# Vikings vs Buccaneers predictions, graded

Week 3, 2026: Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sep 27, 2026 · final: Vikings 23, Buccaneers 16 · 12 calls on record · updated Sep 29, 4:30 PM ET

Who do pundits pick in Vikings vs Buccaneers? Of 12 pundits with a call on record, the room is split, 6 each. 8 named a score; the median has the Buccaneers by 1. The Vikings won 23-16, so 6 of 12 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 64 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): Buccaneers 3, Vikings 2
- [FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros-fantasy-football-podcast-podcast): all 2 Buccaneers
- [Fox Sports Radio (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports-radio-podcast): Buccaneers 1, Vikings 1

The other 3 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 3 Vikings.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-3-vikings-at-buccaneers

Picks:

- [Carmen Vitali](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/carmen-vitali) took the Buccaneers; said Sep 26, 2026; on Fox Sports Radio (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/948bc684-6a05-4cb4-a5ff-72861da00102
- [Tracy Sandler](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tracy-sandler) took the Vikings; said Sep 26, 2026; on Fox Sports Radio (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/74f12600-9587-488a-af00-2e8c11643531
- [Pat Fitzmaurice](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 21–Vikings 20; said Sep 26, 2026; on FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast (podcast); scored 35.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31b15133-9938-492f-a5a8-48d1dd02b911
- [Derek Brown](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/derek-brown) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 21–Vikings 18; said Sep 26, 2026; on FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast (podcast); scored 40.48 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/889acfb2-8238-4174-89cb-a194ff0948ff
- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Vikings, Vikings 28–Buccaneers 17; said Sep 25, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 90.48 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 35.42) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd
- [Sam Monson](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/sam-monson) took the Vikings; said Sep 24, 2026; on Check the Mic (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Vikings, Vikings 23–Buccaneers 17; said Sep 24, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 97.62 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fe04828a-d532-414c-a58a-54f6505f2263
- [Jordan Dajani](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jordan-dajani) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 21–Vikings 20; said Sep 24, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 35.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c96aaa6d-2d0c-41cc-a9f7-c21ac21886ac
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Vikings; said Sep 24, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Vikings, Vikings 23–Buccaneers 21; said Sep 23, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 88.1 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4b11b44-d359-4027-a72c-87833f5ff6e3
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 21–Vikings 20; said Sep 23, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 35.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb02dfa-79dd-43a1-87d8-db7e5140af6c
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 19–Vikings 16; said Sep 22, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 40.48 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 34.45) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c21157cd-927c-43dc-98a2-60f4224ba22e

## How they came in

The Vikings are 2-0 and have won 2 straight; the Buccaneers are 0-2 and have lost 2 straight. On win totals, 17 pundits put the Vikings at 10 wins on average, and 10 pundits put the Buccaneers at 8.5 wins on average.

Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida

- Minnesota Vikings: 2-0, won 2 straight (48 scored, 25 allowed)
  - Last games: W 9-3 at Bears; W 39-22 vs Packers
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 29th, defense 1st of 32
  - Last season: 9-8
  - Win-total calls: 17 pundits, average 10, 8 to 12 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 0 of 1 Vikings game
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-2, lost 2 straight (46 scored, 56 allowed)
  - Last games: L 19-23 vs Browns; L 27-33 at Bengals
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 22nd, defense 6th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 11 pundits, average 8.5, 2 to 17 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 1 of 2 Buccaneers games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Carson Wentz](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carson-wentz) (Starting QB, QB): 357 passing yards · 3 TD, 2 INT · 48.4% completions · 3 games; 39th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Sep 12, 2026: Carson Wentz to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Sep 16, 2026: Carson Wentz to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Aaron Jones](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-jones) (RB1, RB): 474 rushing yards on 115 carries · 2 TD · 16 catches for 95 · 8 games; 17th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 29, 2026: I think, well, this is definitely based on the assumption Aaron Jones plays... he was described as day to day. So which usually means to me that they're probably going to play. (Week 8) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 17, 2026: Aaron Jones to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Justin Jefferson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-jefferson) (WR1, WR): 31 catches for 393 yards · 4 TD · 7 games; 38th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 1, 2026: Justin Jefferson to fall short of his draft cost (the first round) (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Jul 29, 2026: Justin Jefferson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [T.J. Hockenson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/t-j-hockenson) (TE1, TE): 35 catches for 328 yards · 3 TD · 8 games; 59th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 19, 2026: But chances are he’ll be ready to go in Week 7 when the Vikings come out of their bye week. (not settled yet)
  - No. 27 Tyler Sullivan, Oct 29, 2026: T.J. Hockenson to record 2 receiving tds (not settled yet)
- [Andrew Van Ginkel](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/andrew-van-ginkel) (Sack leader, LB): 7.5 sacks · 13 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 4th in the NFL in sacks
- [Blake Cashman](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/blake-cashman) (Tackle leader, LB): 4.5 sacks · 39 solo tackles · 8 games; 10th in the NFL in solo tackles
- [Baker Mayfield](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/baker-mayfield) (Starting QB, QB): 922 passing yards · 3 TD, 4 INT · 60.6% completions · 6 games; 32nd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Sep 28, 2026: Mayfield would seemingly be good to go, based on Bowles' current timeline, for their game on Oct. 25 against the Carolina Panthers. (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Aug 5, 2026: Baker Mayfield to outplay his draft cost (a QB2) (not settled yet)
- [Bucky Irving](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bucky-irving) (RB1, RB): 825 rushing yards on 167 carries · 8 TD · 22 catches for 106 · 9 games; 4th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 6, 2026: Bucky Irving to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Aug 11, 2026: Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (RB22, Overall RK57 | ECR vs. ADP: -13) (not settled yet)
- [Emeka Egbuka](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka) (WR1, WR): 31 catches for 278 yards · 2 TD · 7 games; 81st in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 25, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 2, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Cade Otton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cade-otton) (TE1, TE): 23 catches for 211 yards · 0 TD · 8 games; 118th in the NFL in receiving yards
- [David Walker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-walker) (Sack leader, LB): 4 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 8 games; 30th in the NFL in sacks
- [Josiah Trotter](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josiah-trotter) (Tackle leader, LB): 1 sack · 36 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in solo tackles

---

The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-3
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology