MINNEAPOLIS — Baker Mayfield recovered from a rough start to throw two touchdown passes without a turnover in his Tampa Bay debut, and the Buccaneers opened the season by beating Minnesota 20-17 after three first-half turnovers by the Vikings on Sunday.
Chase McLaughlin 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.
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 and was at his best down the stretch, hustling around right end to convert a third-and-2 around the three-minute mark at the Minnesota 39. Then, Chris Godwin made a stretched-out 11-yard catch on third-and-10 right after the 2-minute warning to clinch it.
Kirk Cousins went 33 for 44 for 344 yards and touchdowns to rookie Jordan Addison and running back 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.
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 with a touchdown pass to rookie Trey Palmer.
More than half of Cousins' 273 yards passing in the first half went Jefferson, but the Vikings had to settle for a 10-all tie despite three times as much yardage as the Buccaneers.
Antoine Winfield Jr., whose father played nine seasons in Minnesota's secondary, hit Cousins on a front-side blitz and fell on his strip sack at the Vikings 30 to set up an early field goal for the Buccaneers despite a drive that netted zero yards.
The Buccaneers, with seven starters remaining from the 2020 Super Bowl champions and four first-round draft picks and four second-rounders in the lineup, have another stout defense. They sent just enough timely blitzes to keep the potent Minnesota offense from finding a groove.
CLOSER LOOK
Cousins has often said each turnover has its own story, and those first-half mistakes were complicated. His interception was thrown a bit behind K.J. Osborn, but rookie Christian Izien ripped the ball out of the receiver's hands at the goal line late in the second quarter. The first fumble in the first quarter at the Tampa Bay 25 was caused by friendly fire from right guard Ed Ingram, whose arm knocked the ball out as he blocked to his left.
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, but the NFL's reigning receiving leader made clear this week his camp has been driving a hard bargain for what is likely to be the richest deal for a player at his position.
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: Their first two draft picks, DL Calijah Kancey (calf) and RG Cody Mauch (back), both made their debuts after being listed as questionable to play.
Vikings: C Garrett Bradbury (back) limped off during the second drive and didn't return, replaced by Austin Schlottman. ... LT Christian Darrisaw (ankle) missed some second-quarter snaps, but 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. The Vikings lost 24-7 to the Eagles on the road in Week 2 last year in a Monday night game.
Get more Vikings coverage at kare11.com/vikings.
Pregame
- Members of Bud Grant's family, including his children and grandchildren, sound the Gjallarhorn to kick off the game and the Vikings' 2023-24 season at U.S. Bank Stadium. The longtime Vikings head coach died in March at the age of 95. The Vikings will also honor Grant in a halftime ceremony.
- The Vikings are wearing throwback jerseys that also pay tribute to late coach Bud Grant.
1st Quarter
- A big gain for the Vikings on their second drive as Cousins connects with Justin Jefferson.
- A few plays later, with center Garrett Bradbury off the field, Cousins fumbles a snap from fill-in center Austin Schlottmann and turns over the ball.
- Cousins fumbles a second time on the next Vikings possession.
- Minnesota's defense keeps Tampa Bay from finding the end zone, thanks in large part to a Danielle Hunter sack, limiting the Bucs to a field goal. Tampa takes a 3-0 lead.
2nd Quarter
- Welcome to the NFL, Jordan Addison! Cousins connects with Addison for the rookie's first NFL touchdown, giving the Vikings a 7-3 lead.
- Greg Joseph tacks on a 25-yard field goal to extend the Vikings' lead to 10-3.
- Bucs QB Baker Mayfield connects with Mike Evans to tie it up at 10-10.
- With the Vikings driving toward the end zone in the final minute of the half, Cousins gets intercepted, his first pick of the season, and third turnover of the half. Vikings go into the half tied 10-10.
3rd Quarter
- An off-sides call against the Vikings proves costly as the Bucs capitalize with a touchdown to take the lead, 17-10.
4th Quarter
- After a pass interference penalty against Tampa Bay gives the Vikings a fresh set of downs, Cousins finds Alexander Mattison for the touchdown, tying the game at 17.
- Tampa Bay takes a 4th quarter lead with less than 6 minutes to play after a 57-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.
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