Tampa Bay lays the smack down on the Vikes
The Minnesota Vikings were on a surge. They lost their first four games of the season but have reeled off three consecutive wins…until they ran into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay didn’t waste time as they built a 17-0 lead in the first quarter of Sunday’s matchup at Houlihan Stadium. The Bucs took their opening possession and marched right down the field behind the running duo of Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott. Dunn plunged into the endzone from 3 yards out to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead. After Brad Johnson interception to CB Donnie Abraham, the Bucs scored when Michael Husted kicked in a 38-yard field goal.
Late in the first quarter, Johnson threw another interception. Again, Bucs CB Donnie Abraham picked off Johnson and went 13 yards for a pick-six to give the Bucs their 17-0 lead. It’s Abraham’s second INT of the game and 4th of the season.
The Bucs salted the game away as they controlled the time of possession with their powerful running game. The Bucs rushed for 179 yards on 35 carries, and they picked up an additional rushing TD from veteran Erict Rhett.
The Vikings couldn’t get their running game going. In their 3-game winning streak, the Vikings averaged 166 yards on the ground. Today, they rushed for 79 yards and lost running backs Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard due to injuries.
The Buccaneers are chasing the Packers in the NFC Central Division with a 6-2 record. Next week, the Buccaneers go on the road to take the Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings will host New England next Sunday.