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Week 11 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
What you need to know
| Minnesota Vikings |
The Vikings used a run heavy offense in the first half, where RB Adrian Peterson racked up 71 rushing yards, to control the clock and limit the opportunities Tampa Bay had offensively. Along with Peterson's steady running, QB Gus Frerotte was able to connect with WR Bobby Wade for a four yard passing score to help the Vikings take a 13-6 lead into halftime.
The second half was a different story for Minnesota. Tampa Bay controlled the clock, finished off their opening second half possession with a rushing score and added a few Matt Bryant field goals to seal the deal. The Vikings had two chances to come back, but turned the ball over on downs and lost the ball on a Chester Taylor fumble on their last possession of the game. Peterson had just 14 second half rushing yards and Minnesota ran just eight fourth quarter plays, none of which included Peterson.
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
The Buccaneers used their normal game plan; keep it close offensively and rely on stingy defense to keep putting them in position to score and shut down the opposition when it counts most. Tampa Bay mustered just two first half field goals and were torn apart by the Minnesota rushing attack, but turned it around in the second half.
QB Jeff Garcia led an opening second half drive of 80 yards that was capped off by a B. J. Askew score from one yard out that tied the score at 13. They added two fourth quarter field goals by kicker Matt Bryant that extended the lead to six. Their missed opportunities that forced them to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns almost came back to haunt them, however. Minnesota had the ball twice trailing by just six points, but lost the ball on downs and a lost fumble that sealed the victory for Tampa Bay.
What you ought to know
| QB Gus Frerotte, Pass: 14 - 20 - 138 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0 |
Frerotte had a mediocre game against Tampa Bay, where he completed 14 of 20 passes for 138 yards and a four yard touchdown pass to WR Bobby Wade. Frerotte did have a fumble that he recovered and did not throw any interceptions, but he was sacked five times and converted just five of 12 on third downs, and zero of two on fourth down conversions.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 19 - 85 - 0, Rec: 1 - -3 - 0 (3 targets) |
Adrian Peterson had a big first half, where he ran the ball 13 times for 71 yards, but was neutralized in the second half, where due to great ball control by Tampa Bay, he received just six rushes for a total of 14 yards. Peterson was targeted three times, but caught just one pass for a three yards loss in the passing game.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 5 - 11 - 0, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (2 targets) |
Taylor had just five rushes for 11 yards on the ground and two receptions for 15 yards receiving. Unfortunately for Taylor and the Vikings, he fumbled on an 11 yard reception on the team's last drive and the Buccaneers recovered, ending any comeback hopes for Minnesota.
| WR Sidney Rice, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (3 targets) |
Rice received three targets in the passing game, where he came down with two receptions for 22 yards. He also attempted a pass on a reverse play, but threw the ball away into the end zone.
| WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 3 - 46 - 0 (4 targets) |
Berrian was targeted four times and finished with three receptions for 46 yards. He was targeted one time on third down and three of his receptions resulted in first downs.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 2 - 12 - 1 (5 targets) |
Wade was targeted five times and finished with two receptions for 12 yards, including a four yard touchdown reception on a third and goal play.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 2 - 41 - 0 (4 targets) |
Shiancoe was targeted four times and finished with two receptions for 41 yards. Both of his receptions resulted in first downs.
| PK Ryan Longwell 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points |
Longwell connected from 43 and 37 yards out on his only two field goal attempts and added an extra point to finish with seven points for the game.
| MIN Rush Defense |
Minnesota gave up 108 yards on 33 attempts, just a 3.3. ypc average, stopped Tampa Bay on a fourth and short play and knocked RB Ernest Graham out of the game early. The only negative on their rush defense was the short rushing score they allowed to RB B. J. Askew.
LB Chad Greenway had a big game defensively with 16 tackles and LB Napoleon Harris chipped in with eight solo tackles and one assist.
| MIN Pass Defense |
The Vikings allowed QB Jeff Garcia to throw for an efficient 255 yards on 23 of 30 passing, and did allow a score through the air that was called back, but they came up big when it mattered most and did a great job of keeping the game within reach for their offense. They forced Tampa Bay to settle for five field goal attempts instead of touchdowns and while they only recorded one sack, they put enough pressure on the Buccaneers offense that forced them to keep making adjustments throughout the game.
LB Chad Greenway had the team's only sack and DB Antoine Winfield added seven solo tackles and one assist to lead the secondary.
| QB Jeff Garcia, Pass: 23 - 30 - 255 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 6 - 21 - 0 |
Jeff Garcia was on his game against Minnesota. He finished 23 of 30 for 255 yards and added six rushes for 21 yards on the ground. Throughout the game he made play after play on the move and extended numerous plays for the Buccaneers. Garcia did have a touchdown pass called back on a holding penalty, but aside from that, the only negative for he and the Buccaneers was their inability to convert in the red zone, where Tampa Bay had to settle for five field goal attempts that they failed to convert into touchdowns. Garcia also showed his toughness after being drilled by Minnesota DL Ray Edwards on a late hit that would have put many players out of the game by shaking it off and not missing a play for the Buccaneers.
| RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 20 - 53 - 0, Rec: 4 - 65 - 0 (6 targets) |
Dunn carried the load for the Buccaneers after the Graham injury and finished with 53 yards rushing on 20 carries and added four receptions for 65 yards receiving on six targets. Dunn made a nice adjustment on an extended play by QB Jeff Garcia, as he turned and ran by a Minnesota LB for a 36 yard gain.
| RB B.J. Askew, Rush: 1 - 1 - 1, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
Askew scored a one yard touchdown on his only rush of the game and added two receptions for nine yards on two targets in the passing game.
| RB Earnest Graham, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0 |
Graham had just one rush for three yards before he left the game early in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He came into the game with a sore knee, but had his leg and ankle rolled on while being tackled on his only carry and did not return.
| WR Antonio Bryant, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0, Rec: 5 - 59 - 0 (8 targets) |
Bryant was the most targeted Tampa Bay receiver with eight, and he finished with five receptions for 59 yards. He could have had a much bigger day, but had a 27 yard touchdown reception called back for a holding penalty. Bryant was also used on a reverse and gained nine yards on the play.
| WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 3 - 36 - 0 (5 targets) |
Clayton received five targets and finished with three receptions for 36 yards.
| WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 1 - -1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Hilliard caught the only pass thrown to him for a one yard loss on a third down play.
| WR Joey Galloway |
Galloway was active for the game but was on the sideline for the majority of it. He did get some reps in the second half, but was not targeted.
| TE Jerramy Stevens, Rec: 6 - 84 - 0 (7 targets) |
Stevens had a busy game for Tampa Bay as he was targeted seven times and came down with six receptions for 84 yards. Three of his receptions resulted in first downs, and Stevens was brought down on the one yard line on one of his catches, just missing a touchdown.
| PK Matt Bryant 4 - 5 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 13 points |
Bryant had a busy afternoon kicking for Tampa Bay, converting field goals of 39, 26, 29 and 26 yards but missing a 46 yard attempt. He also added an extra point to finish with 13 points for the game.
| TB Rush Defense |
The Buccaneers had a tough time shutting down the Minnesota rushing attack in the first half, where Minnesota racked up 85 yards on 20 attempts, but they got some help by their offense in the second half, and with ball control offense and finished tackles defensively, they were able to limit the offensive plays for the Vikings and take their most dangerous weapon, Adrian Peterson, virtually out of the game.
LB Barrett Ruud led the way defensively with six solo tackles and two assists and LB Derrick Brooks added four solo tackles and two assists to lead Tampa Bay.
| TB Pass Defense |
Tampa Bay did give up a score through the air, but played well against the pass, as they allowed just 111 net pass yards, totaled five sacks and held the Vikings to five of 12 on third downs. Most importantly, they came up big on Minnesota's final drive of the game, forcing a Chester Taylor fumble on a reception that iced the game.
DB Tanard Jackson had five solo tackles and an assist and DL Jimmy Wilkerson forced the Taylor fumble that was recovered by DB Ronde Barber. Sacks were recorded by Barber, Ruud, Wilkerson, Chris Hovan and Kevin Carter.
