Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings missed a chance to make a big move in the NFC playoff picture in Week 14, falling 26-14 on the road to the Buccaneers.
Minnesota is now 6-7, while Tampa Bay moved to 8-5 with the win. The Vikings dropped to the eighth spot — and out of the playoffs — in the NFC after Arizona's road win against the New York Giants.
The Vikings special teams was a source of frustration Sunday, as kicker Dan Bailey missed all four of his opportunities against the Buccaneers.
Minnesota took an early lead, but Bailey missed an extra point try wide left in the first quarter. The veteran kicker late missed three field goal attempts throughout the game.
He was wide right on the trio of field goals, pushing attempts from 36, 54 and 46 yards all to the right as the Vikings missed out on 10 possible points.
Bailey also missed a pair of extra points and a field goal in a Week 13 win over Jacksonville.
The Vikings return home in Week 15 to host the Bears, who are also 6-7 after snapping a six-game losing streak Sunday with a win over the Texans.
Here are four more takeaways from Sunday afternoon:
1. Vikings run game gets it done
The Buccaneers defense entered Sunday's game allowing just 74.2 rushing yards per game, and had only allowed 100 total rushing yards twice in the first 12 games of the season.
The Vikings nearly matched that yards-per-game total in the first quarter, as Minnesota tallied 71 rushing yards in the first 15 minutes.
All in all, the Vikings ran for 162 yards on 33 attempts (4.9 yards per carry), and also added a 1-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook.