Vikings vs. Buccaneers Recap: Defense and Special Teams Win It

Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 23-16 without a single red-zone trip. The Vikings never trailed. Their points came from an 86-yard Myles Price punt return touchdown, a 41-yard Jordan Addison touchdown catch and three Will Reichard field goals from 54, 56 and 43 yards. Neither offense did much: the two teams converted a combined 4 of 32 third downs, and Baker Mayfield was sacked six times. One DARIMARKET play cashed on this game: the alt Vikings +4.5, posted before kickoff.

What cashed

ALT: Vikings +4.5: CASHED

• Our read: Minnesota was 2-0 and a slight road favorite (-1.5) against an 0-2 Tampa team missing LBs Josiah Trotter and Rueben Bain Jr.
• What happened: The Vikings won by 7 and covered +4.5 by 11.5. Tampa tied it 10-10 in the second quarter and got within 17-16 on a 54-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal with 9:02 left. Reichard answered from 56 with 3:10 to go, and Tampa's last two drives both ended in interceptions before Reichard added the 43-yarder.
• Worth watching: The main -1.5 covered too, so the alt gave up some payout. In a game this low-scoring, taking the points on the side we liked still made sense, because every field goal swung the margin.

How the game played out

Special teams and defense decided this one. Price's 86-yard return came less than two minutes after Reichard's opening field goal, and he added 132 yards on 5 kickoff returns. Addison's 41-yard catch was the only offensive touchdown Minnesota scored. He finished with 5 catches on 9 targets for 90 yards.

Tampa's offense never got going. Bucky Irving ran 15 times for 46 yards, Tampa came away with no touchdowns on its two red zone trips, and its 16 points came from a 40-yard Ted Hurst III touchdown catch and three McLaughlin field goals. Minnesota's defense had six sacks, with 1.5 each from Eric Wilson and Kyle Van Noy, plus interceptions from Andrew Van Ginkel and Isaiah Rodgers. Tampa gained 243 yards to Minnesota's 230.

Trends to watch

• Minnesota's defense had six sacks and held Tampa to 2 of 17 on third down. Against this group, points for the opponent look hard to come by.
• Reichard made all three of his field goals, including tries from 54 and 56. With a kicker this reliable from distance, Vikings drives that stall near midfield can still produce points.
• Addison drew 9 targets and turned them into 90 yards and a touchdown. His share of the passing game is worth tracking next week.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these terms? Read up on the point spread, the alt line and our NFL hub.