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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Keep an eye attuned to the game within the game on Sunday.

Coming off two forgettable efforts, Baker Mayfield plans to exploit weaknesses in Minnesota’s secondary. That won’t happen unless he has ample time to survey the field and process the intricate schemes of master defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The Vikings have done a lot of things right in bolting to a 2-0 getaway under backup quarterback Carson Wentz. But if you’re seeking the catalyst for Minnesota’s quick start, look no further than third-year pass rusher Dallas Turner.

Quite simply, he’s been a game-wrecker, an aggressive 6-foot-3, 247-pound QB hunter.

If votes were taken right now for Defensive Player of the Year, Turner could very well be the front runner. He’s been that good — so the onus is on tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke to keep him from disrupting Mayfield’s timing.

That won’t be an easy task.

Tristan Wirfs

In the season opener against Green Bay, Turner posted nine pressures and a sack. He followed that up last week with 10 pressures and two takedowns at Chicago, including the game-ending sack in a 9-3 triumph that shut up yacker Bears coach Ben Johnson for awhile.

“Turner’s kind of a long, lengthy, twitchy guy,” Wirfs told me this week. “Being at home is a plus with our assignments because playing in Minnesota they’re loud as hell. I hate to say must-win, but there’s only one way out of this and that’s to win on Sunday. A Flores defense throws a lot of funky stuff at you, so we’ve got to be on point.”

Mayfield’s pass protection has been just okay through two weeks. He’s been hounded on occasion, but his interception against the Browns came from a clean pocket.

Although Minnesota traded up to select Turner in the first round of the 2024 draft, the former Alabama standout played sparingly as a rookie. He registered eight sacks as a starter last season and has taken his game to a new level in 2026.

While Turner tops the league with 11 QB hits, A’Shawn Robinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad share the Tampa Bay lead with two hits apiece.

When the Bears tried to block him with a tight end at the end of the game, Turner lined up wide right and used his power to drive Colston Loveland into backup QB Tyson Bagent, who went down so hard in Turner’s clutches that Chicago fans were looking for a roughing-the-passer flag.

That was the moment NFL fans outside of the Twin Cities realized there’s a new dynamic sack artist on the scene. You can bet Turner has the full attention of Mayfield, Wirfs, Goedeke and OC Zac Robinson.

The Bucs haven’t faced a pass rusher of Turner’s caliber through two weeks. When you combine his skills with the creativity of Flores, it’s no wonder Minnesota’s opponents are averaging only 12.5 points per game.

Third-down defense (30 percent conversion rate) has been spectacular.

“Just don’t get in third-and-long,” warns Bucs guard Cody Mauch. “That’s where they eat.”

And nobody is hungrier than Mr. Turner.

Ira Kaufman Predicts The Bucs-Vikings Outcome, And More