KSTP Sports was in Tampa covering the Vikings and spoke postgame with LB Blake Cashman, RB Aaron Jones Sr., S Josh Metellus, and K Will Reichard.
**_\*\*\*Click the video box above to watch the Vikings postgame reaction after their win over Tampa\*\*\*_**
The Vikings are still searching for their cleanest performance of the season. The encouraging part? They’re winning anyway.
Minnesota used timely defense, a game-changing special teams play, and another clutch performance from kicker Will Reichard to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday, improving to 3-0 despite what several players described as a team that still has plenty of room for growth.
“This team’s ability to play complementary football and to lean on each other in moments when we need it,” linebacker Blake Cashman said. “I think that’s the biggest positive to this team that I’ve seen in the first three weeks.”
Sunday’s victory was a textbook example.
The Vikings defense spent much of the fourth quarter on the field, repeatedly forced into high-pressure situations against quarterback Baker Mayfield. Yet Brian Flores’ group delivered stop after stop, holding Tampa Bay and preserving Minnesota’s lead until the final desperate drive.
The Vikings finished with 12 QB hits, six sacks, and had two takeaways.
The 3-0 Vikings host 0-3 Miami next Sunday at 3:05 p.m.
_**\*\*\*Click the video box below to watch coach Kevin O’Connell’s postgame news conference or if on our app, swipe to the right\*\*\***_
Safety Josh Metellus echoed that Cashman sentiment, saying the defensive mindset all week centered on matching Mayfield’s competitiveness.
“Part of the game plan today was out-competing Baker,” Metellus said. “We knew Baker was one of the best competitors in the National Football League. He was going to do whatever he can to will his team to win.”
The Vikings also received a huge lift from special teams, where Miles “Jug” Price finally broke through with the kind of return teammates had long been expecting.
Metellus said the return unit had been waiting years for another touchdown and wasn’t surprised Price was the player who delivered it.
“We’ve been trying to do that for a while,” Metellus said. “I knew Jug would be the one.”
The veteran safety even shared a pregame coincidence that made the play feel inevitable.
“K.O. had one, too,” Metellus said of head coach Kevin O’Connell. “K.O. said he had a vision of him getting into the end zone. Just keep putting it out in the universe.”
Special teams also played a critical role in the kicking game, where Reichard once again delivered under pressure.
Reichard has made 26 straight field goal attempts. He made two of 50+ yards on Sunday. He also made a 48-yard extra point following a penalty.