Vikings (7-4) at Bucs (7-4)
9 p.m. ET, ABC
Line: Vikings by 2½
Preview | Baxter's Bits | War Room Preview
Ron Jaworski's Monday night breakdown
Focal Point: Vikings offense vs. Bucs defense
Inside the Playbook: Vikings' pigeon route

	The Bucs' Warren Sapp has been nearly unblockable this season.

Why to watch:
Call it the irresistible force against the immovable object. The Vikings have won five games in a row behind an explosive offense that is averaging 30.4 points per game during that stretch. The Bucs have won four straight behind a dominating defense that has allowed just 9.75 points per contest during the streak. So something will have to give in Tampa.

These two streaking teams are tied with Detroit for first place in the NFC Central. The winner will emerge with at least a share of first and as the hottest team in the NFC.

In the first meeting between these two, the Vikings jumped to a 21-0 lead and then held for a 21-14 victory at the Metrodome in Week 4. Folks in Minnesota will also remember that the Vikes' only loss last season came in a 27-24 defeat at Tampa Bay.

The Bucs have hosted just three Monday Night Football games in their 24-year history, so Raymond James Stadium should be pretty lively for this one.

Who to watch:
Minnesota hasn't lost since Jeff George took over as the starting quarterback, and George has won five consecutive games for the first time in his NFL career. Vikings WRs Randy Moss and Cris Carter have absolutely gone nuclear with George at the helm. Carter has had four consecutive 100-yard games and has scored eight TDs during the team's five-game winning streak. Moss set a team record for the best performance by a receiver in back-to-back games, grabbing 21 passes for 331 yards over the last two weeks.

	MORE COVERAGE
	ABC MNF Online MNF Scouting Report

Even Vikings RB Robert Smith, who topped the 100-yard mark last week, is getting into the act now that he's finally healthy. Vikings WR Jake Reed also caught a TD pass in last week's win over San Diego, marking the first time that Carter, Moss and Reed all reached the end zone in the same game. Minnesota has been using a two-receiver, one-back set with two tight ends to keep opposing defenses from double-teaming its wideouts.

Needless to say, the pressure will definitely be on Bucs CBs Donnie Abraham and Ronde Barber. The Bucs' strength is in their front seven, so DE Chidi Ahanotu (5½ sacks) and DT Warren Sapp (10½ sacks) can help out the corners by putting some pressure on George. Bucs LB Derrick Brooks is a disruptive force all over the field and leads the team with 102 tackles.

Bucs QB Shaun King makes his first NFL start in place of Trent Dilfer, who's out four to eight weeks with a broken right clavicle. Just as they did last week in Seattle, the Bucs will need to keep things simple for their rookie QB and avoid getting into a shootout with the Vikes.

That means Bucs FB Mike Alstott and RB Warrick Dunn must control the clock and keep Minnesota off the field. Bucs WR Jacquez Green is the team's best big-play threat. Bucs RT Jerry Wunsch will need to keep Vikings DE John Randle away from King.

	INJURY REPORT
	Vikings: DOUBTFUL: CB Keith Thibadeaux (shoulder). PROBABLE: G Matt Birk (thumb); WR Cris Carter (ankle). Buccaneers: OUT: QB Trent Dilfer (shoulder). DOUBTFUL: G Ken Blackman (knee). PROBABLE: RB Warrick Dunn (ankle); S John Lynch (knee); S Damien Robinson (hip); CB Floyd Young (shoulder); QB Eric Zeier (rib).

Vikings' numbers to know:
Moss has caught four TD passes in his three career meetings with Tampa Bay, including two in Minnesota's Week 4 victory. Carter has at least one TD catch in six straight games, including five in the last two. However, the Bucs have given up just one TD pass the last three weeks.

Bucs' numbers to know:
The Buccaneers have been outscored a combined 69-24 in the first quarter this season. Tampa Bay can't afford to fall into another early hole this week, however.

What it means:
With apologies to the Lions, the winner will emerge as the team to beat in the NFC Central. The Bucs could really take control of the race with a victory, especially since they still have home games left against Detroit and Green Bay.

If the Vikings offense can keep putting up big numbers, Minnesota is capable of running the table the rest of the season. That probably wouldn't be enough to catch the Rams for home-field advantage, but it would get the Vikes their second consecutive division title. This trip to Tampa certainly represents the toughest remaining test for the Purple Gang.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Vikings' game plan:
The Vikings can't get behind against the Bucs. They might have several weapons, but last year Tampa Bay got ahead of Minnesota and handed the ball off to Alstott to kill the clock, saddling the Vikings with their only regular-season loss. The Vikings must avoid letting Sapp and John Lynch control the game. Watch how often Lynch, the strong safety, is hovering near the line of scrimmage. The Vikings need to get speed running the ball toward the edges with Smith, who ran for 105 yards against the Chargers last week.

But I don't think the Vikings will win by lining up and running the ball. They will have to win throwing because Tampa Bay is too stout against the run. The Vikings will run a lot of motion, shifting players around in order to confuse the Bucs. They need to beat the Bucs with schemes more than just trying to win with execution because most of the time the Bucs defense will be in the right position. Like every team playing against a young quarterback, the Vikings should be in good shape if they can stop the run and pressure King.

Bucs' game plan:
The Bucs need to give King something to work with, but not by being too predictable, like always running on the first two downs, then throwing on third down. Maybe the Bucs should throw more on first down to put King in a situation where he can be successful. He is poised, playing at home, and knows the defense will get him the football. He doesn't want to play catch-up with Minnesota; the Bucs want to be front-runners.

Expect the Bucs to throw and use play-action more on first down, then on second and third downs, keep the ball out of Minnesota's hands with the running game. I expect Tampa Bay to make a few big plays in the game.

On defense, Tony Dungy will not sell out on the blitz. He will play mostly two-deep coverage. He knows how good Carter and Moss are, and he won't let them beat his defense with the home-run ball. If the Bucs don't turn the ball over in their end, they can beat Minnesota at home with the rookie quarterback.