Replay: Tampa Bay 19, Vikings 13

GAME BALLS

Jeff Garcia, Bucs: The more mobile of the geriatric quarterbacks (he's 38, Gus Frerotte is 37) passed for 255 yards and scrambled out of several dicey situations to frustrate Vikings rushers.

Jimmy Wilkerson, Bucs: The sixth-year defensive end led a harassing line and had a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.

PLAY OF THE GAME

'NEXT TIME ... PUNT?'

Time: Third quarter, six minutes left

Score: Tied 13-13

Ball: Vikings 4th-and-1 at their 49

The play: Gus Frerotte avoided Ronde Barber and threw long right for Adrian Peterson. Derrick Brooks tugged on Peterson's arm and he couldn't make the catch.

The result: The Vikings missed on their only chance to score in the second half.

VIKINGS: NEXT GAME

at JACKSONVILLE

Noon Sunday, at Municipal Stadium (Ch. 9)

About the Jaguars (4-6)

The Jags lost 24-14 to the visiting Titans. That put them on the verge of playoff elimination, as eight AFC teams have winning records.

Dangerous player: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB

Jacksonville struggles offensively, but Jones-Drew is a dual threat. He's the team's leading rusher (499 yards) and second-leading receiver (31 catches).

NEW ... AND IMPROVED?

We'll stick with the theme of our 2008 preview section all season and keep grades on the new guys and the young players expected to lead:

THE SACK MAN

DE Jared Allen

Chasing Garcia around on a hot day wasn't much fun. Now he has to persuade the Commish not to suspend him.

THE DEEP THREAT

WR Bernard Berrian

Three catches for 45 yards Sunday -- but no real deep chances -- gives him 30 catches for 621 this season.

THE VETERAN

QB Gus Frerotte

Paled in comparison to mobile Garcia, getting sacked five times, but avoided turnovers, which have plagued him lately.

THE SOPHOMORE

RB Adrian Peterson

Still leads the NFL in rushing (1,110 yards) ... if he'd come up with that fourth-down catch, we'd have anointed him king.