Vikings Rough Up Buccaneers

Warren Moon and the Minnesota Vikings gave Trent Dilfer and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a rough lesson in what it takes to win a meaningful game this late in the season.

Moon threw touchdowns of 27 and 60 yards to Cris Carter and the Vikings had eight sacks in a 31-17 victory that left the Buccaneers on the verge of playoff elimination for the 13th consecutive year.

A frustrated Dilfer was ejected during the third quarter when he jumped on John Randle and punched the All-Pro defensive tackle in the facemask.

“You’ve just got to keep your composure in a big game like this,” Moon said. “You’re going to get some calls you think are questionable, but you’ve got to stay in control. I’m sure some frustration had a lot to do with it, and the fact that they weren’t winning.”

Tampa Bay (6-7) wasn’t even close when Dilfer was ejected, trailing, 28-7, thanks to another big day for Carter and Moon and a 66-yard touchdown run by Amp Lee, the longest of his career.

Broderick Thomas, playing against his former team, matched his season sack total with 2 1/2 as Minnesota (7-6) won for the fourth time in five games.

Perhaps the most galling sack was made by rookie defensive end Derrick Alexander. He swooped in from the right side, slapped the ball away from Dilfer and recovered it on the first bounce. He never touched Dilfer, who stomped off the field to watch Scottie Graham run 23 yards for a 28-7 lead with 8:27 left in the second quarter.

Minnesota had its highest sack total since getting eight against Detroit on Dec. 5, 1993.

The Vikings ended their two-game losing streak to Tampa Bay by topping 30 points for the fourth game in a row, matching a team record set in 1962.

Minnesota outgained the Buccaneers 351 yards to 83 in the first half, scoring all four touchdowns from at least 23 yards out.

“We don’t have the luxury of being able to let up,” said Lee, who carried eight times for 90 yards. “Every game is a must-win.”

“It’s crunch time,” Alexander said. “We know we have to win every game, and we know it’s got to start up front with the defensive line.”

Said Moon, who completed 20 of 32 passes for 272 yards: “We feel if we’re 10-6, the other things will take care of themselves.”