After coming off a win against the Cardinals, how will things play out against the Buccaneers on Thursday night?

The Vikes will play another far-from-perfect game and earn another win at home. I'll say Vikes 28-TB 24.

I like that prediction Mothman but unless we get some passing untracked we wont score 28 .

Vikings 21
Bucs 17

Vikings have a formula for winning. AD carries the offense, Harvin is an all-around threat, the D makes big plays when needed, and the special teams are sound.

Even without a passing game, I think that puts them past the Bucks by 7 points.

We'll get it untracked... that's part of my prediction.

I'm wondering what the Vikes will be favored by in this one. Road teams have a huge disadvantage in Thursday games. Someoneorother did a study a few years ago questioning why the Thanksgiving games should stay in Detroit and Dallas. Went back through history and found that it was much bigger than normal home field advantage.

What channel will it be on locally?

KARE 11

Prime time game, but a home game. TB is pretty good too. I hope i dont Jinx them but :

Vikes 27
TB 17

I think AD, PH, The D and ST all make some plays.

Bucs are ranked 31st in pass defense so even Ponder should have a decent day. Since it's at home I'm hoping freeman won't.

33-24 vikes

Right now, 6.5 points.

Around 3 weeks ago, after we snuck out that win in Detroit, someone on this board pointed out that it was starting to look more and more like the identity of this team would be that it would simply find a way to win week after week. I don't remember who it was that said that, but he or she is looking very smart right now.

I happen to totally agree with this assessment. It might be Peterson, it might be the special teams, it might be Harvin, a pick 6, a fluke play, anything. It might rarely be pretty, but it seems like we always get the job done. There is no formula and there is no real consistency from week to week. Other than the result. A win.

I expect that to continue Thursday, with another ugly win. 34-31 good guys.

The Bucs lost vs. New Orleans on what could be a bad rule though the call was okay. The Bucs' TD would have sent it into OT with the PAT.

So got to say one of the Vikings Talk Shows said we should be wary of this. Might give the Bucs an extra impetus.

This is what happened to them:



http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracke ... 1021_NO@TB

But the Vikings too should be looking to avenge themselves as well, if I remember correctly,we lost to Tampa Bay last year, didn't the Vikes just let that one slip away as well at our home field? I think so.

New Orleans has a notoriously weak defense though and Freeman threw for over 400 yards.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracke ... 1021_NO@TB

And TB looks like they have little of a running game.

TB 22
Vikes 23

In this twilight zone type season Arizona is the 7th ranked defense (4th in pass defense, t-3rd in sacks with 22). Tampa Bay is 25th overall in defense and 31st in pass defense with 8 total sacks.

Think the passing game needs to look better? It's not all about the offense executing, the level of the opposing team makes a difference too. This isn't Warren Sapp's Bucs.

Vikings 24-13

I had a chance to watch the vikes and the NO TB game. I think one thing be ing overlooked is that TB played their butts off. compared to the vikings, who imo, got away with looking ahead as well a general lack of hustle. While this is bad, as long as lez is able to focus them it could be a big advantage. A visiting team coming off a tough loss on short rest maybe all the advantage that the vikings need. Or so I can hope.


slainte.

Possible that Vincent Jackson is the most productive WR we've faced this year? Not to discredit Megatron but he was and has been silenced this year. I'm a little worried about TB and don't forget about Doug Martin. He's a decent RB with good pass catching abilities too.

I'd like to say we can match up against these guys better with a more sound defense this year. Vikings 21 (huge night from AD and Percy per usual) Bucs 17

24-21 Vikes win.

Tampa's offensive can be explosive, so once again our defense will have to play top notch. Our offense will have score at least 2 times....

Being the home team for Thursday night is almost worth being a touchdown favorite, statistically. It is a monster advantage, especially when you consider travel from Florida to the Metrodome.

A crucial game for Christian Ponder if the Buccaneers are ranked #31 against the pass! I don't expect him to systematically pick them apart like Drew Brees can and did, but he'll have to play better because Tampa Bay seems to be effective against the run so far this season.

I think this will be a tough game. TB is ranked 3rd in rushing D. Freeman is a good QB that is coming off 2 really good games . Their losses include NYG, WAS, and DAL. All 4 of their losses were by a touchdown or less.

If the Vikings can't get their passing game going, I think the Vikings lose this one.

Fraizer tries to force the passing game. AD never gets on track. Webb plays in the 4th and throws a pick 6. Vikings lose 24-19.

Ponder will have to play better if we want to win this Game

Tampa Bay is on the rise and should be a team many don't want to face at the end of the year.

We can't beat them but if we overlook them it could be our first home loss this year

I believe Minnesota can easily win this game .

24-10 Vikes



No road team [Correct me if wrong] has won on TNF this year. I mean cmon even the Titans beat the Steelers. But beyond the point at the end of the day Arizona HAS a good defense so you can't really give misfit to Ponder for just simply two bad games in a row, IT HAPPENS. And its going to continue to happen during the season as well. Ponder has looked VERY suspect lately, but its not microscoped because we walked out with wins as well. [Except for Redskins game which I believe we had momentum and every right to win that one without RGIII's 76 yard run] But beyond that WE ARE A GOOD TEAM. Defense was atrocious last year and too see it playing the way it is year is outstanding to the work in the off season by coaches and players. But nonetheless Tampa Bay is explosive and dangerous, but because they almost jumped all over a terrible defensively Saints team dosnt put them in a spot too as well do that too Minnesota. Adrian will blow up again [HE'S STARTING TO RUN ANGRY AGAIN ] Which I love too see. Beyond the fact I'm a Vikings fan I'm also a realest and I believe we win this one with ease. As well as be a contender in the playoffs but fall short because the lack of QB inefficiency, and consistency when trailing in games. Stats prove it we can play so damn ball with a lead, but no so much trailing.

The Vikings will probably win by 10, though Freeman seems to play the Vikes tough. If Freeman had better players around him (especially defense), he'd be one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

I'm thinking 24-14 Vikes. That's the obviously safe guess based on previous Viking games. I don't want to say the Vikings will run it up against the Buccaneers extremely bad defense because they've played a few very bad defenses and haven't "run it up".

It's time to end this lousy streak of losses against the Bucs:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/f ... /notes.htm

Vikings: 27
Bucs: 20

i'm right on line with this prediction myself. although i must ask, why do you think TB is pretty good? they have a pretty average offense kinda like us. however...their defense is pretty bad. they are 2-4 although i concede their schedule has not been easy.

i'm just curious if it was the vikings and every other aspect of the team remained the same as it is with the bucs...if people would be saying we're good!

i too like us to win by 7-10 though.

24-20 Vikes

Minnesota wins in a dominant way that isn't reflected on the scoreboard. Like, I thought apart from Ponder's lack luster performance against a better defense in the league, we were dominant defensively. Sure we gave a ton of rush and pass yards but it didn't translate to points.

If you were to ask me if the Vikings DOMINATED Arizona, I'd say yeah. Hell yeah. I didn't think Arizona was realistically "in" that game for a second.

We gave up like 400 yards, won by 7 with a score of 21, we dominated 'em. Am I being crazy?