The Viking Age
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Five Keys to Victory: Minnesota Vikings vs Buccaneers in Week 3

By Adam Carlson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 15: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings and Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shake hands after the preseason game on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 15: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings and Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shake hands after the preseason game on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 24: Jacquizz Rodgers #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoids a tackle by Tyeler Davison #95 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 24: Jacquizz Rodgers #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoids a tackle by Tyeler Davison #95 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

#2. No Trespassing

Speaking of making Tampa Bay one-dimensional, that also means they will need to make stops at the line of scrimmage. But that won’t be an easy task against a Buccaneers team that has a solid ground attack.

In Week 2 of the NFL season, Tampa picked up 117 yards on the ground against the Bears, who have a middle of the road rush defense this season. Meanwhile, the Vikings rank 11th in rushing yards allowed per game at 81 yards per contest.

The player who will likely get the biggest workload carrying the ball for the Buccaneers is Jaquizz Rodgers. Rodgers is coming off a game where he had 19 rushing attempts for 67 yards and a touchdown against Chicago.

The real surprise for Vikings fans might be Peyton Barber, who will get a share of carries for Tampa Bay and is more the type of running back that Minnesota struggles with stopping since he is bigger and heavier than Rodgers.

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