Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
The Buccaneers seized momentum with a 20-yard pass and 48-yard touchdown throw by Tom Brady, taking a 7-6 lead with 7:41 left in the second quarter.
Minnesota appeared ready to answer, gaining 15 on a completion to Tyler Conklin, 14 on a run by Cook and 15 on a pass to Irv Smith, Jr., moving the ball to the Tampa Bay 31-yard line.
A run for no gain, an incompletion to Justin Jefferson, a timeout followed by a false start penalty and another incompletion to Jefferson prompted a 54-yard field goal try. Wide right again, and great starting field position for Tampa Bay. The Bucs again reached the end zone thanks to a lowering the helmet to initiate contact penalty against Harrison Smith and a pass interference call against Jeff Gladney that erased what would have been his first NFL interception.
The Vikings fifth possession of the game started with just 0:44 left, and Minnesota tried to be aggressive but suffered incompletions on first and third down and only consumed 23 seconds of clock, which left just enough time for the Bucs to receive an unwrapped gift in the form of a 46-yard pass interference penalty on a Hail Mary. The call — a unicorn of sorts in that situation — gave Tampa Bay a short field goal and 17-6 lead.
Tampa Bay opened the second half with a crisp touchdown drive, and Minnesota answered with a touchdown to make it 23-14, but that possession consumed 8:33 of the third quarter.
Even after earlier miscues, Minnesota had a shot at making it a one-possession game early in the fourth quarter.
Cousins scrambled for a gain of 10 and converted a third-and-2 with a draw that gained 12 yards to the Tampa Bay 8-yard line.
An incompletion, a sack by Antoine Winfield, Jr., on which the son of the Vikings Legend forced a fumble that Cousins recovered, and a sack by Shaquil Barrett created fourth-and-goal from the 28. Wide right again on a 46-yarder with 9:00 remaining.