A stifling defense and a big play on special teams helped the Minnesota Vikings stay undefeated.
asserted
Vikings → stifle → teams
Myles Price returned a punt 86 yards for a score, Kyler Murray threw a 41-yard TD pass to Jordan Addison and the Vikings beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday.
asserted
Vikings → return → Sunday
Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb on a desperation pass late in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Mayfield → dislocate → quarter
He was screaming in pain on the ground before walking off and was replaced by rookie Jalon Daniels in the final minute.
asserted
He → scream → minute
Coach Todd Bowles said X-rays were negative, but Mayfield will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
asserted
Mayfield → say → injury
Two-time All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t return for Minnesota after injuring his right ankle in the first quarter.
asserted
Jefferson → return → quarter
Coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson was close to returning but couldn’t quite get the push-off he needed.
asserted
he → say → off
The Buccaneers are 0-3 for the first time since 2014, when they finished 2-14 and got the No. 1 overall draft pick, taking Jameis Winston.
asserted
they → finish → Winston
“We knew that was going to be an all-out, full team effort,” O’Connell said.
asserted
O’Connell → know → ?
“We have to get better in all three phases.
asserted
We → have → phases
I got to do a better job but to be 3-0, to have the type of support we had today from the fans, unbelievable to have that many in the house.”
asserted
we → got → house
He sustained a concussion in the first quarter of the season opener and Carson Wentz led Minnesota to consecutive wins.
asserted
Wentz → sustain → wins
“There were some throws I missed.
asserted
I → be → ?
For my first my first full game since last October, I felt it started to slow down for me but, at the end of the day, offensively we just weren’t on the same page
asserted
we → feel → page
,” Murray said.
asserted
Murray → say → ?
Mayfield hasn’t played like a $55 million-a-year quarterback since the Buccaneers gave him a $165 million extension before the season.
asserted
Buccaneers → play → season
He was 17 of 34 for 217 yards with one TD and one interception, taking six sacks.
asserted
He → take → sacks
“I’m sure it looks bleak,” receiver Chris Godwin Jr. said.
asserted
Jr. → ’m → ?
“It’s not ideal.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Definitely not the start we wanted and we never want to lose (Mayfield) but that’s where we are right now and the reality is we have to pull ourselves out of this hole.
asserted
we → want → hole
Tampa Bay’s woeful offense couldn’t do much against coordinator Brian Flores’ defense.
asserted
offense → do → defense
Mayfield had an 85-yard touchdown pass to Godwin on third-and-30 negated by a holding penalty on Luke Goedeke in the third quarter.
asserted
pass → have → quarter
That summed up the offense’s struggles.
asserted
That → sum → struggles
Mayfield’s 14-yard scramble on second-and-9 later was negated by a holding penalty on Payne Durham.
asserted
scramble → negate → Durham
But the Bucs got a first down on third-and-29 when Joshua Metellus hit Emeka Egbuka helmet-to-helmet.
asserted
Metellus → get → helmet
Again, the offense had to settle for a field goal.
asserted
offense → have → goal
Chase McLaughlin’s 54-yarder cut it to 17-16.
asserted
yarder → cut → 17
Will Reichard’s 56-yard field goal extended Minnesota’s lead to 20-16 with 3:10 remaining.
asserted
goal → extend → 3:10
He added a 43-yarder to cap the scoring.
asserted
He → add → scoring
Murray connected with Addison on a deep throw on third-and-8 to give the Vikings a 17-10 lead in the second quarter.
asserted
Murray → connect → quarter
Addison beat Jacob Parrish in one-on-one coverage, making a smooth adjustment on the ball.
asserted
Addison → beat → ball
After A’Shawn Robinson intercepted Murray’s pass to set up a first down at the Vikings 22 in the third quarter, the Bucs went nowhere.
asserted
Bucs → intercept → quarter
Bucky Irving ran 3 yards and then dropped a pass.
asserted
Irving → run → pass
Mayfield got sacked on third down and McLaughlin’s 38-yarder cut it to 17-13.
asserted
yarder → sack → 17
The Buccaneers fell behind 10-0 after just one possession.
asserted
Buccaneers → fall → possession
Following a three-and-out, Price darted up the middle, cut to the right and sprinted down the sideline for his first career touchdown.
asserted
Price → follow → touchdown
Price said he had a dream earlier in the week that he scored on a return.
asserted
he → say → return
Then he dreamed about it again while taking a pregame nap.
asserted
he → dream → nap
“It means everything,” Price said.
asserted
Price → mean → everything
“I’m so excited.”
asserted
I → ’m → ?
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
