BUCS 19, Vikings 13

By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

TAMPA - Their motto is "fly to the ball." They've spent most of this year flying under the radar. Maybe that will change after what happened Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

When they held NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson to 85 yards in a 19-13 victory over the Vikings, it marked the seventh time this year the Bucs defense has derailed one of the league's top-10 ground gainers.

"It would be scary to see where we'd be without the help of that defense of ours," Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "They've pulled us out so many times this year."

Sunday was another in a long line of bailouts, one that allowed the Bucs (7-3) to keep pace with NFC South leader Carolina (8-2).

Though the offense moved the ball well at times, it again struggled to score, settling for one touchdown and four field goals in five trips inside the Vikings 20-yard line. The Bucs also blew a chance to seal the game late in the fourth quarter, when they got nothing out of a drive that started at the Minnesota 27.

The defense came to the rescue yet again, forcing a Chester Taylor fumble that Ronde Barber recovered with 1:14 left.

"You really have to give them credit," Peterson said. "They just totally took us out of our game."

The Vikings' game is to run the ball, as Peterson's league-leading 1,015 yards prior to Sunday indicate. Peterson racked up 71 yards on 13 carries to help Minnesota build a 13-6 halftime lead, but the second half belonged to the Bucs.

In particular, it belonged to the Bucs defense, which limited Peterson to 14 yards and the Vikings to three first downs in the second half.

"Hopefully, some of our defensive players start to get some recognition," Coach Jon Gruden said. "If you're listening out there, we do have a heck of a defense here. We really do."

STATISTICS

Minnesota 3 10 0 0 - 13

Tampa Bay 3 3 7 6 - 19

First Quarter

Min-FG Longwell 43, 6:53. Drive: 8 plays, 36 yards, 4:44. Key Plays: Gained possesion on downs at Minnesota 39; Frerotte 23 pass to Shiancoe. Minnesota 3, Tampa Bay 0.

TB-FG M.Bryant 39, 2:48. Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 4:05. Key Play: Garcia 36 pass to Dunn on 3rd-and-3. Minnesota 3, Tampa Bay 3.

Second Quarter

Min-Wade 4 pass from Frerotte (Longwell kick), 13:33. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 4:15. Key Plays: Peterson 22 run; Frerotte 16 pass to Berrian; Wilkerson 14-yard roughing the passer penalty. Minnesota 10, Tampa Bay 3.

TB-FG M.Bryant 26, 7:48. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 5:45. Key Plays: Garcia 12 pass to A.Bryant; Garcia 20 pass to Stevens; Garcia 12 pass to Dunn. Minnesota 10, Tampa Bay 6.

Min-FG Longwell 37, 1:47. Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards, 6:01. Key Plays: Frerotte 11 pass to Berrian on 3rd-and-3; Frerotte 18 pass to Shiancoe; Peterson 3 run on 3rd-and-1. Minnesota 13, Tampa Bay 6.

Third Quarter

TB-Askew 1 run (M.Bryant kick), 9:25. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:35. Key Plays: Garcia 23 pass to A.Bryant; C.Smith 7 run on 3rd-and-1; Garcia 31 pass to Stevens. Minnesota 13, Tampa Bay 13.

Fourth Quarter

TB-FG M.Bryant 29, 5:36. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 8:52. Key Plays: Garcia 6 run on 3rd-and-2; Dunn 11 run; Garcia 14 pass to Stevens. Tampa Bay 16, Minnesota 13.

TB-FG M.Bryant 26, 3:30. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 1:59. Key Plays: Clark fumble recovery (M.Hicks); Garcia 9 pass to A.Bryant on 3rd-and-3. Tampa Bay 19, Minnesota 13.

A-65,278.

(CHART) DIGITS

4

Field goals by Matt Bryant in Sunday's win, covering 39, 26, 29 and 26 yards

4

Consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the Vikings' Adrian Peterson before gaining just 85 on Sunday

4-1

Quarterback Jeff Garcia's record since regaining his starting job in Week 6 after being benched following a season-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Photo credit: Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Photo: Derrick Brooks and company swarm to the ball to bring down Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was limited to 85 yards on 19 carries. The Bucs held Minnesota to 210 yards of offense on Sunday.

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