5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Week 14
By Chris Schad
The Bucs will squeeze out a victory over the Vikings
Looking at this matchup, there’s a lot of things that do not fall into the Vikings’ favor. The Bucs have an aggressive defense that forces mistakes and an offense that resembles that of a fantasy football roster. Minnesota has several key injuries and an offense that’s built off the run that, by the way, Tampa Bay is well equipped to stop.
On paper, this seems like it’s an extreme mismatch. But there is still hope.
So far this season, the Vikings have played to the level of their opponent. Fans will remember that Minnesota barely beat Carolina and Jacksonville this year, but their best games of the season came against the Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, who are both entrenched into playoff battles. If anything, this should signal that the Vikings will come ready to play on Sunday.
Is it enough to come away with a victory? Probably not, but it’s why this game is house money for Minnesota. If they pick up a win, the Vikings become a dangerous team that has won six of their last seven games and getting better heading into the playoffs.
A loss and Minnesota gets a chance to regroup against the Chicago Bears in Week 15 before facing a New Orleans Saints team on Christmas Day that they’ve gotten the best of recently.
Prediction: Buccaneers 34, Vikings 21