It wasnt pretty but the Bucs were able to get back in the win column and kept their playoff hopes alive after defeating the Minnesota Vikings 26-14 to improve to 8-5 and have possession of the 6th seed in the NFC, while dropping the Vikings to the 8th spot with a 6-7 record.
RoJo shines again in ground game after slow start offensively
In the Bucs return to Ray Jay fresh off their bye, the offense started off real sluggish in the beginning as Brady seemed to have trouble hitting his open receivers in the first quarter but managed to finish with a statline of 15/23-196 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. Rob Gronkowski(1-2-1) and Scotty Miller(1-48-1) lone catches just happened to be in the endzone and momentum shifters for the team.
Ronald Jones II shined on Sunday rushing for 80 yards and a score on 18 attempts, giving him a total of 900 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Once again, Jones proved why coordinator Byron Leftwich should lean on the run game a bit more with the team overall gaining 107 yards on 26 attempts. Sunday witnessed a rare appearance for Le'Sean McCoy, who seen his first snaps since the team's Week 6 victory over the Packers, after the team scratched a healthy Leonard Fournette. (Other offensive stats: Chris Godwin 2-25-0, Antonio Brown 5-49-0).
Shaq Barrett/JPP wreck total havoc on Vikings offense
The Bucs 21-game streak of not allowing a 100 yard rusher may have come to an end, but the defense found a way to contain the NFL's second leading rusher, Dalvin Cook to only 102 yards and a score, with roughly 85% his yards and score happening in the first half. The secondary even found a way to rebound from the team's Week 12 performance, allowing Cousins to complete 24 of his 37 pass attempts for 225 yards and a touchdown to Irv Smith Jr.(4-63-1) midway in the 3rd quarter. Although they did start out shaky--looking lost at times, they did manage to keep wideouts Adam Theilen(3-39) and rookie sensation Justin Jefferson(4-39) in check for a good part of the day.
The Bucs also recorded six sacks and two forced fumbles on the day. 2019 sack master Shaq Barrett had a field day against on the outside, recording 2 sacks, while JPP wrecked havoc from the other side recording a sack, forced and recovered a fumble. Rookie of the Year candidate Antoine Winfield Jr lead the team with 11 tackles, while also recording one of the teams six sacks and forcing another fumble.
Kicking woes seemed to be a thing of the past for the Bucs as Vikings failed to hit a single one
Yes, you read that last part correct. Vikings veteran kicker Dan Bailey had a rare off day, leaving 10 points on the field after failing to place any of his four attempts through the uprights. All while the Bucs seem to have put an end to their kicking curse when they brought in veteran kicker Ryan Succop(24/26 FG) during the offseason and eventually parting ways with Matt Gay after one season.
Bucs on verge of playoff berth
It's time to celebrate Bucs fans as the Bucs are in playoff contention with a 97% chance to end their playoff drought after more than a decade. Atlanta Fail-cons, you're on the clock!!!!
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