Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings: Fourth Quarter Open Thread

The Minnesota Vikings took a 21-3 lead into the locker room at the end of the first half, and started the second half by kicking the ball away to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jameis Winston and company didn’t get anything going right away, as they went three-and-out on their first possession of the half. Marcus Sherels called for a fair catch on the punt, and fielded the ball at his own 34.

Minnesota wasted no time getting into the end zone again. Case Keenum got a snap away while the Buccaneers had too many men on the field, and used the free play to find Stefon Diggs for a 59-yard touchdown connection! It took just three plays, and Kai Forbath’s extra point extended the Vikings’ lead to 28-3.

The Buccaneers got a bit of a spark on the ensuing kickoff, as Bernard Reedy raced all the way into Minnesota territory at the 46-yard line. Shamar Stephen got a sack of Jameis Winston (the first of his NFL career) on first down to negate some of the damage. The Buccaneers did gain the necessary yardage, however, on a pass from Winston to Cameron Brate. Winston then found DeSean Jackson for a quick gain down to the Minnesota 15. On the next play, Winston found Brate again, and he got into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown catch. Nick Folk added the extra point to make the score 28-10.

The Vikings started their next drive at their own 25 following a touchback. Keenum just kept firing, moving the Vikings down the field and finding Adam Thielen for a nice play into Tampa territory. A pass to C.J. Ham. . .yea, C.J. Ham. . .got the Vikings to the Tampa 36, and that was followed by a nice run by Dalvin Cook to get the purple down to the 10 for a first-and-goal. Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn’t get into the end zone, as a pass to Thielen was broken up on third-and-goal. Kai Forbath came on for a 20-yard field goal attempt, and he connected to make it a 31-10 Minnesota lead.

Tampa Bay got the ball back and started moving downfield again, aided by a pass interference penalty by Tramaine Brock while defending DeSean Jackson to move them into Minnesota territory at the 46. Winston then found Adam Humphries for a first down to the Minnesota 25, and Jackson then beat Brock for a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-17 at the end of the third quarter of play.

The Bucs will kick it off to the Vikings to start the fourth quarter of play.

Fifteen minutes remaining at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Minnesota Vikings lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 31-17. Can the Vikings hold on for the victory?