Buccaneers Defeat Vikings in Overtime : NFC: Minnesota fumble after a recovery leads to Husted’s game-winning field goal, 20-17.

Maybe it’s time to stop using the word surprising to describe the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The perennial NFC Central doormat won its fourth consecutive game to stay atop the division Sunday, getting a 51-yard field goal from Michael Husted 6:23 into overtime to beat the Minnesota Vikings, 20-17.

Husted kicked the Buccaneers (5-2) into first place with a 53-yarder in the final minute of a 19-16 victory over Cincinnati last week, yet a lot of people weren’t convinced they were as good as their record because they hadn’t beaten a team with a winning record.

That’s no longer the case.

“I guess some people will say that we continued our pursuit in the ugliness of victory,” Coach Sam Wyche said, in a thinly veiled reference to critics who complained the Buccaneers hadn’t played well in fashioning what has grown into the team’s best start since 1979.

“We now have had a chance to match up with somebody with a record I suppose that gives some credibility,” Wyche said. “Wins are what people come to the stadium to see. That’s what brings back more fans. But now I think we’ve gotten to the point that we’ve convinced a few more people. We’ll see.”

Husted’s game-winner came a little more than two minutes after Minnesota’s Fuad Reveiz, who kicked field goals of 51, 43 and 23 yards in regulation, missed a 53-yarder that would have vaulted the Vikings (3-3) into the division lead.

The miss gave Tampa Bay field position at its 43, and the Vikings dug themselves into a deeper hole when safety Orlando Thomas recovered a fumble, only to lose the ball back to Tampa Bay when he fumbled after a two-yard return to the Minnesota 45.

“We’re taught that the defense isn’t used to carrying the ball,” said Buccaneer receiver Lawrence Dawsey, who knocked the ball loose from Thomas.

Trent Dilfer, who completed 24 of 37 passes for 249 yards without an interception, threw 15 yards to Alvin Harper on the next play to set the stage for Husted, who was confident he wouldn’t disappoint a crowd of 55,703.

“That’s the best ball that’s come off my foot this season. I knew I had the distance,” the kicker said. “We’re 5-2. It’s hard to think that anyone is doubting us.”

The four-game winning streak is the second longest in Tampa Bay’s history, equaling one the team put together at the end of last season. The Buccaneers have won nine of their last 12 games, a stretch of success that matches San Francisco’s 9-3 record over the same period.

Once again, defense was the key. Martin Mayhew scored on a 78-yard fumble return in the second quarter and the Buccaneers also got a six-yard touchdown run from Errict Rhett and a 36-yard field goal by Husted for a 17-6 lead.

Tampa Bay forced three first-half turnovers, all in its territory, and the fumble Dawsey caused in overtime gave the team 14 takeaways in the last three games.

“Everyone talks about the ‘Yuccaneers,’ ” said Harper, who’s in his first season with Tampa Bay after spending four years with Dallas. “We surprised a lot of people today.”

Warren Moon was intercepted twice by John Lynch, once on fourth and two from the Buccaneers’ 11 with Minnesota trailing, 7-3. But the 38-year-old quarterback, who finished 33 for 48 for 332 yards, bounced back and used short passes effectively to help the Vikings wipe out their 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota pulled within 17-14, when Moon threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jake Reed and Robert Smith ran for a two-point conversion with 13:46 remaining. A 76-yard drive in the closing minutes led to Reveiz’s 23-yard field goal, tying it with 56 seconds left in regulation.

“We dug ourselves a hole, mainly because of myself,” said Moon, who was 33 for 48 for 332 yards. “What makes it real frustrating is that we moved the ball well until we got to the red zone.”

Tampa Bay won the overtime coin toss, but failed to move the ball. Moon marched the Vikings into field-goal range with two completions to Cris Carter and one to Qadry Ismail before Reveiz’s 53-yarder sailed wide right.

It was only the second miss by the Minnesota kicker in 12 tries this season. Earlier in the year, he extended a streak begun last season with his 31st consecutive field goal, an NFL record.

“I felt it was well within range,” Reveiz said. “I had hit the 51-yarder against the wind. I felt I hit it real well, but it went off to the right.”

The Buccaneers, now 7-7-1 in overtime games, also beat the Vikings in overtime the last time the two teams played, on Nov. 27, 1994. And the score was also 20-17.

The game was Moon’s 45th 300-yard-plus performance of his career, which is the third most in NFL history behind Dan Fouts (51) and Dan Marino (50).