Bucs Keep Vikings All Tied Up

TAMPA, FL. - With the hunger for first place in the NFC North fresh in their minds, the Vikings strolled into Tampa Bay to face their past NFC Central rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After many costly mistakes and questionable calls on fourth downs, the Vikings find themselves still tied for first with two other teams, hunger pangs well in tow.

“Probably the only positive is that we’ve got a chance to still win the NFC North with everybody at 5-5,” Vikings coach Brad Childress said. “We don’t focus on the past; we look at the future, [and] learn from this one. [There’s] nothing wrong with the fight of this football team.”

A crowd of 65,278 at Raymond James Stadium witnessed the Purple and Gold fall to a record of 5-5 with a 19-13 loss to the Bucs.

“It’s tough because we gave the game away,” Vikings defensive end Jared Allen told reporters. “Obviously, credit goes to them, but I don’t think they did enough to beat us. Turnovers killed us. We had chances to win the game and we just didn’t capitalize on it. We’ve got to start finishing opponents off. We get stuck in these fistfights that come down to the last minute, and it doesn’t need to be that way. We are capable of going out and dominating a team, and it’s about time we start doing that.”

The Vikings entered halftime with a ten point lead over the Bucs -- thanks to a four-yard touchdown from Bobby Wade and two Ryan Longwell field goals -- only to be shut out completely during the second half. The Buccaneers claimed the lead and victory with a 1-yard TD from Tampa fullback B.J. Askew and two Matt Bryant field goals.

On the Bucs' final offensive drive, Bryant had a chance to give the Bucs a nine-point lead and increase the chances of victory, but came up wide right on the 46-yard attempt.

With 1:55 left in the game, Gus Frerotte and the Vikings offense took the field. What little hope the Vikings had left was shattered when Chester Taylor fumbled the ball on short pass up the middle from Frerotte. The ball was recovered by cornerback Ronde Barber and the Buccaneers secured the win.

The Vikings now find themselves in a three-way tie atop the NFC North with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers after the Packers toppled the Bears 37 to 3 at Lambeau Field.

The Tampa Bay defense (ranked 7th overall in the league coming into the game) held Adrian Peterson to only 85 yards on 19 carries, ending his four-game streak of 100+ yards rushing.

-Daniel Beer