Last year, the Vikings built at 17-0 lead against the Buccaneers at the Metrodome before squandering it. If the Vikings hopes to move to 6-2 tonight, they’ll need to be the ones to wipe out a double-digit deficit.
The Bucs lead in the first quarter by 10.
After the teams traded punts to cap three-and-out drives, two more sluggish attempts by the home team chased by subpar punts from Chris Kluwe gave the Bucs relatively short fields and, ultimately, a field goal and a touchdown.
The first drive was fueled by a career-long 41-yard run from rookie Doug Martin. The second drive, which nearly began with a turnover when punt returner Roscoe Parrish muffed the ball, resulted in seven points, thanks in part to a nice 20-plus-yard catch from Vincent Jackson, who inexplicably got a free release from the slot on third down.
And just as the Vikings were moving the ball, receiver Jerome Simpson fumbled the ball after the first completed pass of the game for Minnesota.
Maybe the Bucs will get a chance to blow a 17-0 lead of their own.