Buccaneers face a must-win Week 3 matchup against the undefeated Vikings to avoid an 0-3 start.
The new NFL season isn’t even a month old but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) already have their collective backs against a wall heading into their Week 3 home matchup with the Minnesota Vikings (2-0).
After falling to the Cleveland Browns (1-1) 23-19 in a game that was delayed due to weather last week, the Buccaneers are now staring at the possibility of starting a season 0-3 for the first time since 2014.
Although there is still plenty of the season left to be played, Sunday’s game against the Vikings is a must-win situation for the Buccaneers. Not only has Tampa Bay lost nine of its last 11 games dating back to last season—putting head coach Todd Bowles on the hot seat—starting the season with three straight losses would nearly end any hope of the Buccaneers returning to the playoffs.
In the modern era of the NFL, only six teams (about 2.4 percent) that have started a season 0-3 have gone on to advance to the postseason. Since 1980, just seven teams have started a season with three consecutive losses and then gone on to make it to the playoffs. Last season the Houston Texans started the year 0-3 and then won 12 of their next 14 games to finish 12-5 to make the playoffs and then beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round before falling to the New England Patriots in the Divisional round.
The Vikings come into the game against their former NFC Central rival Tampa after two straight wins against NFC North division opponents despite being without starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who was injured on Minnesota’s third offensive drive of the season.
In Murray’s absence, veteran backup quarterback Carson Wentz threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions while the defense created five turnovers and held their first two opponents to just 12.5 points per game to help give the Vikings their first 2-0 start since 2025 when they started the season by winning their first five games.
This week Murray returns to the starting lineup looking for his first-ever win against Tampa Bay after losing 30-27 in his only career game against the Buccaneers in 2019 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Murray threw for 324 yards and a touchdown despite the loss.
Like Murray against the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield doesn’t have much experience against the Vikings, but has been more successful.
In two career games against Minnesota Mayfield is 2-0 as a starter and has thrown two touchdowns, but has never thrown for more than 200 yards against the Vikings.
The Vikings lead the all-time series 33-24, but the Buccaneers have won two straight in the series and have won eight of the last 10 games between the two teams since 2021.
Minnesota comes into the game as 1.5-point road favorites (3-1 as road favorites last season) and are an astounding 20-4 as road favorites since 2021. The Buccaneers are 1-4 as the underdog at home in the last two seasons.
Kickoff for the game at Raymond James Stadium is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday and the point total for the game is 42.5.
