TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kyler Murray has the right opponent to get back on track after a concussion knocked him out of the season opener.
asserted
concussion → have → opener
Murray will be under center when the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) on Sunday.
asserted
Vikings → visit → Sunday
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback faces a defense that made Deshaun Watson look like an elite quarterback last week.
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Watson → face → quarterback
The Buccaneers haven’t generated much pressure, can’t tackle and routinely miss coverage assignments.
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Buccaneers → generate → assignments
That bodes well for Murray, who watched Carson Wentz fill in and lead Minnesota to two gritty wins.
asserted
Wentz → bode → wins
Wentz didn’t turn the ball over and made enough plays, especially in Week 1 when he tossed three touchdown passes against Green Bay.
asserted
he → turn → Bay
“I think the starting point is he’s just watched Carson really function in a way that Carson wasn’t doing crazy things,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
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O’Connell → think → things
“He was just protecting the football, making good decisions, making some big-time throws when he could and running the show.
uncertain
he → protect → show
And I think he saw some plays get made.
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plays → think → ?
I think he saw our team play totally connected and complementary of the other two phases and what that can do for the Minnesota Vikings on a Sunday.”
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that → think → Sunday
Wentz was sacked six times in the first two games, but Murray’s mobility can create problems for Tampa Bay.
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mobility → sack → Bay
“It’s been a long time since (the) Arizona days, but he’s very good,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of Murray.
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Bowles → ’ → Murray
“He has a very good arm – he can throw a deep ball.
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he → have → ball
He’s very good in the pocket, throwing on a dime, and he can run with the ball.
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he → ’ → ball
His feet are probably faster than our four defensive linemen’s feet, so we’ve got to be very disciplined in our pass rush.”
Bowles already was on the hot seat after a 6-2 start in 2025 turned into an 8-9 finish.
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start → get → finish
Baker Mayfield signed the biggest contract in franchise history and has more turnovers (four) than TDs (two).
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Mayfield → sign → TDs
Defensive tackle Vita Vea got a huge contract extension and isn’t playing up to standards.
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Vea → get → standards
Rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., a first-round draft pick with high expectations, hasn’t made an impact.
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Jr. → make → impact
It just happens to be this week,” Bowles said.
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Bowles → happen → ?
“We treat every week the same, with the same amount of urgency.
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We → treat → urgency
The fact that it’s this week (means) it’s the most important game, and then next week will be the most important, and it’ll go from there.”
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it → ’ → ?
Last week: Vikings beat the Bears 9-3; Buccaneers lost to the Browns 23-19.
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Buccaneers → beat → Browns
Last meeting: Buccaneers beat the Vikings 20-17 on Sept. 10, 2023, in Minnesota.
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Buccaneers → beat → Minnesota
Series record: Vikings lead 33-24.
asserted
Vikings → lead → ?
Wirfs is a two-time All-Pro and the only player to earn those honors at both left and right tackle.
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Wirfs → earn → tackle
After finishing with eight sacks last season, he already has three in two games and leads the NFL with 20 pressures.
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he → finish → pressures
Stats and stuff
— Vikings QB Kyler Murray returns after sustaining a concussion early in the season opener.
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Murray → return → opener
Backup Carson Wentz was efficient in leading Minnesota to two wins.
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Wentz → lead → wins
He had no turnovers but got sacked six times.
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He → have → turnovers
— RB Aaron Jones led the Vikings with 105 yards rushing in Week 2.
asserted
Jones → lead → Week
— WR Justin Jefferson has 11 catches for 147 yards and two TDs in two games.
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Jefferson → have → games
— LB Blake Cashman has at least seven tackles in 13 straight games and at least a half-sack in four in a row.
asserted
Cashman → have → row
— Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield has two TDs (one passing, one rushing) and four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception) in two games.
asserted
Mayfield → have → games
— LB Josiah Trotter is one of four players since 2000 to have at least 10 tackles in two straight games to start his career.
asserted
Trotter → have → career
The Aporia
