By Judd Zulgad
McClatchy-Tribune News Services
Center Matt Birk was a rookie in 1998 when the Vikings traveled to Tampa Bay to play their then-NFC Central rival. The Vikings were 7-0 and had loads of confidence — not to mention a pretty good rookie receiver by the name of Randy Moss — but ended up losing 27-24.
It was the only defeat the Vikings suffered during that regular season; Tampa Bay finished an unimpressive 8-8. In retrospect, though, the loss should not have come as a major surprise. When these teams meet Sunday for the first time in three years, Tampa Bay will be looking to extend a three-game winning streak in the series and a five-game streak at home.
"We used to try everything," to beat the Bucs, Birk said. "We’d have team dinners and sing ‘Kumbaya’ and everything, and it just never worked. ... It’s a tough place, but the biggest reason is they’re always a good team."
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That is the case again. Tampa Bay (6-3), coming off its bye week, is tied for second in the NFC South, a game behind Carolina. The Vikings already have beaten two teams from that division (the Panthers and Saints), but continuing that success won’t be easy against the Bucs, who are ranked in the top of the NFL in both offense (tied for eighth) and defense (seventh).
This will mark the first time since Brad Childress took in 2006 that he will face the Buccaneers.
