MONDAY-NIGHT MAGIC SHOULD CONTINUE WITH BUCS-VIKES

This Monday-night’s game should be close also as the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings host the 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a crucial NFC Central Division battle. For the past seven years, this series has been one of the most closely contested in the NFL. The clubs have split the season series each year since 1993 and their past three games have all been decided by seven points or less.

Minnesota, 4-0, has been on a roll this season, in part because of their improved defensive play.

"Last year, we just didn't have guys playing the way we were capable of playing," says Vikings safety ORLANDO THOMAS, who had a key interception against Detroit last week. "It seems now we have more and more guys stepping up. Every week, you have a different guy being the hero.''

The Buccaneers got off to a 3-0 start but have lost their last two games in heartbreaking fashion. They look to make up some ground on the Vikings with a win Monday night.

"We've got to start playing better and playing with more attention to detail," says Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy. "We had a chance to get off to a really good start and we haven't. Now we have to make up some ground.''

Tampa Bay defensive end CHIDI Ahanotu is more blunt.

"This is a must-win game,'' says Ahanotu. "I think everybody can figure that out.''

MONDAY NIGHT’S MATCHUP features two graduates of the heralded Quarterback Class of ’99. The Vikings’ DAUNTE CULPEPPER was the 11th overall selection and the fourth of five first-round quarterbacks taken. Culpepper leads his class with an 87.9 passer rating. He also has been at his best late in games, compiling a 109.7 fourth-quarter rating.

"To me, I always want to play my best in the fourth quarter,'' says Culpepper. "That's when you win or lose a game. My intensity definitely goes up. That's why I condition so hard in the offseason. In the fourth quarter, when most guys are wearing down, that's when I'm just turning it on.''

Buccaneers quarterback SHAUN KING was selected in the second round of the 1999 draft as the 50th overall choice. He has compiled an 8-4 (.667) record as a starter and became the first rookie since PAT HADEN of the Los Angeles Rams in 1976 to win a playoff game when he guided the Bucs to a 14-13 win over the Washington Redskins in a Divisional playoff last year.

Although the Bucs have lost two in a row, quarterback coach CLYDE CHRISTENSEN is not the least bit worried about his second-year quarterback.

"The least of our worries is Shaun's confidence,'' says Christensen. "He's resilient. He plays beyond his years. He's not the shell-shocked type, not at all. He's a young quarterback, but I truly believe he's the guy who can take us to the Super Bowl. I have no doubt about that."

BUCCANEERS head coach Tony Dungy was the Vikings defensive coordinator for Minnesota head coach Dennis Green from 1992-95. The Vikings’ defense finished first in the NFL in 1993. Dungy also played college football for Minnesota……Buccaneers defensive coordinator MONTE KIFFIN coached with the Vikings from 1991-94……Bucs strength and conditioning coach MARK ASANOVICH and offensive line coach CHRIS FOERSTER were brought to Tampa Bay by Dungy from the Vikings……Tampa Bay center JEFF CHRISTY (1993-99) and guard RANDALL MC DANIEL (1988-99) are both former Vikings……Vikings quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER attended Central Florida in Orlando……Buccaneers safety JOHN LYNCH played for Vikings head coach Green at Stanford……Vikings tight ends JOHN DAVIS (1997-99) and ANDREW JORDAN (1997), and safety MITCH PALMER (1998-99) are former Buccaneers.