Vikings Stay Undefeated as Buccaneers Fall to 0-3, Mayfield Injured

The Minnesota Vikings improved to 3-0 with a 23-16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, relying on a dominant defensive effort and a punt-return touchdown by Myles Price. Minnesota's offense managed only 230 total yards, posting the lowest offensive success rate of the Kevin O'Connell era at 21.7 percent.

Tampa Bay dropped to 0-3 after its third consecutive close loss, and quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand late in the game. NFL Network reports Mayfield is likely to miss time, leaving undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels as the next option at quarterback.

“If it was hard to win with Mayfield at quarterback, it will be much worse with an undrafted rookie starting in Jalon Daniels.”

The Buccaneers have lost seven of their last nine games dating to last season and sit 3-11 in their past 14. Head coach Todd Bowles faces mounting pressure, with a critical home game against Green Bay next followed by a short-week trip to Dallas.

Statistical oddities defined the contest: the combined offensive success rate of 26.1 percent ranked fifth-worst among 2,684 games since 2016, and Minnesota became only the third Super Bowl-era team to win three straight games without gaining 250 yards in any of them.