The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stumbled again on Sunday, losing at home 23-16 to the Minnesota Vikings. 

The Bucs dropped to 0-3, but the ramifications from this game may cut deeper than just one loss in the standings. 

Quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb late in the fourth quarter on a desperate fourth-down prayer. He remained on the ground well after the play was over, screaming in agony. 

Wide receiver Jalen McMillan also left with a knee injury and didn’t return. It was the same knee that caused the third-year WR to miss weeks of training camp and the season opener. 

With their season in danger of being lost, the Bucs couldn’t pull out a win on Sunday. Somehow, Tampa is still only one game out of first place in the NFC South, though it is nearly impossible to have confidence that this team will turn things around. 

In fact, if the season were over right now, the Bucs would have the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

There was a lot of bad in Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Believe it or not, there were actually some encouraging performances as well. 

Here are my three winners and five losers from the Buccaneers devastating loss. 

Winners

1. Alex Anzalone: In his first two games with the Bucs, Anzalone was a major disappointment and a liability for the defense. He was expected to bring stability to the defense, but he did not come close to meeting expectations. 

Against the Vikings, Anzalone was much better. He led the team in tackles, had a sack, and looked like the linebacker Tampa thought it was getting in free agency. 

2. Pass Rush/David Walker: After only recording three total sacks in the first two games, the Bucs notched three more on Sunday. 

David Walker got his second sack in only his third game. Walker is proving his impressive training camp was no fluke and has provided the kind of pass rush the Bucs were expecting to receive early on from star rookie Rueben Bain Jr.

3. Chase McLaughlin: The Bucs' kicker continues to be a bright spot and has been Tampa's most reliable player. He was perfect on three field goal attempts, and his 54-yarder made him 14 for his last 15 from 50 yards and beyond.

Losers

1. The Offensive Line: The line continues to be the team's biggest disappointment. It allowed six sacks on Sunday, and Baker Mayfield was forced to run for his life for much of the game. The Bucs' o-line was supposed to be the team's top strength. Instead, it has been a surprising weakness.

2. Baker Mayfield: For the third straight game, Mayfield could not rise to the occasion and lead his team to a victory. Ever since signing his huge contract extension, he has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

To make matters much worse, Mayfield's dislocated thumb is expected to keep him out for at least three weeks.

3. Jalen McMillan: The third-year wide receiver suffered yet another injury against the Vikings. He hurt his knee in the first quarter and never returned, the same knee that kept him out for weeks during camp and the season opener.

McMillan missed almost all of last season and now the injury bug is threatening to ruin this season as well. His lack of availability is a huge issue for the offense, and it may cause the team to look for more reliable options.

4. Todd Bowles: Tampa's head coach is probably entering the final stretch of his time with the club. He hasn't been able to get the Bucs to play to their talent level in a long time. As the team continues to rack up losses and another season is halfway down the drain after only three games, it looks like Bowles' days as HC are numbered.

5. Zac Robinson: The Bucs' new offensive coordinator hasn't been able to get his offense going yet this season. Sunday against the Vikings was another dismal showing. The Bucs were only 2-for-17 on third down and failed to get in the end zone on either of their trips to the red zone.

Robinson was expected to bring back memories of Tampa's 2024 offense under Liam Coen. Unfortunately, this offense looks nothing like the juggernaut it was two years ago.