Vikings (5-4) at Bucs (6-3)
Week 11
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: FOX, WTVT Channel 13, DirecTV/NFL Sunday Ticket Channel 708.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 113.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, a crisp yet sunny day in Tampa Bay. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 61 with a very slight breeze. Temperatures should remain steady with a forecast of 60 in the fourth quarter.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -4.
Outlook: If the Bucs are true contenders for the NFC South and not pretenders, they need to put the Vikings away. Simply put, Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte is too awful to describe and the Vikings punt and kickoff coverage teams have more holes than a fishing net. Sure, Adrian Peterson is an elite running back and quite possibly the best in the NFL. He is carrying the Vikings. But it’s not like the Bucs defense is soft.

The Bucs defense only needs to worry about Peterson. It seems whenever the Bucs play an average offense with one absolute stud skill position player, the Bucs shut that guy down and take prisoners with the rest of his teammates.

When the Bucs have the ball it’s a bit more dicey. Minnesota’s defensive line is quite good and the Bucs offense line will have to play up to its expectations. With a lot of passing (and Lord knows Chucky is infatuated with the dink-and-dunk garbage) it could be a long day for Carmella’s husband. If so that means Son of Bob. If that happens, please have an emergency bottle of liquor nearby.
Yeah, Joe gets to be a broken record with the following: If the Bucs can run the ball and control the clock thereby playing keep-away and limit the number of touches Peterson has, the Bucs should win.