Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Vikings win in overtime on Barr’s fumble return

Vikings vs Buccaneers

Carlos Gonzales / Minneapolis Star Tribune / MCT

Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Alterraun Verner (21) and Lavonte David (54) in the second quarterSunday, Oct. 26, 2014 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Vikings came out on top 19-13 in overtime.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Vikings had done it again, coughing up another late lead to a sloppy opponent on the road.

This time it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who did the deed, rallying from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to take a 13-10 lead over the Vikings with 2:02 remaining in the game.

But just like that, after rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater moved the Vikings into position for a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation, the Vikings defense redeemed itself.

Rookie outside linebacker Anthony Barr ripped the ball away from Buccaneers rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the first offensive play in overtime. Barr recovered the fumble that he had forced and returned it 27 yards for the game-winning touchdown and a 19-13 victory.

With the thrilling win, the Vikings improved to 3-5 on the season and kept their playoff hopes from fading further, though the Vikings never should have put themselves in that position in the first place.

Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon, who had just 48 passing yards through three quarters, marched his team down the field against a Vikings defense that had been dominating a clumsy offense throughout the afternoon.

After the Buccaneers converted on fourth and one inside the 10-yard line, Glennon capped off the nine-play, 71-yard drive by throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Seferian-Jenkins, who had slipped behind cornerback Xavier Rhodes and Barr.

Bridgewater, who had thrown a third-quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings, got an opportunity to run his first pressure-packed two-minute drill in the NFL.

Bridgewater was nearly picked by Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks at midfield. Given another chance, he hit wide receiver Jarius Wright to move the Vikings into field-goal range and then found tight end Chase Ford to put kicker Blair Walsh into even better position. He connected from 37 yards to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

The Vikings play the Washington Redskins at TCF Bank Stadium next weekend.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy