First Quarter:
0-2 with the undefeated Purple People Eaters coming into Tampa, the Buccaneers played defense first. Three jolting plays, a Justin Jefferson chunk and a handful of gashing runs, placed the Vikings into field range. The Buccaneers’ defense found its footing and walled off Minnesota’s drive. holding to 3-0, Vikings.
From a three point play to a three-and-out, Tampa’s offense went to their vintage run, run, pass, punt. That punt would not be the punt of champions— A punt six, run back by Myles Price.
Tampa Bay’s special teams has been a substantial problem for years (addressed in the offseason by the hiring of Danny Smith) and the unit dropped the team to a two score deficit. 10-0, Vikings.
In an volcanic awakening, the Buccaneers’ offense erupted with its biggest play of the season. Baker Mayfield dropped back finding Ted Hurst III deep down the middle of the field for a 40-yard catch-and-run score. 10-7, Minnesota.
Second Quarter:
It wasn’t until the second quarter and each team booming punts that offense re-emerged. That offense was Baker Mayfield, Bucky Ivring, and Tampa Bay. The Bucs scooted their way back down the field en route to field goal range and a game-tying Chase McLaughin field goal. Three points from the team’s 2026 MVP, 10-10, tie.
The Vikings’ offense quickly untied Tampa’s tied knot, tossing a deep ball up to Jordan Addison who mercilessly dunked on Jacob Parrish for the highlight and the score. 17-10, Vikes.
With the half ticking to the two-minute warning, Todd Bowles’ game-managing-ineptitude flashed the viewing audience multiple times. His first decision to send the Buccaneers’ punt team out onto then field with 2:05 on a running clock and over 10 seconds on the play clock took all of the deception out of his decision in the scenario. That simple choice allowed Kevin O’Connell to observe the situation from a clear vantage point, take a timeout before the two minute warning, and would have forced Tampa into punting before the two-minute mark.
The only reason the team was not forced into that punt is that that decision was elite-ly covered up when the refs re-spotted the ball giving Baker Mayfield a first down on the previous play. It would not take long for Bowles to reignite his haters as the team would then regain the same 26 seconds they had when the previous play ended. Given new life, the team’s offense just watched the same time tick off the clock for a second time. Even though now they had secured a first down— Rather than calling a play and restarting their drive the Bucs’ offense sat in the huddle and the same 26 seconds ran off the clock again. Just two minutes later, Bowles was at it again. In an unstoppable sequence of playing not to lose rather than choosing to play for the win, Bowles opted to punt with six seconds left in the half instead of attempting a Hail Mary. Post that punt, the Buccaneers sulked into their locker room at the half down 17-10, towels on heads, in a game they could easily be losing 24-3 but also astoundingly could be winning 20-10— Buccaneers football in 2026.
Third Quarter:
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense was back up to take another swing at the start of half two. Bucky Irving would continue to truck forward as the team’s feature chess piece— runs and catches to secure a first down. It wouldn’t take the Vikings’ defense long to catch on to the Bucky-only offense thwart it and force another punt.
The Vikings debut drive of the second would also net a punt. Their punt gave fans more Baker Mayfield which meant more missed passes. The Buccaneers gave out two massive contract extensions in the offseason. It would be hard to argue they have anything other then buyer’s remorse regarding one of those contracts, however, the other paid dividends on the next Vikings’ drive. Vita Vea got big expensive hand up in the passing lane of Kyler Murray. That tipped pass would lead to bouncing, bobbling ball that landed in the hands of a diving A’Shawn Robinson.
With eight minutes left in third, that beautiful diving interception set the Buccaneers up perfectly for more points. Unfortunately, those points came courtesy of MVP Chase McLaughlin and not the team’s offense. 17-13, Vikes.
Fourth Quarter:
By the time Sunday’s slog had arrived at the fourth quarter, fans watching might have been as exhausted as the players on the field. The sloppy play was unrelenting, from both sides. Sunday’s game was genuinely hard on the eyes and had the feeling of game being played by two anemic offenses being led by backup or replacement level quarterbacks, not the projected starters at the season’s onset (One of which is a top paid quarterback league-wide), or a game played in extreme weather conditions where Mother Nature hampered each team’s ability to function effectively. That, however, is not what Sunday was. Sunday was two team’s playing terrible undisciplined, uninspired, nonsensical offense.
A late field goal from 56 yards out gave the Vikings an extension of their game-long lead. 20-16, Minnesota. With two minutes left Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback had the ball needing just one touchdown to get his team a much need (albeit ugly) victory.
That would not be the outcome of Sunday’s contest, it would instead be more awful on top of the awful that was already awful. Baker Mayfield, in a frantic scramble found a Viking defender for an interception and rolled around on the ground in pain. He would slam his helmet on the ground in frustration as his walked into the locker room, ending his day. The Buccaneers’ day would end soon after 23-16— awful all around.
