Despite a dominant 2-0 start, Minnesota’s porous interior offensive line faces a brutal reality check against Tampa Bay’s formidable pass rush following a touchdown-less outing in Chicago.
The Minnesota Vikings are flying high after a 2-0 start to their season. The Vikings may have the most reason for excitement in the National Football League.
Doubted by most heading into the year, the Vikings have won consecutive games against the first and second place teams in their division from 2025. They knocked off the Green Bay Packers at home before defeating the Chicago Bears on the road.
The Vikings have struggled to produce offense over the last couple of games, but more so in the team's last outing. Minnesota's offense was held out of the end zone in a 9-3 win over the Chicago Bears.
Cole Smith of Vikings Wire discussed the Minnesota offensive line and its blocking woes so far this season. Here's some of what Smith had to say about hiding the deficiency when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"If this Tampa Bay defense has a strength, it's the interior line. Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey form a formidable front. Vea is listed at 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds and is a two-time Pro Bowler. He has only a 53.7 PFF grade this season, but he can cause problems when he's on top of his game, generating a 77.0 pass-rush grade last year.
Kancey is tied for eighth-most pressures among interior defensive linemen with seven this year. He has a 76.7 PFF grade, third on the team. Both he and Vea could create a mismatch against Will Fries and Blake Brandel.
Fries has a 54.1 PFF grade through two games and a 40.9 pass-blocking grade, the worst among Vikings linemen. In fact, no other lineman has a pass-blocking grade lower than 69.8. PFF has credited Fries with one sack and five pressures allowed, including the one that contributed to Murray's poor interception in Week 1."
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) cheers with teammates as time ran out during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images The return of Kyler Murray makes for plenty of optimism for the team, but the Buccaneers' dominant defensive interior draws concerns for the Minnesota offensive line. They will have plenty to prove when they take the field.
The Vikings will have to guard against overconfidence taking on the winless Buccaneers, but a quick look at what the Bucs have up front should keep the team humble.
Minnesota will look to get to 3-0 with a win this weekend.
