FOR USE AS DESIRED
December 6, 1999

The NFC’s two hottest teams meet Monday night when the 7-4 Minnesota Vikings visit the 7-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both clubs are tied for second place in the NFC Central division, a half game behind 8-4 Detroit. 

The Vikings boast the NFC’s longest active winning streak at five games, including two on the road. Tampa Bay has won four in a row, with two coming at home.

"We're vastly improving as an offense," says Vikings head coach DENNIS GREEN. "The Buccaneers are rated in the top one, two or three in different areas of defense. People love to see a matchup of offense vs. defense."

FIRST ’99 MEETING: VIKINGS 21, BUCCANEERS 14

In their first game this season on October 3, the Vikings jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead on three RANDALL CUNNINGHAM touchdown passes, including two to wide receiver RANDY MOSS. Tampa Bay’s defense did not allow another point and quarterback TRENT DILFER threw two TD passes, but the Bucs could not complete the comeback.

Tonight, two new quarterbacks will be starting.

The Vikings will start JEFF GEORGE, who has won five consecutive games as a starter, while the Buccaneers start rookie SHAUN KING, making his first career start.

"Shaun's going to do a good job," says Buccaneers head coach TONY DUNGY. "He's a guy we have a lot of confidence in. He's been in some tough spots in his athletic career and he always managed to do the job. We feel he'll do that."

King is confident. "I know I'm going to be a great quarterback one day," he says. "I just want to see if I'm ready right now to take this team to where it's capable of going."

George is a great quarterback right now. For the first time in his career, he has passed for consecutive 300-yard games in the past two weeks and can join RANDALL CUNNINGHAM, WARREN MOON and TOMMY KRAMER as the only Vikings quarterbacks to throw for 300 yards or more in three games in a row.

"What's amazing about Jeff George is that it's his first year here," says Green. "I don't know that there is a quarterback to come into a system and in his very first year have the kind of success that he's had. He's able to get the ball where it's supposed to go. He's having fun throwing to our guys."

George agrees with his coach. "This is by far the most fun I've had," he says. "I enjoy coming to work. It's not just the games. I'm having fun with everything. I like coming to practice, I like being around the players, I like being around the coaches. I love my job. It's been a perfect match."

It cannot get much more perfect than the duo of George and Vikings wide receiver CRIS CARTER.

Carter enters tonight's showdown with four consecutive 100-yard games for the first time in his career. In three November games, Carter had 29 catches for 393 yards (a 13.6-yard average) and six touchdowns to garner NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors. He averaged nearly 10 catches (9.7), 131 yards and two touchdowns per game during the month.

"Chemistry plays a part," says Carter of his relationship with George. "Both of us are very, very flexible. Not only in what we've learned, but what we're capable of doing. We realize you have limitations. We have a tendency sometimes to stretch the limitations. We have a great sense of each other. It's something you can't put on paper. We just have it. It's nothing I ever imagined. It's just there."

Vikings’ teammates are certainly impressed with Carter’s season. "I've been amazed by him since I got in the league," says Vikings running back ROBERT SMITH. "But he's probably played as well as I've ever seen him play in the last five weeks (44 catches for 621 yards and nine touchdowns). And that's saying something."

The only thing hotter than Carter right now is the Buccaneers’ defense.

TAMPA BAY DEFENSE

Tampa Bay ranks first in the NFC in total (252.4) and pass defense (169.3), and second against the run (83.1). The Bucs held Seattle to 259 total yards and forced six turnovers, including five interceptions, in Week 12.

Buccaneers safety JOHN LYNCH is excited about the matchup and respects the Vikings’ well-rounded offense.

"You talk about their three great receivers (Carter, Moss and JAKE REED)," says Lynch. "But in addition to that, you have a top-flight tight end (ANDREW GLOVER), an offensive line that is as good as any unit in the league, and then you have Robert Smith and LEROY HOARD, who are great runners. It's a game I look forward to, because of that challenge."