Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings
We have a Week 1 NFC matchup as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to US Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The Buccaneers won the NFC South with an 8-9 record and lost in the Wild Card Round at home against the Dallas Cowboys 31-14. The Vikings had a dominant season as they won the NFC North with a 13-4 record and also lost in the Wild Card Round at home as New York Giants won 31-24.
Buccaneers vs. Vikings Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +5.5 (-110) | O 45.5 (-110) | +195 |
| Minnesota Vikings | -5.5 (-110) | U 45.5 (-110) | -238 |
Buccaneers vs. Vikings Game Details
Fixture: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date & Time: Sunday, September 10 1:00 PM
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Buccaneers vs. Vikings Key Stats
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled offensively last year as they were 25th in the NFL with 18.2 points and 15th with 348.9 total yards per game. This team is completely starting over as quarterback Tom Brady, right tackle Donovan Smith, wide receiver Russell Gage and wide receiver Julio Jones to name a few. This team is starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and with the issues surrounding wide receiver Mike Evans, it will be a huge season as the roster continues to shift.
The defense was able to add defensive end Calijah Kancey in the first round of the NFL draft as well as adding a few backups through the draft. However, the defense is largely the same as it was a year ago. This Bucs team did a decent job on the defensive end as they were 15th with 21.6 points per game and 10th with 329.8 total yards allowed. If this defense can step up this season in a winnable division, they can make the playoffs once again.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings lost a few identifiable players on the offensive side of the ball as they no longer have wide receiver Adam Thielen, running back Dalvin Cook and tight end Irv Smith. The 2022 Vikings offense dd very well as it was top 10 in both points (24.9) and yards (359.8) per game. This offense should be exciting to watch still as they added wide receiver Jordan Addison in the NFL draft. This will be a great test for head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Kirk Cousins to prove last season’s productivity was not a fluke.
Their defense also lost some recognizable names as cornerback Patrick Peterson, linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive tackle Dalvin Thomlonson are no longer with Minnesota. They needed a shakeup as they were 30th in points per game allowed (25.4) and 31st in yards per game (391.1). They added cornerback Byron Murphy and defensive end Marcus Davenport to the roster as well as signing defensive coordinator Brian Flores. This Vikings team could be even better than last year if the defense can just be average.
Buccaneers vs. Vikings Prediction
This game is one of the more difficult on the slate as both teams have changed. Baker Mayfield has some solid offensive weapons to throw the ball to and I trust this Buccaneers defense a little more than the Vikings right now. That could change as the season progresses but what is Jordan Addison going to do in his NFL debut? There are a few too many questions I have with Minnesota so go with Tampa Bay as a road underdog here.
