The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 in what is suddenly a must-win contest. The Buccaneers are 0-2 for the first time since 2014, and their season is already slipping away from them.
They'll be facing a solid 2-0 Vikings team with starting quarterback Kyler Murray returning from injury. If they don’t come to play better than they did in the first two weeks, the Buccaneers are in danger of being humiliated in front of the home crowd for the second week in a row.
If they start 0-3, the season is all but over, barring a miracle. Only seven teams in NFL history have made the postseason after losing their first three games, which amounts to an under 3% chance. In a game that will make-or-break their playoff chances, the Buccaneers will need to win these individual matchups in order to come away with a season-saving victory.
3 matchups Tampa Bay Buccaneers must win against Minnesota Vikings
Tristan Wirfs vs. Dallas Turner
Tristan Wirfs is regarded as one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles, and he’ll need to prove it in Week 3. Wirfs will primarily be matched up with Dallas Turner, who has been the NFL’s most disruptive pass rusher through two weeks.
Pressures this season, per @NextGenStats:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 21, 2026
Dallas Turner - 20
Bears - 19
Jaguars - 19
Steelers - 19
Cardinals - 17
Dolphins - 16
Giants - 12
Rams - 10
No player has more pressure through 2 games. pic.twitter.com/7POTOAPm3k
He has generated a whopping 20 pressures and three sacks. If Wirfs can’t contain Turner, Baker Mayfield could be running for his life against a blitz-heavy Vikings defense built on pressure.
Buccaneers CBs vs. Vikings WRs
Similar to the season opener against the Bengals, Tampa Bay’s cornerbacks will need to show up against an elite wide receiver group.
Minnesota has one of the NFL’s best receivers in Justin Jefferson. Last time these teams played, Jefferson finished with nine catches for 150 yards. They also have Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, if he plays.
Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish rose to the occasion in Week 1, holding Ja’Marr Chase to two catches for 12 yards while Tee Higgins was limited to three catches for 59 yards. Parrish missed Week 2 with a back injury, and they’ll really need him to return against Minnesota.
Buccaneers vs. Themselves
The most important battle is the Buccaneers against themselves. There’s a legitimate argument that Tampa Bay has done more to lose its first two games than their opponents have done to win them.
Turnovers, penalties, and missed tackles are just some of the ways the Bucs have shot themselves in the foot. As long as they continue to make these self-inflicted wounds, they won’t be able to beat anyone, let alone a really good Vikings team.
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