Game story
In Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-10, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +2.01 total EPA, and +5.0% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+17.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 3-J.Addison for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TB-35-J.Dean, Illegal Contact, declined.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Jefferson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.01 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
- 2 J. Addison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.47 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
- 3 C. Godwin · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
- 4 M. Evans · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
- 5 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +2.01 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
- 6 T. Chandler · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
- 7 J. Oliver · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
- 8 D. Thompkins · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +0.56 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Jefferson — MIN · Receiving
J. Jefferson posted the highest total EPA (+6.01) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Minnesota Vikings's efficiency. Across 12 counted snaps, they averaged +0.50 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.66 EPA) came from Minnesota Vikings: (5:04) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 21 for -9 yards (31-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (31-A.Winfield) [31-A.Winfield], touched at MIN 20, RECOVERED by TB-31-A.Winfield at MIN 18.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Minnesota Vikings — J. Addison (K. Cousins pass)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Evans (B. Mayfield pass)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — T. Palmer (B. Mayfield pass)
- Minnesota Vikings — A. Mattison (K. Cousins pass)
Field goals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. McLaughlin
- Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. McLaughlin
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — J. Camarda
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the MIN 18 (Q1 48:27) — (3:27) 4-C.McLaughlin 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda..
The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the TB 39 (Q2 41:21); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 41:15) — 1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the TB 7 (Q2 35:43) — (5:43) 1-G.Joseph 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the MIN 28 (Q2 31:14) — (1:14) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep middle to 13-M.Evans for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 31:09) — 4-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda..
The third quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the MIN 7 (Q3 21:06) — (6:06) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 10-T.Palmer for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 21:01) — 4-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda..
The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–6. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the TB 4 (Q4 13:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 2-A.Mattison for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q4 13:37) — 1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the MIN 39 (Q4 5:15) — (5:15) 4-C.McLaughlin 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the TB 35 (Q4 5:10) — 5-J.Camarda kicks 65 yards from TB 35 to end zone, Touchback..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:21) — (11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 3-J.Addison for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TB-35-J.Dean, Illegal Contact, declined.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left intended for 17-K.Osborn INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Izien at TB 2. 29-C.Izien to TB 16 for 14 yards (18-J.Jefferson).
- Minnesota Vikings (Q4 13:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 2-A.Mattison for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q1 50:04) — (5:04) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 21 for -9 yards (31-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (31-A.Winfield) [31-A.Winfield], touched at MIN 20, RECOVERED by TB-31-A.Winfield at MIN 18.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q1 53:23) — (8:23) 8-K.Cousins FUMBLES (Aborted) at TB 26, touched at TB 27, RECOVERED by TB-9-J.Tryon at TB 25.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q1 50:04) — (5:04) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 21 for -9 yards (31-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (31-A.Winfield) [31-A.Winfield], touched at MIN 20, RECOVERED by TB-31-A.Winfield at MIN 18.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:21) — (11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 3-J.Addison for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TB-35-J.Dean, Illegal Contact, declined.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q1 53:23) — (8:23) 8-K.Cousins FUMBLES (Aborted) at TB 26, touched at TB 27, RECOVERED by TB-9-J.Tryon at TB 25.
- Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left intended for 17-K.Osborn INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Izien at TB 2. 29-C.Izien to TB 16 for 14 yards (18-J.Jefferson).
Quarterback report card
K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 48 dropbacks · 68.8% completion · +5.0% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +2.01 total EPA
- B.Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 38 dropbacks · 55.3% completion · -3.0% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.54 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Minnesota Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.046 | -0.121 |
| Offensive success rate | 37.2% | 38.8% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.014 | +0.042 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.231 | -0.521 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.121 | +0.046 |
| Defensive success rate | 61.3% | 62.8% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Tampa Bay Buccaneers generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.05 vs -0.12), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -9.64 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12 drives, -3.93 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- K. Cousins (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q1 48:27 · MIN 18 · Score 3-0
(3:27) 4-C.McLaughlin 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda. - Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 41:21 · TB 39 · Score 3-6
(11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 3-J.Addison for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on TB-35-J.Dean, Illegal Contact, declined. - Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 41:15 · TB 15 · Score 3-7
1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright. - Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 35:43 · TB 7 · Score 3-10
(5:43) 1-G.Joseph 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 31:14 · MIN 28 · Score 9-10
(1:14) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep middle to 13-M.Evans for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q2 31:09 · MIN 15 · Score 10-10
4-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 21:06 · MIN 7 · Score 16-10
(6:06) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 10-T.Palmer for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 21:01 · MIN 15 · Score 17-10
4-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda. - Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 13:43 · TB 4 · Score 17-16
(13:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 2-A.Mattison for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 13:37 · TB 15 · Score 17-17
1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 5:15 · MIN 39 · Score 20-17
(5:15) 4-C.McLaughlin 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-5-J.Camarda. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 5:10 · TB 35 · Score 20-17
5-J.Camarda kicks 65 yards from TB 35 to end zone, Touchback.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Minnesota Vikings 20-17 in Week 1, 2023 on 2023-09-10.
What was the final score of Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
The final score was Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17 (TB 20-17 MIN) in Week 1, 2023 on 2023-09-10.
What was the score by quarter in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
Q1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3, Minnesota Vikings 0; Q2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, Minnesota Vikings 10; Q3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, Minnesota Vikings 0; Q4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6, Minnesota Vikings 7; Final: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
Minnesota Vikings touchdown — J. Addison (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 41:21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — M. Evans (B. Mayfield pass) (Q2 31:14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — T. Palmer (B. Mayfield pass) (Q3 21:06) Minnesota Vikings touchdown — A. Mattison (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 13:43) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — C. McLaughlin (Q1 48:27, 3 pts) Minnesota Vikings field goal — G. Joseph (Q2 35:43, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — C. McLaughlin (Q4 5:15, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — J. Camarda (Q4 5:10, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings), 68.8% completion, +5.0% CPOE, +0.04 EPA per dropback, +2.01 total passing EPA. B. Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 55.3% completion, -3.0% CPOE, -0.01 EPA per dropback, -0.54 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings?
J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) led the game in total EPA with +6.01 on receiving plays. across 12 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.66 EPA): (5:04) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 21 for -9 yards (31-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (31-A.Winfield) [31-A.Winfield], touched at MIN 20, RECOVERED by TB-31-A.Winfield at MIN 18.. The biggest win-probability swing was +17.7%.
Was Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings a close game?
Yes — the margin was 3 points. Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 20-17 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now 1-0 W
Minnesota Vikings
Now 0-1 L
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