Author of a solid second half, the former Cleveland quarterback offers a first victory to the Buccaneers.
Minnesota Vikings (0-1) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0): 17-20
The Florida experience starts well for Baker Mayfield (21/34, 173 yards, 2TDs). Tom Brady’s successor did not succeed at everything, and he even showed feverishness at the start of the match. But his last possession before halftime, concluded with a touchdown, served as a trigger. And if the timid start of the attack had no consequence on the final result, it is largely thanks to a very solid defense, which manhandled the Vikings offensive line.
Poorly protected as too often since he was in Minnesota, Kirk Cousins (33/44, 344 yards, TDs, 1int, 2 fumbles) and his attack lost far too many balls to hope to win this match. If the defense was an illusion for a quarter and a half, it looked too much like last year for the rest of the match. This is evidenced by this inability to get the Buccaneers off the field at the end of the match, not offering the attack one last chance.
Three bullet losses to zero
Getting started is complicated for attacking the premises. Under pressure, and little helped by the early exit of Bradbury, his starting center, Kirk Cousins let two balls escape. One of them allows the Buccaneers to open the scoring in this first quarter, 0-3.
It’s not much better for the Tampa Bay attack, slowed by Mayfield’s lack of precision.
Better protected from the start of the second quarter, Cousins finally found his targets and Jefferson (9 receptions, 150 yards) moved the chains. Jordan Addison (4 receptions, 61 yards, 1TD) took the opportunity to score the first touchdown of his career. The Vikings continue their momentum and increase the score on a field goal, 10-3.
Mayfield confident, Tampa Bay unstoppable
We seem to be heading towards this score at the break, as the Tampa attack is slipping. This was without counting on the awakening of Mike Evans (6 receptions, 66 yards, 1TD) which allowed his team to come back to the score just before halftime.
Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans for the 28-yard TD!
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Minnesota nevertheless has enough time to get back in front but Kirk Cousins loses his third ball of the match and is intercepted on the opponent’s 1 yard, 10-10 at the end of the second quarter.
The Buccaneers start the third quarter like they finished the second. After a possession of almost nine minutes, Mayfield finally found Trey Palmer (2 receptions, 8 yards, 1TD) who gave his team the advantage again. Minnesota also responds with a long possession, concluded by Alexander Mattison (11 races, 34 yards; 3 receptions, 10 yards, 1TD). The two teams are tied at the start of the fourth quarter, 17-17.
The defenses found some bite, and it took a 57-yard field goal, five minutes from the end, for Tampa Bay to get back in front. An advantage which will prove definitive. Davonte Davis and his team cause another “3&out” and Baker Mayfield does what is necessary to eat up the clock.
The Buccaneers offer themselves a first away victory, ideal to kick off their season before hosting Chicago on Sunday. For the Vikings, this defeat is already a stain, while a perilous trip looms in Philadelphia on Thursday.
