Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 Minnesota Vikings 23
Early in the first quarter, James Wilder tipped a pass from Steve DeBerg into the hands of Vikings linebacker Chris Doleman, who returned it for a touchdown. Wilder took a helmet to the sternum on this play, leaving a deep bruise that caused him to miss the next two games, and reduced his effectiveness for the remainder of the season.
Seventeen seconds later, Scott Studwell recovered a Wilder fumble at the Tampa Bay 18-yard line, leading to a Viking field goal. The Buccaneers added a Donald Igwebuike field goal before the end of the quarter, but the Vikings answered it with a touchdown pass from Tommy Kramer to Mike Mularkey.
DeBerg's 1-yard touchdown pass to Jimmie Giles brought the Buccaneers to within a touchdown before halftime, but they were unable to score in the second half.
The Buccaneers outperformed the Vikings in a number of statistical categories, but could not overcome the turnovers.
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Jerry Markbreit
- UMPIRE: Ben Montgomery
- LINE JUDGE: Bill Reynolds
- HEAD LINESMAN: Ligori Haggerdy
- BACK JUDGE: Tom Kelleher
- FIELD JUDGE: Bill Stanley
- SIDE JUDGE: Merrill Douglas
SCORING
- VIKINGS: 1:17-1Q Doleman 59 interception return (Nelson kick)
- VIKINGS: 10:07-1Q Nelson FG31
- BUCCANEERS: 03:09-1Q Igwebuike FG37
- VIKINGS: 13:30-2Q Mularkey 10 pass from Kramer
- BUCCANEERS: 00:31-2Q Giles 1 pass from DeBerg (Igwebuike kick)
- VIKINGS: 14:52-4Q Nelson FG35
- VIKINGS: 06:23-4Q Nelson FG27
STARTERS OFFENSE
- WR: #89 K. House
- LT: #74 M. Powell
- LG: #66 G. Yarno
- C: #60 R. Grimes
- RG: #62 S. Farrell
- RT: #73 R. Heller
- TE: #88 J. Giles
- WR: #87 G. Carter
- QB: #17 S. DeBerg
- WR: #86 C. Magee
- RB: #32 J. Wilder
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LE: #78 J. Cannon
- NT: #76 D. Logan
- RE: #90 R. Holmes
- LOLB: #57 K. Browner
- LILB: #58 J. Davis
- RILB: #52 S. Brantley
- ROLB: #51 C. Washington
- LCB: #23 J. Castille
- RCB: #22 R. Jones
- SS: #41 C. Swoope
- FS: #44 I. Sully
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 1 Igwebuike, 5 Garcia, 20 Springs, 21 McKeever, 26 Easmon, 31 Curry, 34 Boatner, 36 Futrell, 46 Wonsley, 54 Randle, 56 Walker, 59 Murphy, 67 Morgan, 68 Mallory, 71 Nelson, 72 Taylor, 77 Maarleveld, 80 Williams, 81 Freeman, 82 Bell, 98 Keys
DID NOT PLAY
- 8 Young, 84 Harris
INACTIVE
- none.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Wilder 18-48, Springs 12-35.
- VIKINGS: Nelson 19-76, Anderson 8-26, Rice 5-19, Kramer 1-3, Wilson 1-0, Lewis 1-(-2).
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: DeBerg 28-18-181-2-1.
- VIKINGS: Kramer 21-9-130-0-1, Rice 1-0-0-0-0.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Wilder 6-73, Carter 4-31, Giles 4-31, Springs 2-11, House 1-18, Magee 1-17.
- VIKINGS: Rice 3-55, Jordan 2-18, Nelson 1-20, Jones 1-17, Mularkey 1-10, Anderson 1-10.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: none.
- VIKINGS: Doleman 1-59, Harris 1-27.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Wonsley 3-61, Freeman 2-35.
- VIKINGS: Rhymes 1-28.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Futrell 2-13.
- VIKINGS: Bess 3-17.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Holmes 1-16, Browner 1-6.
- VIKINGS: Millard 1-10, Howard 1-8, Newton 1-7.
