A pair of combatants seeking to improve their standing in the NFC postseason race will meet at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Minnesota Vikings.

The homestanding Bucs enter Week 11 at 6-3 and just a game back of 7-2 Carolina in the NFC South, with a 27-3 rout of the Panthers in Week 6 already in their hip pocket. Jon Gruden's squad also defeated fellow 6-3 NFC South compatriot Atlanta in Week 2, making Tampa Bay 2-1 in a division that figures to be subject to a tie-breaker or two when all is said and done.

Also in the file marked "positive" for the Buccaneers is that they enter the contest with the Vikings as a fresh, well-rested group, having enjoyed a well- deserved Week 10 bye. Prior to the open date, Tampa Bay pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history when they erased a 24-3 deficit to defeat the pesky Kansas City Chiefs, 30-27 in overtime.

Down 27-19 and possessing no timeouts with less than two minutes to play in that contest, quarterback Jeff Garcia engineered a five-play, 50-yard drive culminating with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant with just 19 seconds left.

Needing a two-point conversion to send the game to overtime, Garcia hit tight end Alex Smith in a crowd to tie the game at 27, then embarked on a nine-play, 58-yard drive ending with a 34-yard Matt Bryant field goal in overtime to seal the win.

Also entering Week 11 on a high note is Minnesota, which outlasted Green Bay, 28-27, in a thriller at the Metrodome last Sunday.

Running back Adrian Peterson rushed 30 times for 192 yards in the victory, placing the Vikes ahead to stay with a 29-yard touchdown run with 2:22 to play.

Peterson's performance helped overshadow a three-interception day from struggling quarterback Gus Frerotte, as did the work of a defense which allowed just 184 net yards, recorded a pair of safeties, and sacked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers four times on the day.

The win, which snapped a five-game losing streak for the Vikings to the arch rival Packers, coupled with a loss for the Bears, placed Brad Childress' squad in a tie for first place in the NFC North.

SERIES HISTORY

Minnesota has a 31-19 edge in its all-time series with Tampa Bay, but has lost three of the last four such games dating back to 2001. The Buccaneers were 24-13 road winners when the clubs last met, in the 2005 season-opener, and took a 38-24 decision when they last met in Tampa, in 2002. Minnesota last beat the Bucs in 2001, at home, and is 0-5 in Tampa Bay since last winning there in 1997.

The Vikings and Buccaneers met twice a year as member of the NFC Central from 1978 through 2001.

Gruden is 3-0 all-time against the Vikings, including a 22-17 road victory as leader of the Oakland Raiders in 1999. Minnesota's Childress will be meeting both Gruden and the Bucs for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

Peterson (1015 rushing yards, 7 TD, 15 receptions) leads the NFL in rushing yards after his dazzling performance against the Packers, but wasn't the only Minnesota running back to help fuel the win with a strong offensive display. Chester Taylor (211 rushing yards, 25 receptions, 2 TD) led the Vikes with 84 receiving yards on four catches, with his 47-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter staking Minnesota to a 21-10 lead. Taylor added 29 yards on 10 carries in the contest. For his part, Peterson has now gone over 100 yards in four straight games, and has progressively run for more yards in each game of the run. The ground attack has helped mitigate the struggles of Frerotte (1619 passing yards, 10 TD, 11 INT) and the team's passing game. Frerotte threw TD passes to Taylor and wideout Sidney Rice (5 receptions, 3 TD), but also threw three interceptions and completed only four tosses to wide receivers all day, including three to Bobby Wade (36 receptions). No. 1 wideout Bernard Berrian (30 receptions, 4 TD) did not have a single catch in the win after scoring touchdowns in each of his previous four outings. Frerotte has seven TD passes versus eight picks in his last three games. The Minnesota line has surrendered 23 sacks on the year.

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