14
1-1 4th down efficiency 0-0
68 Total Plays 63
242 Total Yards 369
3.6 Yards per Play 5.9
12 Total Drives 11
169 Passing 328
21-34 Comp-Att 33-44
4.8 Yards per pass 7.1
0 Interceptions thrown 1
1-4 Sacks-Yards Lost 2-16
73 Rushing 41
33 Rushing Attempts 17
2.2 Yards per rush 2.4
1-2 Red Zone (Made-Att) 1-3
3-19 Penalties 6-45
0 Turnovers 3
0 Fumbles lost 2
0 Interceptions thrown 1
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
30:39 Possession 29:21

Game Information

U.S. Bank Stadium

Location: Minneapolis, MN
Attendance: 66,741 · Capacity:

2023 NFC South Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Tampa Bay 9 8 .529 0 348 325
New Orleans 9 8 .529 0 402 327
Atlanta 7 10 .412 0 321 373
Carolina 2 15 .118 0 236 416

2023 NFC North Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Detroit 12 5 .706 0 461 395
Green Bay 9 8 .529 0 383 350
Minnesota 7 10 .412 0 344 362
Chicago 7 10 .412 0 360 379
Full Standings

NFL News

Adisa Isaac's NFL draft profile

Adisa Isaac's NFL draft profile

Check out some of the top highlights from Penn State DE Adisa Isaac.

Los Angeles Clippers' James Harden latest to face fans' wrath

Los Angeles Clippers' James Harden latest to face fans' wrath

Deion Sanders, Bryce Harper and Kevin Durant know what Harden went through. Many of them got to relish facing their former supporters.

Broncos 2024 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings

Broncos 2024 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings

Keep track of all the Denver Broncos' free agent moves throughout the 2024 offseason.

Matt Miller's blockbuster Broncos trade in his NFL mock draft

Matt Miller's blockbuster Broncos trade in his NFL mock draft

Matt Miller has the Broncos sending three first-round picks to the Cardinals to move up for J.J. McCarthy in his NFL mock draft.

Jayden Daniels hypes up Malik Nabers after his 40-yard dash

Jayden Daniels hypes up Malik Nabers after his 40-yard dash

LSU receiver Malik Nabers impresses on his 40-yard dash as quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates with the receiver.