MINNEAPOLIS -- Case Keenum's reputation preceded him against Tampa Bay. Over the years, the veteran quarterback compiled some of his best NFL starts against the Bucs’ defense, a trend that continued in Week 3.

With Sam Bradford out for a second straight game with an injury to his left knee, Keenum led the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-17 win over Tampa Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was a performance rooted in redemption after Keenum’s rough outing in Pittsburgh last Sunday.

"It was huge," Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen said. "I think he was probably frustrated from last week, like we all were, and he wanted to go out there and prove that he can play at a high level. The great thing about him is he's done it before. He's had starts in this league, he's won games in this league. For us, we've just got to trust it and go run the play that's called."

Keenum lived up to his status as a Bucs slayer, posting a career-best 369 passing yards and completing 25 of his 33 throws, tossing three touchdowns and finishing with a 142.1 passer rating. He did it against a Tampa Bay defense that was nowhere close to full strength. The Buccaneers entered the game missing a starter from every unit of the defense and dealt with injuries to defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (ankle) and safety T.J. Ward (hip) in the second half.

Nevertheless, when called upon, Keenum answered, which earned him a rare postgame honor.

"I usually don't give out game balls after a game," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "I thought he played great, made great decisions, took care of the football. There were times he ran the ball when he needed to. I thought he played great."

Most importantly, the journeyman quarterback proved he is a viable backup for the Vikings, who are uncertain when Bradford will return.

That fast start the Vikings preached all week? Keenum orchestrated it and showed poise as the Vikings took a more aggressive approach from the get-go. The quarterback averaged 11.2 yards per pass and led Minnesota’s up-tempo approach, which allowed the Vikings to run 19 more plays than the Bucs.

His energy coming in and out of the huddle was palpable, and as the game wore on, Keenum's confidence continued to grow.

"I was having fun," Keenum said. "Guys were feeding off of me, I'm feeding off those guys. Offensive line played incredible tonight. That's where it starts offensively for us. I think I was on the ground maybe once.

"All those guys -- [Stefon] Diggs, Adam, Jarius [Wright] making plays. When you look across the board from all those guys to [Kyle] Rudolph, and you're comfortable with everybody, that's a great place to be as a quarterback."

By halftime, Keenum had thrown three touchdowns to give the Vikings a comfortable 21-3 lead. Not once did he fumble or throw an interception, unlike Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, who tossed three interceptions on Sunday.

Coincidentally, Keenum is the first quarterback to beat Winston head-to-head three straight times.

The Vikings outgained the Buccaneers in every facet: on the ground (125-26), in the air (369-316), on first and third down and in yards per play (7.1 to 6.7).

Minnesota instilled a ton of trust in Keenum’s abilities, a credit to the game plan drawn up by offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. The strategy against the Buccaneers didn’t include a dink-and-dunk approach. Keenum was less predictable and wasn't afraid to take shots down the field. On throws of 15 yards or more, Keenum was 7-of-9 for 221 yards and two touchdowns, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"I thought Pat did a great job," Keenum said. "He does a great job communicating the game plan. For me, in particular, knowing why he's calling plays and where he wants to take shots, where he wants to be careful with the football. And what we're trying to do as an offensive scheme as a whole, I thought we were on the same page most of the night."

Unlike a week ago, Minnesota’s receivers were able to establish themselves as deep threats. On passes of more than 15 yards, Keenum was 2-of-3 for 64 yards when targeting Thielen and 5-of-6 for 157 yards and two scores when targeting Diggs. Those five receptions on such throws are the most by a Vikings wide receiver over the past 10 seasons and the most by any player in a game this season.

His receivers didn’t have to fight for many 50-50 balls, either. Keenum showcased an ability to carve up Tampa Bay’s defensive backs on corner routes. Under pressure, Keenum pulled a 180 from his performance last week, finishing 11-of-13 for 232 yards and three touchdowns against the blitz.

"There were a few times when he made checks at the line and that was huge for us because he got us in the perfect play that he know we could beat one-on-one in coverage," Thielen said. "He did a great job tonight commanding the huddle and just running with it."