nfl
Myles Price’s Punt Return Sparks Vikings Past Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed one big finish to escape their 0-2 start. Instead, Myles Price gave the Minnesota Vikings a lightning-bolt beginning, and Minnesota’s defense supplied the closing punch in a 23-16 win at…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed one big finish to escape their 0-2 start. Instead, Myles Price gave the Minnesota Vikings a lightning-bolt beginning, and Minnesota’s defense supplied the closing punch in a 23-16 win at Raymond James Stadium.
The Vikings arrived at 2-0 with Kyler Murray back at quarterback, hoping to prove their strong start could travel. Tampa Bay wanted its first win after two close losses. Early on, the Buccaneers had trouble getting their offense moving, and Price made them pay. After Minnesota opened with Will Reichard’s 54-yard field goal, Tampa Bay punted from its own end. Price caught the kick at the Minnesota 14, found a lane, and raced 86 yards for a touchdown. His punt-return score made it 10-0 less than seven minutes into the game.
Baker Mayfield answered with the kind of bold throw Tampa Bay needed. After Bucky Irving helped move the chains and a face-mask penalty pushed the drive forward, Mayfield hit Ted Hurst III for a 40-yard touchdown. The Buccaneers were back within 10-7, but their fight to catch Minnesota had only begun.
Tampa Bay reached the Vikings’ 7-yard line in the second quarter, but two holding penalties erased chances near the goal line. The Buccaneers settled for Chase McLaughlin’s 28-yard field goal to tie it 10-10. That missed chance quickly grew larger. Murray found Jordan Addison deep down the left sideline for 30 yards, and then Murray fired a 41-yard touchdown pass to Addison. Minnesota took a 17-10 lead into halftime.
The second half became a tough field-position battle. Tampa Bay finally got a gift when safety Robinson intercepted Murray at the Minnesota 22. Yet the Vikings defense allowed only McLaughlin’s 38-yard field goal, keeping the score 17-13. That stand mattered because Tampa Bay had started in scoring range.
The Buccaneers kept pushing in the fourth quarter. Emeka Egbuka, fighting through tight coverage all afternoon, made a 21-yard catch to start a key drive. McLaughlin then nailed a 54-yard field goal, pulling Tampa Bay within 17-16 with 9:02 left.
Minnesota answered with its calmest drive. Aaron Jones Sr. caught three passes as the Vikings moved into range, and Reichard drilled a 56-yard field goal for a 20-16 lead. Tampa Bay still had time, but its final chance slipped away when linebacker Van Ginkel intercepted Mayfield’s pass with 1:54 remaining. Reichard added a 43-yard field goal to seal it.
Murray threw for 168 yards and a touchdown, while Addison led Minnesota with 90 receiving yards. The Vikings reached 3-0 because their defense collected six sacks and made two late interceptions. Tampa Bay fell to 0-3 despite Mayfield’s 217 passing yards and Egbuka’s five catches for 62 yards. Minnesota next faces the Miami Dolphins, carrying proof that it can win even when every yard is a fight. Tampa Bay heads to Green Bay still searching for the late-game finish that has escaped it all season.