The Minnesota Vikings are looking to get their third win of the season when they play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Although the Vikings are undefeated and the Buccaneers have yet to win a game, there may not be as much room separating these teams as their records suggest.
To their credit, Minnesota won two tough, oftentimes sloppy games against division rivals to begin the season. Tampa Bay lost to the Bengals and Browns by 10 combined points, with a weather delay interrupting a potential game-winning drive last week against Cleveland.
Individual matchups could decide this one, as the Vikings are currently 1.5-point favorites. Win those, and Minnesota could be sitting at 3-0 heading into Week 4 against the Dolphins.
Dallas Turner vs. Tristan Wirfs
How will Brian Flores choose to deploy Turner against Wirfs, one of the league's best left tackles? Turner leads the NFL with 20 pressures, per Next Gen Stats. Wirfs has allowed three pressures this season, per PFF, and has an 83.2 pass-blocking grade.
However, much of Turner's damage has come on unblocked plays. He has a league-high five unblocked pressures. Will Flores be able to scheme Turner unblocked or into positions where he can be lined up 1-on-1 with a tight end like he was on the final play of Minnesota's Week 2 game against Chicago?
Will Fries/Donovan Jackson vs. Calijah Kancey
The Vikings have had mixed success with their two guards. Donovan Jackson has been great in his second year and, per PFF, has yet to be credited with allowing pressure. His 74.9 pass-blocking grade is the best among Minnesota's offensive line.
Fries, by contrast, had a tough start in Week 1. He allowed three pressures and a sack against the Packers and earned a 48.1 overall grade. Week 2 was better, as Fries earned a 62.9 grade, but he still allowed two pressures.
They will both be tasked with lining up against Kancey, who leads the Buccaneers in pressures with seven. His 76.4 overall grade is third-highest on the team and could be Tampa Bay's most disruptive lineman on Sunday.
Justin Jefferson vs. Buccaneers' Cornerbacks
We'll see how Tampa Bay covers Jefferson, who has 11 receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns so far this year. He will line up against second-year cornerback Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum most of the afternoon.
In Week 1, the Buccaneers held Ja'Marr Chase to only two catches for 13 yards in their loss to the Bengals. Last week, Browns rookie Denzel Boston caught five receptions for a team-high 95 yards. Will Tampa Bay try deploying the coverage strategy used against Chase when they face Jefferson on Sunday? Or is Jettas primed to take off against a competent yet inferior secondary with Kyler Murray now under center?
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 3 Matchups to watch between the Vikings and Bucs in Week 3
