Price’s punt return and Reichard’s long kicks lift Vikings past Buccaneers

Myles Price gave Minnesota a touchdown before its offense had settled in, and Will Reichard supplied the points that kept Tampa Bay from completing a comeback. Price returned a first-quarter punt 86 yards for a score, Reichard made field goals from 56 and 43 yards in the fourth, and the Vikings beat the Buccaneers 23-16 Sunday. Minnesota is 3-0; Tampa Bay is 0-3.

Price’s return came after the Buccaneers’ first possession ended in a three-and-out. He ran up the middle, cut toward the right sideline and outran the coverage for his first career touchdown. The NFL’s dated game clip captures the special-teams play that put Tampa Bay behind 10-0 with more than half of the first quarter remaining.

Baker Mayfield brought the Buccaneers back into the game with a 40-yard touchdown pass to rookie Ted Hurst III. It was Hurst’s first career touchdown, and the NFL posted a separate video of the throw. Tampa Bay later reached Minnesota’s 7-yard line, but two holding penalties pushed the drive backward. Chase McLaughlin’s 28-yard field goal tied the score at 10 rather than putting the Buccaneers in front.

Kyler Murray broke that tie on third-and-8 with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison in the second quarter. Addison finished with five catches for 90 yards and the score. Murray, in his first full game back after a Week 1 concussion, completed 15 of 29 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Minnesota’s offense generated little sustained production, making the return touchdown and field-position exchanges unusually important.

Tampa Bay had chances to erase the deficit. A’Shawn Robinson intercepted Murray and gave the Buccaneers the ball at Minnesota’s 22 in the third quarter, yet they gained little and settled for McLaughlin’s 38-yard kick. Later, an apparent 85-yard Mayfield touchdown pass to Chris Godwin Jr. on third-and-30 disappeared because of a holding penalty. McLaughlin’s 54-yard field goal eventually pulled Tampa Bay within 17-16, but Reichard answered from 56 yards with 3:10 left and added a 43-yarder in the final minute. Mayfield went 17 of 34 for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and was sacked six times.

Both teams left with injury questions. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson left after a right ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return. Mayfield hurt his thumb on a late desperation pass and was replaced in the final minute; Buccaneers receiver Jalen McMillan also left with a knee injury. The postgame report did not establish their next-game availability. Minnesota hosts Miami next Sunday, while Tampa Bay hosts Green Bay.