Vikings Send Bucs to 3rd Straight Loss

M I N N E A P O L I S, Oct. 10 -- The difference was so subtle. The swing wasso great.

Though Minnesota and Tampa Bay played nearly as equals Mondaynight, the Vikings’ 30-23 victory widened the gap between them to2½ games in the NFC’s Central Division.

The Buccaneers were stalled on Minnesota’s 43 yard-line when thegame ended. They were left to ponder the two turnovers that ledVikings touchdowns, two long drives that led to field goals insteadof touchdowns and a missed opportunity on running back MikeAlstott’s overthrown pass to third-string tight end Todd Yoder.

Subtle Differences

They were the subtle differences that kept the preseasonfavorite Bucs (3-3), now losers of three in a row, from gettingback in the thick of the NFC Central.

“That’s the difference between winning and losing when you playagainst good teams,” Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy said. “The lastthree weeks we have not made them, so we are going to have to goback to work, come out of this bye and get ourselves in the mindsetthat we start to make them.”

The Vikings (5-0) have yet to beat anybody by more than eightpoints, but they keep finding new ways to win. This week theirdefense set up two touchdowns against the Bucs by strippingKeyshawn Johnson of a reception on the game’s first play and takingthe ball from Aaron Stecker on a kickoff return.

When the Vikings, trailing 23-20 in the fourth quarter, needed abig play from their biggest star, they got it from Randy Moss. Hesplit Tampa Bay defenders John Lynch and Ronde Barber and scored ona 52-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper.

Best to Come?

The Vikings insist they have yet to play their best game.

“You’d rather be 5-0 and improving,” Culpepper said, “than4-1.”

The Vikings were outgained 346-322. They allowed Jacquez Greento catch a career-high 11 passes for 131 yards. They allowed aseason-high six sacks.

They make a case for having room to improve.