The Minnesota Vikings open up the 2023 season by facing off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, September 10th at noon central at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings and Buccaneers are former Central Division rivals and are meeting for the first time at U.S. Bank Stadium since the Vikings won 34-17 back in 2017.
Buy Vikings TicketsAs we look forward to the season opener, here are six things you need to know.
1. Last met in season opener in 2005
The previous time the Vikings and Buccaneers met in the season opener was in 1998 when Randy Moss made his debut. The next opener occurred in 2005 which was the first game the Vikings played without Moss on the roster. That game didn’t go the Vikings way, as they lost 24-13.
2. Buccaneers have won 7 of the last 9 matchups
The Vikings won matchups in 2014 and 2017, but hadn’t beaten the Buccaneers since 2001 before the Anthony Barr scoop and score. That streak was not one the Vikings are proud of. They had losses of 41-14 in 2001 and 36-17 in 2012 on Thursday night football.
3. Vikings lead all-time series 33-23
Despite struggling in the 21st century, the Vikings have dominated the series. The Buccaneers were an expansion team in 1976 and mightily struggled for the better part of two decades. The Vikings had three five-game winning streaks over the Buccaneers between 1984 and 1993.
4. Vikings are 6-4 in last 10 season openers
The Vikings have won six of their past 10 season openers while being 3-2 in the Kirk Cousins era. Last season, they beat the Green Bay Packers with ease by a score of 23-7. Getting off to a good start is paramount to a successful season and the Vikings have been better than not in the opener.
5. Buccaneers will debut new starting quarterback
With the retirement of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers will debut their new starting quarterback in Baker Mayfield who beat out Kyle Trask for the starting job. The Vikings last saw Mayfield in week four of the 2021 season where the Vikings lost 14-7 in one of the ugliest games in recent memory.
6. Both teams debuting new coordinators
After a poor performance from the defense last season, the Vikings brought in Brian Flores to call the defense. In turn, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles replaced his offensive coordinator by hiring Dave Canales. Both coordinators have high expectations based on the talent and how the units performed last season. Their units will go against each other to start the season.
