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Vikings Beat Buccaneers 23-16 as Mayfield Exits Injured

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 2:51 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left the game with a dislocated right thumb after a fourth-quarter interception.
The Vikings defense recorded six sacks and forced the interception that sealed the win.
Myles Price returned an 86-yard punt for a touchdown, the decisive special-teams play.
The loss left Tampa Bay 0-3, their first winless start since 2014.

History

Historical Context

In 2008, Tom Brady’s ACL tear in the opener left the New England Patriots 1-2; they finished 11-5 and missed the playoffs, the first 11-win team to do so since the 12-team expansion in 1990. The case shows how early quarterback losses push NFL clubs, from the Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to overhaul depth charts and adjust strategies.

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Story summary

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left the game with a dislocated right thumb after a fourth-quarter interception.
The Vikings defense recorded six sacks and forced the interception that sealed the win.
Myles Price returned an 86-yard punt for a touchdown, the decisive special-teams play.
The loss left Tampa Bay 0-3, their first winless start since 2014.

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