Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Prediction: Vikings will beat Buccaneers

After back-to-back games against two teams with elite run defenses and formidable pass rushes, the Minnesota Vikings will travel to Tampa this weekend to face a team that's sacked the quarterback just nine times, allowed 8.36 yards per passing attempt and surrendered 204 points in six games.

That's exactly what Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs to get on track, and as the rookie plays in front of a number of family members in his home state, he should have a good opportunity to replicate the success he had in his first NFL start, which also came against a forgiving defense in the Atlanta Falcons.

Between the Buccaneers' own troubles developing a passing game (their 5.95-yard average per dropback is 26th in the league, five spots better than the Vikings' average) and their porous defense, the Vikings will find a forgiving atmosphere to notch their third win of the year in their final road game before their bye week.

Prediction: Vikings 28, Buccaneers 17

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