Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – A stingy defense and a big special teams play kept the Minnesota Vikings unbeaten Sunday, as they held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 at Raymond James Stadium. The win moves Minnesota to 3-0, but it came with a scare: star receiver Justin Jefferson did not return after hurting his ankle at the end of the Vikings’ first possession.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson tried to play through it and came close to returning more than once before being ruled out.
Jefferson will be evaluated further today (Monday, September 28th).
Kyler Murray, back after suffering a concussion in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, completed 15 of 29 passes for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first full game with the Vikings. His lone touchdown was a 41-yard strike to Jordan Addison, who caught five passes for 90 yards. Murray was critical of his own day after the game.
“There were some throws I missed,” Murray said.
Special teams did much of the scoring. Myles Price had the Vikings’ first punt return touchdown since October 2016, an 86-yard return in the first quarter. Will Reichard hit all three of his field goals, including a 56-yarder that stretched Minnesota’s lead to 20-16 with 3:10 remaining.
Minnesota’s defense dragged Baker Mayfield down six times and has sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times through three games. Mayfield hurt his thumb on a desperation pass late in the fourth quarter and was replaced by rookie Jalon Daniels in the final minute.
The offense still has work to do. The Vikings converted two of 15 third downs and did not run a single play in the red zone, the first time they’ve won that way since beating the Bears on October 14th, 2007.
The victory pushed Minnesota’s win streak to eight games. The Vikings host the winless Miami Dolphins next Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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