 to start the game. They never slowed down, building a 28-3 lead by early in the third quarter on their way to compiling 494 yards. Trae Waynes and Harrison Smith each picked off Jameis Winston in the end zone , and Andrew Sendejo returned an interception 36 yards in the fourth quarter to set up one of two field goals by Kai Forbath. Shadowed by Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had a quiet game with seven catches for 67 yards. When the offense returned to the sideline following Winston's third interception, Evans was shown on the TV broadcast angrily shoving over a trash can by the bench. DeSean Jackson and Cameron Brate each had four touchdown receptions while Winston completed 28 of 40 passes for 328 yards, but the Buccaneers (1-1) simply couldn't overcome having to play from behind all afternoon. They converted only one of six third downs. Keenum, meanwhile, went 25 for 33 in the third 300-yard game of his career. With Bradford out for the second straight game because of an ailing left knee, the undrafted former practice squad player with 26 starts in six NFL seasons took full advantage of a Buccaneers defense depleted by injuries. Well protected by a vastly improved offensive line, Keenum was not sacked and only occasionally hurried. He put on a play-action passing clinic, finding Diggs and fellow wide receiver Adam Thielen (five catches, 98 yards) open at will. PASS THE BUCSKeenum has beaten the Buccaneers in three straight seasons, the past two with the Rams. His totals: 53 for 76 (69. 7 percent) for 793 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception with three sacks. FOR STARTERSWith widespread rebuke around the league toward President Donald Trump for his obscene criticism of the kneeling by players during the national anthem in protest of social injustice, Evans and Jackson each took a knee with a hand on their heart in front of the bench as the ''Star Spangled Banner'' played. Other Bucs players locked arms in solidarity. Nobody was kneeling on the Vikings sideline, but many players also stood arm in arm, with owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf and general manager Rick Spielman joining them. Right before the anthem played, about a dozen Vikings ran to the west end zone and knelt with their heads bowed, including Cook, Diggs and Thielen. BANGED-UP BUCSAlready without three starters for health reasons, defensive tackle Chris Baker, linebacker Kwon Alexander and cornerback Brent Grimes, the Buccaneers defense took even more hits during the game. Backup defensive end Noah Spence was in and out with a shoulder injury. Standout defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was limited this week in practice by an ankle problem, limped off twice in the second half before returning from each absence. Then linebacker Lavonte David was lost in potentially the biggest blow. He had the back of his leg rolled on inadvertently by a Vikings player during a scrum around the ball in the fourth quarter and left the field on a cart. UP NEXTThe Buccaneers host the New York Giants on Sunday. The Vikings stay at home to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday---For more NFL coverage: http://www. pro32. ap. org and http://www. twitter. com/-NFL)
Sep 20, 2017 MINNEAPOLIS -- While Mike Zimmer waits for the return of quarterback Sam Bradford, who missed last week with a knee injury, this week's opponent isn't so sure Zimmer might be better off sticking with backup Case Keenum. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who come to Minnesota on Sunday, have seen plenty of Keenum through the years and haven't enjoyed the experience. Keenum has beaten Tampa Bay each of the last two seasons while playing for the Rams. "We probably shouldn't be calling him a backup, because he's beat us two years in a row," Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said Wednesday. "They might be better off with him playing. He seems to have our number. It looked like the Vikings ran their offense last week. " Bradford was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening victory over the New Orleans Saints. But Bradford sustained a knee injury and couldn't play in a loss at Pittsburgh last week. Keenum completed 20-of-37 passes for 167 yards in his place. Minnesota isn't sure whether Bradford will be able to return in time to play Sunday. He practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday. Zimmer started his press conference by answering his own question. "He's doing good," Zimmer said after jokingly asking himself how Bradford is doing. But Zimmer also said the decision on Bradford's status will likely come down to Sunday. "It's day to day, how do I know? " Zimmer said. Bradford or Keenum will face a Tampa Bay defense that forced four turnovers in a 29-7 victory over the Chicago Bears last week, the Buccaneers' first game of the season after Week 1 was postponed because of Hurricane Irma. Tampa Bay sacked Chicago's Mike Glennon only once but came up with two interceptions. The Buccaneers also recovered two fumbles and allowed the Bears only 20 rushing yards on 16 attempts. "Up front, Gerald McCoy, one of the premier guys in this league," Keenum said of Tampa Bay's defense. "And the linebacking crew is fast guys who can play, and they're solid on the back end, too. So we've got our work cut out for us. " In the two wins over the Buccaneers the past two seasons, Keenum completed 65. 12 percent of his passes for four touchdowns, one interception and a 118. 8 quarterback rating. If Bradford's knee improves, he will surely be back under center for Minnesota. "I would like to think that they're good, but a lot of it just depends on how my knee responds when we go out there and practice this week," Bradford said of his chances to play Sunday. "Hopefully, it'll continue to get better. I think a large part of that is how it responds. " Minnesota's offense, as a whole, struggled against Pittsburgh. Rookie running back Dalvin Cook had 12 carries for 64 yards after rushing for 127 yards in Week 1. Koetter knows Cook's potential well. He said Wednesday that he looked at Cook "a lot" before the draft. "He can run with power," Koetter said. "He can run with speed. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's demonstrated all of that the first two weeks of the season. " Zimmer sees similarities between his unit and the Buccaneers' defense. "Scheme wise they're very similar, safeties are aggressive, linebackers are fast," Zimmer said. "Gerald McCoy is a great player at three-technique. Corners play a lot of off coverage, but they're in a lot of man-to-man. They're good. They're a turnover machine. They got four last week. That's kind of been their M. O. Last year same thing. They play fast and they play hard. " Zimmer's defense will have to contend with Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston and receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson a week after seeing Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Brown was held to five catches for 62 yards. Bryant had the big game with 91 yards on only three catches and one touchdown. "Whoever lines up against me, I'll have to be ready for," Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes told the team's website. "If I'm on DeSean, I'll have to do a lot of hamstring workouts. If I'm on Mike Evans, I'll have to get in the weight room. " Evans and Jackson didn't have to do much against Chicago and Winston threw for 204 yards. Tampa Bay ran for 117 yards and scored once on defense. "We hope we can do that every game," Evans said Wednesday. "The defense, they're some savages. I love our defense. " McCoy didn't participate in Wednesday's practice because of an ankle injury and the Buccaneers were also without linebacker Kwon Alexander (hamstring) and defensive tackle Chris Baker (illness). Cornerback Brent Grimes (shoulder) was limited. For Minnesota, linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
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