It's Week 3 in the NFL, but for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it is as close to a must-win as a team can experience this early in a season. With the Vikings heading to the Bay, the Buccaneers can't afford to play as they have in the first two weeks of the season.
From Baker Mayfield's incredibly poor and inconsistent play to the surprising lack of impact made by Alex Anzalone, there are plenty of issues that need to be fixed if they plan to beat the Vikings.
In the NFC South, the Buccaneers are the only team without a victory. A loss on Sunday could put them two games out of first place, but more importantly, there are bigger concerns than just wins and losses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to take advantage of those situations they can control
Advantage: Tristan Wirfs
The Buccaneers' best offensive lineman has to be a little more violent on the outside. The 8-year veteran needs to take the team on his shoulders, open running lanes for Bucky Irving, and handle Dallas Turner on the other side.
Wirfs has been doing this a while, but like the rest of the team, he hasn't been as crisp. Clearly, Tampa is still finding its footing, but if they are going to find success running the ball, it has to go over Wirfs. Turner is a very good pass rusher from his outside linebacker position. He has three sacks in two games, but Wirfs should be able to handle keeping him away from Mayfield.
Disadvantage: The Vikings Pass Rush
Wirfs might be able to handle Turner, but the rest of the line is going to have a long day against a defense that will blitz nearly 3/4 of the defensive snaps. D.C. Brian Flores' defense is relentless at getting to the quarterback, and the Buccaneers have already shown through two games that they can't keep Mayfield clean.
The Vikings have 25 quarterback hits so far this year. No, that isn't a typo. They have eight sacks to go with it. The Buccaneers' offensive line has given up 7 sacks. This is going to be one of the biggest disadvantages in this game. The speed of the Vikings rushers coupled with their disguised blitzes will keep Mayfield guessing.
Advantage: The Buccaneers defensive line
The Vikings' 2-0 start is good, but they are not running away with games; in fact, they are not running much at all. Minnesota won 39-22 in Week 1 and 9-3 in Week 2. They have 226 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Aaron Jones is their bread-and-butter back. He has 145 yards in the first two weeks, but it drops off considerably after.
Jordan Mason has only one game this year and has contributed 59 yards. This is where the Buccaneers' defensive front can excel. The Bucs have given up 150 yards in two games to opposing rushers.
Jones is older, and while he is off to a decent start, the Buccaneers should be able to contain him on the interior.
Disadvantage: The Vikings Red Zone Offense
While the Buccaneers defense hasn't been horrible in the red zone, the Vikings offense has been stellar scoring on 80% of their inside the twenty opportunities. The Bucs' defense has only given up touchdowns on 37% of the opposing team's red zone ops.
This could easily turn to an advantage, but given the success rate of the Vikings, it leans more in their favor. Missing Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter this week will make it harder.
Advantage: The Vikings Passing Game
The Buccaneers have given up 492 yards passing, but the Vikings have only managed to put up 259 yards. Part of that is due to Kyler Murray being replaced by Carson Wentz due to injury, but the Bucs' secondary is pretty good if they start making consistent plays.
The Vikings' WR room won't scare anyone outside of Just Jefferson, who has 147 yards receiving this year on 11 targets. Jefferson is the big threat, but behind him, only TE T.J. Hockenson is close with 65 yards. WR Jordan Addison has been a non-factor. It's a good opportunity to shut the Vikings' offense down.
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