It only took the first game of the 2023 season for the Minnesota Vikings to get a taste of their own medicine. In 2022, the Vikes won all 11 of their one-score games. In 2023, they lost their first.
In a 20-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Vikings looked far from an NFC North heavyweight, much less a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The Vikings stumbled over their own unforced errors, and save for Justin Jefferson's offensive highlights, looked lethargic across the field. The oddsmakers certainly didn't expect Minnesota to fall to a Tom Brady-less Bucs, but here we are.
Here are three Vikings to blame after their Week 1 loss.
Vikings to blame No. 3: Kevin O'Connell
If it had been only a few sloppy plays here and there, maybe one could have chalked it up to bad luck. But the Vikings looked out of sync all afternoon from the very first drive. The offense got called for a false start on that first drive, the defense later got called for a killer offsides, and all in all, nothing seemed to go according to plan for Minnesota.
When this happens, the head coach may be to blame. Kevin O'Connell had some questionable play-calling in Week 1 and he's going to be one coach on the hot seat this season.
It just seemed like the Vikings weren't fully prepared for this matchup against a weak Bucs side, both tactically and mentally.
Critical penalties at inopportune times and disappointing performances across the field made this Week 1 matchup a forgettable one. Time for O'Connell to go back to the drawing board.
Vikings to blame No. 2: Kirk Cousins
Ah, Kirk Cousins. A multi-faceted quarterback who can, at times, be the chain-wearing hero for the Vikings or, at other times, be the cold-hearted villain.
Cousins went for 344 passing yards this game and generated scintillating chemistry with Justin Jefferson, as expected. That hasn't changed.
What is less palatable is Cousins' interception and two fumbles. Cousins saw the ball get knocked out of his hands in the Vikes' second drive of the game, and then he lost another fumble on the following drive when Bucs' Antoine Winfield blitzed him for a strip sack.
Cousins didn't play his cleanest game and also got picked off at the Bucs' goal line for what would have been a crucial go-ahead score.
The Vikings have seen Cousins win clutch games all throughout last season. After Week 1, it's clear the 34-year-old quarterback could have done better.
Vikings to blame No. 1: D.J. Wonnum
In his first game with the Bucs, Baker Mayfield finished with 173 passing yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions; he was sacked just once.
Against a wobbly quarterback like Mayfield, the Vikings have to increase the heat and put on the extra pressure. Danielle Hunter got the lone sack and also added a quarterback hit, but he can't be the only one putting in the work.
Minnesota suffered from Marcus Davenport's absence after the ex-Saint landed on the injury report for an ankle issue.
In his place, D.J. Wonnum struggled to pull his weight and finished with only four tackles. The rest of the pass-rushing corps behind Hunter looks concerning and may be in need of free-agent additions.
The Bucs possessed the football for over thirty minutes in the second half when they powered forward for the late lead. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores knew he was taking on an inconsistent when he joined the team this past offseason, and after Week 1's loss, the Vikings still have work to do on the defensive side of the ball.
