Minnesota loses on the road

Bucs defeat the Vikes in second half comeback

The Vikings played their first of two consecutive road games in Florida last week as they paid a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With a chance to take over first place in the NFC North with a win and a Chicago loss, the Vikings had a 13-6 lead at halftime as QB Gus Frerotte connected with WR Bobby Wade on the only touchdown in the first half of the game.

Tampa Bay took the second half kickoff and had an 11-play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown to tie the game 13-13. In the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers had a 13-play, 69 yard drive for a field goal that took 8:52 off the clock as Tampa dominated time of possession in the second half and particularly in the fourth quarter.

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Mistakes at critical times in the game once again played a major role in losing the game for Minnesota. RB Maurice Hicks fumbled a kickoff to set up a Tampa Bay field goal in the fourth quarter and RB Chester Taylor also had a fumble after a reception on a drive late in the game. The Vikings also has pass protection issues during the game, as Frerotte was sacked five times. RB Adrian Peterson also saw his streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games come to an end, as he had 85 yards on 19 carries.

With the loss, the Vikings are 5-5 and in a three-way tie for first in the NFC North. Week 12 brings a trip to Jacksonville to visit a few guys with ties to the Vikings: Former Viking players Jack Del Rio, the Jaguars’ head coach, and Mike Tice (who was also Vikings’ assistant coach and then served as head coach from late 2001-2005), who is an assistant coach under Del Rio. Also, currently playing for Jacksonville is former Vikings’ first round pick WR Troy Williamson.

Minnesota need a win over the disappointing Jaguars to stay in contention to win the division.

By: Brad Berreman

ProFootball-fans.com Vikings correspondent