Viking QB Daunte Culpepper may have been trapped by Bucs DE Marcus Jones on this play, but he has completed 61% of his passes against Tampa Bay
The Minnesota Vikings are off to their first 0-2 start since 1984, hoping to avoid their first 0-3 since 1967. To do so, they will need to defeat the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Metrodome on Sunday, something they have done the last three times the Bucs have come calling.
The Bucs, of course, are hoping to maintain their own unbeaten record (1-0) while putting a tough division rival into a deep hole. But this you know. The question is, What are the Vikings thinking at this critical point in their season?
Following are excerpts from notes provided by the Vikings to the Minnesota press, just as the Buccaneers' communications department does each week. As would be expected, the most attention is paid to Minnesota's extremely explosive passing trio of QB Daunte Culpepper and WRs Cris Carter and Randy Moss.
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Dennis Green vs. Tampa Bay
Vikings head coach Dennis Green is 10-8 (.556) in 18 career regular season games vs. Tampa Bay. The Vikings are looking for their first sweep of the series since 1992. The Vikings and Buccaneers have split ever year since 1993.
| 1992 (H) | Minnesota 26-20 | 1996 (H) | Minnesota 21-10 |
| 1992 (A) | Minnesota 35-7 | 1997 (H) | Tampa Bay 28-14 |
| 1993 (H) | Minnesota 15-0 | 1997 (A) | Minnesota 10-6 |
| 1993 (A) | Tampa Bay 23-10 | 1998 (H) | Minnesota 31-17 |
| 1994 (A) | Minnesota 36-13 | 1998 (A) | Tampa Bay 27-24 |
| 1994 (H) | Tampa Bay 20-17 (OT) | 1999 (H) | Minnesota 21-14 |
| 1995 (A) | Tampa Bay 20-17 (OT) | 1999 (A) | Tampa Bay 24-17 |
| 1995 (H) | Minnesota 31-17 | 2000 (H) | Minnesota 30-23 |
| 1996 (A) | Tampa Bay 24-13 | 2000 (A) | Tampa Bay 41-13 |
Moss Attack
With 136 yards receiving vs. Green Bay (12/17/00) Randy Moss became the fastest receiver to reach the 4,000-yard plateau since the NFL began keeping such records in 1970. In 25 career games vs. the NFC Central Moss has 132 catches for 2,602 yards and 24 touchdowns. Since entering the League in 1998, only Marshall Faulk (49) has scored more touchdowns than Moss' 44. Moss is 4th in team history with 43 receiving TDs. Moss set the club mark for receiving yards in a season with 1,437 in 2000, breaking his own record.
| *Fastest to 4,000 Yards-Games* | |
| 1. Randy Moss | 47 |
| 2. Jerry Rice | 48 |
| 3. Isaac Bruce | 54 |
| 4. Mark Duper | 56 |
| *Moss' Best Receiving Games* | |
| 1. @ Chicago, 11/14/99 | 204 |
| 2. @ Green Bay, 10/5/98 | 190 |
| 3. @ St. Louis, 1/16/00 | 188* |
| 4. @ Detroit, 10/1/00 | 168 |
| 5. @ Dallas, 11/26/98 | 163 |
| *NFL TDs Since 1998* | |
| 1. Marshall Faulk, St. Louis | 49 |
| 2. Randy Moss, Minnesota | 44 |
| 3. Edgerrin James, Indianapolis | 38 |
| 4T. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville | 37 |
| 4T. Emmitt Smith, Dallas | 37 |
- playoff game
Carter's Catches at Legendary Level
Cris Carter moved into 2nd place on the NFL's All-Time List for receptions with 3 catches vs. Tampa Bay (10/9/00). Carter passed the 1,000-catch milestone vs. Detroit (11/30/00). Carter surpassed the Vikings record for combined net yards vs. Miami (9/10/00). He has 11,592 combined net yards (second is Darrin Nelson with 10,365).
MAKING A DENT IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper is among the leaders in several categories in the Vikings passing record books. His 33 TD passes in 2000 were one away from the record and stand tied for 2nd-best in team history. His 3,937 passing yards in 2000 stands 3rd in team history and he became the 6th Vikings quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. Culpepper set a team record for fewest games needed to earn 10 wins with 10 in 12 games. That mark is tied for 2nd in NFL history.
| *Passing TDs in a Season* | |
| 1. R. Cunningham, '98 | 34 |
| 2T. D. Culpepper, '00 | 33 |
| 2T. Warren Moon, '95 | 33 |
| 4. Tommy Kramer, '81 | 26 |
| 5T. Fran Tarkenton, '75 | 25 |
| 5T. Fran Tarkenton, '78 | 25 |
| *300-Yard Games in a Season* | |
| 1. Warren Moon, '94 | 6 |
| 2T. D. Culpepper, '00 | 5 |
| 2T. Tommy Kramer, '81 | 5 |
| 2T. Tommy Kramer, '85 | 5 |
| 5T. Warren Moon, '95 | 4 |
| 5T. R. Cunningham, '98 | 4 |
| *NFL Fewest Games to 10 Wins* | |
| 1. Mike Tomczak, Chi. ('86-'87) | 10-0 |
| 2T. Kurt Warner, St. Louis (1999) | 10-2 |
| 2T. D. Culpepper, Minn. (2000) | 10-2 |
HOW THE VIKINGS PERFORM VS. THE BUCCANEERS
Cris Carter: 23 games, 105 rec., 1,299 yards, 12.3 average, 60t long, 9 TDs Randy Moss: 6 games, 22 rec., 482 yards, 21.9 average, 61t long, 6 TDs Daunte Culpepper: 2 games, 72 att., 44 comp., 544 yards, 61.1 pct., 3 Int., 3 TDs; 11 rushes, 70 yards, 6.3 average, 27t long, 1 TD Jake Reed: 12 games, 49 rec., 765 yards, 15.6 average, 56 long, 3 TDs Ed McDaniel: 13 games, 2 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, .5 sack Robert Griffith: 13 games, 1 interception, 7 passes defensed Orlando Thomas: 12 games, 2 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
LOOKING AT 2001
