Bucs Host Vikes in Battle of Playoff Hopefuls

Football Betting Lines

11/14/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of combatants seeking to improve their standing in the NFC postseason race will meet at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Minnesota Vikings.

The homestanding Bucs enter Week 11 at 6-3 and just a game back of 7-2 Carolina in the NFC South, with a 27-3 rout of the Panthers in Week 6 already in their hip pocket. Jon Gruden's squad also defeated fellow 6-3 NFC South compatriot Atlanta in Week 2, making Tampa Bay 2-1 in a division that figures to be subject to a tie-breaker or two when all is said and done.

Also in the file marked "positive" for the Buccaneers is that they enter the contest with the Vikings as a fresh, well-rested group, having enjoyed a well- deserved Week 10 bye. Prior to the open date, Tampa Bay pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history when they erased a 24-3 deficit to defeat the pesky Kansas City Chiefs, 30-27 in overtime.

Down 27-19 and possessing no timeouts with less than two minutes to play in that contest, quarterback Jeff Garcia engineered a five-play, 50-yard drive culminating with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant with just 19 seconds left.

Needing a two-point conversion to send the game to overtime, Garcia hit tight end Alex Smith in a crowd to tie the game at 27, then embarked on a nine-play, 58-yard drive ending with a 34-yard Matt Bryant field goal in overtime to seal the win.

Also entering Week 11 on a high note is Minnesota, which outlasted Green Bay, 28-27, in a thriller at the Metrodome last Sunday.

Running back Adrian Peterson rushed 30 times for 192 yards in the victory, placing the Vikes ahead to stay with a 29-yard touchdown run with 2:22 to play.

Peterson's performance helped overshadow a three-interception day from struggling quarterback Gus Frerotte, as did the work of a defense which allowed just 184 net yards, recorded a pair of safeties, and sacked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers four times on the day.

The win, which snapped a five-game losing streak for the Vikings to the arch rival Packers, coupled with a loss for the Bears, placed Brad Childress' squad in a tie for first place in the NFC North.

SERIES HISTORY

Minnesota has a 31-19 edge in its all-time series with Tampa Bay, but has lost three of the last four such games dating back to 2001. The Buccaneers were 24-13 road winners when the clubs last met, in the 2005 season-opener, and took a 38-24 decision when they last met in Tampa, in 2002. Minnesota last beat the Bucs in 2001, at home, and is 0-5 in Tampa Bay since last winning there in 1997.

The Vikings and Buccaneers met twice a year as member of the NFC Central from 1978 through 2001.

Gruden is 3-0 all-time against the Vikings, including a 22-17 road victory as leader of the Oakland Raiders in 1999. Minnesota's Childress will be meeting both Gruden and the Bucs for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

Peterson (1015 rushing yards, 7 TD, 15 receptions) leads the NFL in rushing yards after his dazzling performance against the Packers, but wasn't the only Minnesota running back to help fuel the win with a strong offensive display. Chester Taylor (211 rushing yards, 25 receptions, 2 TD) led the Vikes with 84 receiving yards on four catches, with his 47-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter staking Minnesota to a 21-10 lead. Taylor added 29 yards on 10 carries in the contest. For his part, Peterson has now gone over 100 yards in four straight games, and has progressively run for more yards in each game of the run. The ground attack has helped mitigate the struggles of Frerotte (1619 passing yards, 10 TD, 11 INT) and the team's passing game. Frerotte threw TD passes to Taylor and wideout Sidney Rice (5 receptions, 3 TD), but also threw three interceptions and completed only four tosses to wide receivers all day, including three to Bobby Wade (36 receptions). No. 1 wideout Bernard Berrian (30 receptions, 4 TD) did not have a single catch in the win after scoring touchdowns in each of his previous four outings. Frerotte has seven TD passes versus eight picks in his last three games. The Minnesota line has surrendered 23 sacks on the year.

The tallest task for Monte Kiffin's defense will be slowing the dynamic Peterson, and a group that ranks a decent 11th against the run (99.3 yards per game) and has allowed a league-low-tying one rushing touchdown all year has a chance to get that done. Linebackers Barrett Ruud (71 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) and Derrick Brooks (38 tackles, 1 INT) have been active against the run all season, and tackles Chris Hovan (27 tackles) and Jimmy Wilkerson (11 tackles, 1 sack) have been solid at the point of attack. When Frerotte throws it, he'll have to beware of a secondary that has accounted for seven of the Buccaneers' 12 interceptions, including a team-best three from rookie d-back Aqib Talib (10 tackles). Veteran corner Ronde Barber (38 tackles, 1 sack) is likely to be matched up on Berrian. The Buccaneers pass rush most prominently features second-year end Gaines Adams (23 tackles), who has a pair of interceptions (including one for a touchdown) to go with his team-leading four sacks. The Bucs are fifth in the league against the pass (190.1 yards per game).

WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL

The big story for Tampa Bay this week is the expected return of Cadillac Williams, who could play for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury last September. The former first-round pick could see extended time with No. 1 rusher Earnest Graham (560 rushing yards, 4 TD, 23 receptions) listed as questionable with a knee problem. Garcia (1363 passing yards, 5 TD, 3 INT) has not experienced a career year by any stretch of the imagination, but Tampa Bay's Week 9 win at the Chiefs reminded a lot of people why the veteran journeyman is so valuable. Garcia threw for a season-high 339 yards on 31-of-43 passing in the win, and it was his aerial ability that allowed the Chiefs to erase an 11-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. Bryant (45 receptions, 2 TD) has been re-born as Garcia's top target, as his eight-catch, 115-yard effort in Kansas City was his second 100-yard game in his last three. No. 2 receiver Ike Hilliard (33 receptions, 3 TD) has also been solid, and tight ends Smith (19 receptions, 3 TD), Jerramy Stevens (15 receptions, 1 TD) and John Gilmore (11 receptions, 1 TD) have been frequent targets over the middle. The Bucs line has allowed just 10 sacks through the first nine games.

Any discussion of the Vikings defense has to begin with the front four, which still boasts run-stuffing tackles Pat Williams (30 tackles) and Kevin Williams (39 tackles, 7 sacks) on the interior and menacing end Jared Allen (27 tackles, 8 sacks) complementing them. Kevin Williams notched six tackles and a forced fumble against the Packers last week, while Allen battled through a shoulder injury to play a part in both Green Bay safeties. Linebacker and leading Vikings tackler Chad Greenway (66 tackles, 3 sacks) has also been a difference-maker against the run, helping Minnesota to a current rank of third in NFL rushing defense (70.1 yards per game). Pass coverage remains the Vikings' defensive Achilles' heel, as the team is just 19th against the pass (219.2 yards per game), but the addition of safety Madieu Williams to the mix has had a positive impact on a team that already had cornerback Antoine Winfield (45 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) and safety Darren Sharper (32 tackles) to hang its hat on. Williams has 14 tackles and a pick in just two games played with Minnesota after missing the first seven with a neck injury.

FANTASY FOCUS

Peterson carried many fantasy teams to victory last week, but it would be astonishing if he approaches those kind of numbers against a very good Tampa Bay front seven. He remains a must-start, but don't look for him to carry your team. In addition, don't look for Taylor's big all-purpose day last week fool you into thinking he's consistent. Berrian has better starting potential. Kicker Ryan Longwell remains a reliable starting option, and the Minnesota defense is worth considering if only because of the pressure it has put on the quarterback in recent weeks.

The cloudy running back picture and the Vikings' generally strong work against the run means you'll have to leave all of the Tampa Bay backs on the bench this week. However, Garcia and top wideout Bryant should emerge as better starting options than usual. The Buccaneers defense should have its moments, and is worth using, and kicker Matt Bryant doesn't have a 50-plus leg but will get you some points.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Vikings have been a horrible road team this season, with their only win away from the Metrodome a gift-wrapped 30-27 affair against the Saints back in Week 5. Though Minnesota has talent and is capable of putting together a complete performance, doing so on the road against a quality Tampa Bay team that has defended its home field extremely well this season looks like a stretch. Minnesota doesn't match up well with Tampa Bay, since its pressure isn't likely to rattle the mobile Garcia and Peterson and the running game don't figure to gash a very sound Tampa run-stopping group. No team has come within a score of the Bucs at Raymond James this season, and the Vikings won't be the first.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Buccaneers 28, Vikings 12