The Tampa Bay Buccaneers snapped their winless start to the season by beating the Minnesota Vikings 26-14 on Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, in an NFL Week 3 matchup that turned into a national storyline the moment Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter.
Jefferson hurt early, later ruled out
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson was questionable to return with an ankle injury, the team announced during the first quarter, and it was unclear when he sustained the ailment before he went into the sideline medical tent. Before exiting the game, the star wideout had two catches on two targets for 32 yards.
Cameras tracked Jefferson through the rest of the first half as he moved gingerly on the sideline before eventually heading to the locker room. Justin Jefferson suffered an ankle injury and went into the medical tent, and the wide receiver did not return according to the latest update from the Vikings. The team's sportsbook partner later confirmed the severity of his afternoon was over, noting that Justin Jefferson had been ruled out, with Early Exit protection kicking in for related bets.
It marked a rare absence for one of the league's most durable stars. Jefferson had not missed a game with injury since Week 12 of the 2023 season, when a hamstring malady landed him on injured reserve and he missed seven games. He had played in all 17 games in both 2024 and 2025 before Sunday's setback in Tampa.
Mayfield carves up Minnesota's defense
With Jefferson sidelined, Minnesota's passing attack never got going. Kyler Murray finished with just 18 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception, a stark contrast to the other sideline. Baker Mayfield threw for 398 yards with a touchdown and an interception of his own as Tampa Bay's offense carried the day.
The final margin, 26-14 in favor of the home team, gave the Buccaneers their first win of the season after consecutive losses to open the year. Entering the weekend, Tampa Bay had dropped its first two games and was searching for answers on both sides of the ball, having fallen to 0-2 for the first time in 12 years after a 6-2 start in 2025 turned into an 8-9 finish the year before.
A costly stumble for a red-hot Vikings team
Minnesota had arrived in Florida as one of the league's hottest teams. Dating back to last season, the Vikings had won seven games in a row heading into Week 3, and Kyler Murray was making his return after missing time. Murray was returning from a concussion sustained early in the season, with backup Carson Wentz having been efficient in leading Minnesota to two wins without a turnover, despite getting sacked six times.
That win streak and momentum evaporated in Tampa. The loss drops the Vikings to 2-1 and hands the Buccaneers a much-needed boost in a crowded and unpredictable NFC South race. The two franchises have a long history dating back decades, with the Vikings holding a 33-24 edge in the all-time series entering Sunday's game, and their last meeting went the Buccaneers' way as well.
What comes next
The immediate question in Minnesota is Jefferson's status and how long the ankle issue might keep him out. As of Sunday night, the Vikings had not issued a further update beyond ruling him out for the remainder of the game, and his outlook for the coming week remained unclear.
For Tampa Bay, the win offers a reset after a rocky start under pressure. Head coach Todd Bowles had stressed the need for urgency all week, noting before kickoff that the team treats
"every week the same, with the same amount of urgency,"and Sunday's performance gave that message some real weight. Both teams now turn to preparing for their Week 4 assignments, with Minnesota hoping Jefferson can quickly return to a lineup that will need every offensive weapon healthy to keep pace atop the NFC North.