Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings

WON - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38 Minnesota Vikings 24

***HISTORIC MARKER*** With the win, the Buccaneers moved to 7–2, tying the 1979 team for the best start in franchise history.

Brad Johnson returned to the lineup, throwing five touchdown passes (including three to Keyshawn Johnson for 133 yards), and a total of 313 yards, as the Buccaneers rolled 38–24 over the visiting Vikings.

Under Brad Johnson's jersey on Sunday was a flak jacket, designed to protect the two fractured ribs on his left side.

With Green Bay (6–1) playing on Monday night and New Orleans (6–2) having the week off, Tampa Bay is the first NFC team to reach seven wins. They hold a half-game edge over the Saints in the NFC South rac.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights

GAMEDAY BRIEF

OFFICALS

• REFEREE: Jeff Triplette
• UMPIRE: Scott Dawson
• HEAD LINESMAN: Tom Stabile
• LINE JUDGE: Jeff Seeman
• SIDE JUDGE: Doug Rosenbaum
• BACK JUDGE: Richard Reels
• FIELD JUDGE: Duke Carroll
• REPLAY OFFICIAL: Dick Creed
• VIDEO OPERATOR: not documented

SCORING

• BUCCANEERS: 13:12-1Q Williams 15 pass from B.Johnson (Gramatica kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 01:03-1Q Dudley 2 pass from B.Johnson (Gramatica kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 12:16-2Q Gramatica FG36
• BUCCANEERS: 07:16-2Q K.Johnson 2 pass from B.Johnson (Gramatica kick)
• VIKINGS: 06:49-2Q Bennett 85 run (Anderson kick)
• VIKINGS: 00:00-2Q Anderson FG26
• BUCCANEERS: 05:10-3Q K.Johnson 19 pass from B.Johnson (Gramatica kick)
• VIKINGS: 02:08-3Q Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)
• BUCCANEERS: 13:34-4Q Alstott 1 pass from B.Johnson (Gramatica kick)
• VIKINGS: 04:40-4Q Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

• WR: #19 K. Johnson
• LT: #72 R. Oben
• LG: #77 T. Washington
• C: #62 J. Christy
• RG: #60 C. Coleman
• RT: #67 K. Walker
• TE: #85 K. Dilger
• WR: #86 K. Williams
• QB: #14 B. Johnson
• FB: #43 J. Cook
• RB: #40 M. Alstott

STARTERS DEFENSE

• LE: #94 G. Spires
• LT: #99 W. Sapp
• NT: #91 C. Darby
• RE: #97 S. Rice
• MLB: #53 S. Quarles
• SLB: #51 A. Singleton
• WLB: #55 D. Brooks
• LCB: #25 B. Kelly
• RCB: #20 R. Barber
• SS: #47 J. Lynch
• FS: #34 D. Jackson

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 7 Gramatica, 9 Tupa, 23 Phillips, 26 Smith, 27 Stecker, 32 Pittman, 35 Ivy, 38 Howell, 52 Webster, 58 Golden, 66 Benjamin, 74 Green, 75 Brown, 80 Yoder, 81 Lee, 84 Barlow, 88 Dudley, 89 Crawford, 90 Gurley, 96 Wyms, 98 Smith

DID NOT PLAY

• 10 King, 76 Reyes

INACTIVE

• 11 Johnson, 30 Barnes, 31 Wansley, 34 Stephens, 71 Jenkins, 83 Jurevicius, 87 McCardell, 92 McFarland

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

• BUCCANEERS: Stecker 1-59, Alstott 26-55, Pittman 3-19.
• VIKINGS: Bennett 10-114, Williams 7-43, Moss 2-8, Culpepper 4-8.

PASSING

• BUCCANEERS: B.Johnson 31-24-313-0-5.
• VIKINGS: Culpepper 29-18-225-2-0.

RECIEVING

• BUCCANEERS: K.Johnson 9-133, Williams 4-49, Dilger 3-61, Alstott 3-16, Dudley 2-11, Pittman 1-18, Barlow 1-13, Stecker 1-12.
• VIKINGS: Williams 5-24, Moss 4-41, Kleinsasser 3-64, Bennett 3-27, Walsh 2-40, James 1-29.

INTERCEPTIONS

• BUCCANEERS: Singleton 1-0, Sapp 1-0.
• VIKINGS: none.

KICK RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Smith 1-23, Stecker 1-20.
• VIKINGS: Williams 4-81, James 1-28, Davis 1-14.

PUNT RETURNS

• BUCCANEERS: Williams 0-0.
• VIKINGS: none.

SACKS

• BUCCANEERS: Rice 2-10, Barber 1-1.
• VIKINGS: none.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights