Buccaneers at Vikings
H. H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minn.
Monday, Oct. 9, 2000
AT A GLANCE: The undefeated Vikings are looking to remain perfect and
hand a third-straight defeat to the division-rival Buccaneers. Both teams are relying
heavily on 23-year-old quarterbacks who hail from the state of Florida.
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| OVERVIEW: The Vikings are one of the NFL’s three
unbeaten teams, joining the Rams and Jets. Minnesota (4-0) stayed perfect by beating NFC
Central rival Detroit in Week Five. The Vikings will stay in the division this week, as
they host the Buccaneers, a preseason favorite of many to create some serious postseason
noise. However, the Buccaneers have stumbled in consecutive weeks, losing to the Jets and
Redskins to fall to 3-2 after opening the season with three wins.
The loss to the Redskins could prove especially costly for the Bucs if it ends up
determining home field in the playoffs. Keep in mind that the Bucs had the home-field
advantage last year when they beat the Redskins 14-13 to move on to the conference title
game.
The Vikings could pad their division lead by knocking off the Buccaneers. Heading into
Week Six, every NFC Central team other than Minnesota has at least two losses.
This game also marks the return of two Buccaneers to their old home. OLG Randall
McDaniel and C Jeff Christy bolted the Vikings in the offseason to sign with Tampa Bay as
free agents.
Last season both games involving these teams were decided by seven points, with the
home team winning on both occasions.
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL:
In the first three weeks of the season, the Buccaneers’ offense was looking sharp.
The unit was moving the ball efficiently and getting into the endzone regularly enough to
quiet the critics who questioned whether Tampa Bay would have a competent offense.
But in the last two weeks, the play of the offense has left room for some of those
critics to resurface. In the last two games, the Bucs have turned the ball over six times
— with three interceptions and three lost fumbles. Two Buccaneers in particular
— QB Shaun King and RB Mike Alstott — must do a better job of taking care of the
ball. |
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|
| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Date: Monday, October 9, 2000 |
| 8:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
3-2-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
4-0-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
3-2-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
3-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Tampa Bay (R) |
2-1-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay (R) |
2-1-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
1-1-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
1-0-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
3-0-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tampa Bay |
1-0-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
2-1-0 |
|
|
| Tampa Bay features a relatively conservative offense, looking to run Alstott and
Warrick Dunn first in hopes of opening up the passing game, which hasn’t been very
consistent to date. The Bucs’ version of "Thunder and Lightning"
hasn’t been overly productive. Alstott is averaging 3.6 yards per carry, and Dunn is
averaging 3.2. The key to the Vikings’ defensive success has been their LB corps,
which was shuffled in the offseason. Dwayne Rudd, Kailee Wong and Ed McDaniel will play
large roles in containing the Buccaneers’ rushing attack.
Minnesota’s secondary has improved from last season. CBs Robert Tate and Cris
Dishman are playing well and will challenge King and WRs Keyshawn Johnson and Jacquez
Green.
The strength of Tampa Bay’s offensive line is its interior, which features OGs
McDaniel and Frank Middleton and C Christy. They will face the strength of the
Vikings’ defensive line, where starting DTs John Randle and Tony Williams can wreak
havoc.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
QB Daunte Culpepper, who has outstanding arm strength and great mobility, has been
playing very well. He has already proven he can beat a great defense — posting a 13-7
win over Miami in Week Two — but he now must battle another outstanding group of
defenders from the state of Florida.
While the Buccaneers have gotten great pressure on opposing quarterbacks (22 sacks in
five games), they must be wary of Culpepper tucking the ball and running.
As Culpepper gets more comfortable, he will have more games like the one he had last
week. He is improving at spreading the ball around to different pass catchers while coming
up with big plays. Against the Lions, the Vikings had several big plays, including two
Randy Moss TD catches of 50 yards or longer. In the Vikings-Bucs game in Minnesota last
season, Moss caught four passes for 120 yards and a TD.
Moss and Cris Carter will be facing the pesky CB duo of Ronde Barber and Donnie
Abraham. Barber has made a name for himself this season, as he has come up with multiple
big plays.
RB Robert Smith is very dangerous, as he showed against the Lions (16 carries, 134
yards). OLB Derrick Brooks, who has great sideline-to-sideline mobility, will have his
hands full keeping Smith in check.
While the Buccaneers’ defense normally is known for sure tackling, wrapping
opponents up has been a little shaky the past two weeks.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 1, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 GREEN, 86 Williams |
| OLT |
69 PIERSON, 79 Hegamin |
| OLG |
64 McDANIEL, 65 Dogins, 60 Coleman* |
| C |
62 CHRISTY, 75 Washington, 68 Unutoa |
| ORG |
73 MIDDLETON, 60 Coleman* |
| ORT |
71 WUNSCH, 76 Curry |
| TE |
83 MOORE, 82 Hape, 80 Yoder* |
| WR |
19 JOHNSON, 85 Anthony, 88 Hastings |
| QB |
10 KING, 15 Zeier, 14 Hamilton* |
| RB |
28 DUNN, 22 Stecker, 27 Abdullah |
| FB |
40 ALSTOTT, 82 Hape |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
72 AHANOTU, 78 Jones, 95 McLaughlin |
| NT |
92 McFARLAND, 98 Cannida |
| DT |
99 SAPP, 97 Jackson |
| DRE |
78 JONES, 94 White, 95 McLaughlin |
| SLB |
53 QUARLES, 51 Singleton |
| MLB |
59 DUNCAN, 52 Webster*, 58 Davis |
| WLB |
55 BROOKS, 50 Gooch |
| LCB |
21 ABRAHAM, 31 Young |
| RCB |
20 BARBER, 25 Kelly |
| SS |
47 LYNCH, 46 Gibson*, 33 Vance |
| FS |
24 ROBINSON, 34 D. Jackson |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
3 ROYALS |
| PK |
7 GRAMATICA |
| H |
3 ROYALS |
| PR |
86 WILLIAMS, 81 Green, 85 Anthony |
| KR |
86 WILLIAMS, 22 Stecker, 81 Green |
| KC |
68 UNUTOA |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 MOSS, 81 Walsh |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 74 Badger |
| OLG |
63 LACINA, 76 Liwienski, 60 Withrow |
| C |
78 BIRK, 60 Withrow |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 76 Liwienski |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 74 Badger |
| TE |
86 DAVIS, 87 McWilliams, 85 Jordan |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 89 Hatchette, 82 Walters* |
| QB |
11 CULPEPPER, 6 Brister, 8 Bouman |
| RB |
26 SMITH, 21 Williams, 22 Palmer, 23 Chapman* |
| FB |
40 KLEINSASSER, 33 Morrow |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
91 BURROUGH, 95 Paup, 92 Boireau* |
| NT |
94 WILLIAMS, 98 Robbins* |
| UT |
93 RANDLE, 99 Hovan* |
| DRE |
97 SAWYER, 90 Northern, 92 Boireau* |
| SLB |
57 RUDD, 55 Hall |
| MLB |
52 WONG, 59 Sauer |
| WLB |
58 McDANIEL, 56 Nelson, 54 Wilson* |
| LCB |
25 DISHMAN, 20 Wright |
| RCB |
28 TATE, 27 Thibodeaux, 29 Serwanga |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 37 Carter* |
| FS |
42 THOMAS, 30 Banks |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
22 D. PALMER, 82 Walters*, 28 Tate |
| KR |
21 WILLIAMS, 22 Palmer, 82 Walters* |
| KC |
51 M. PALMER, 91 Burrough |
* Rookie |
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