Vikings Week 8 scouting report: Tampa Bay

Noon Sunday

Raymond James Stadium

TV: Ch. 9

Radio: 100.3-FM, 1130-AM

• The Bucs lost 48-17 to the Ravens last week, allowing the second-most points for an opponent this season.

• Tampa Bay has the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing 295 yards per game. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco went 21-for-29 for 306 yards and five touchdowns against the Bucs.

• The Bucs have the 30th-ranked offense, just behind the Vikings, averaging 306.8 yards a game. Quarterback Mike Glennon has 986 passing yards in four games with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

• Opponents have converted on 49.4 percent of their third downs against the Bucs, which is the second-worst percentage in the NFL.

• Linebacker Lavonte David leads the NFL with 51 total tackles and fifth with 66 combined tackles. He also has forced two fumbles this season.

• Johnson signed a four-year contract with the Bucs during the offseason. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bengals under Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who was Cincinnati's defensive coordinator at the time. In five games (four starts), Johnson has two sacks, a forced fumble and 13 combined tackles.

• On Zimmer:  "He's a great coach and a great man. He's like a father figure to a lot of us up there, and the guys on offense will tell you the same thing. They weren't working directly with him, but everyone likes Zim. He was straight up. He can be hard on you, but he was like that with everybody."

• On Zimmer's approach:  "We had a bad year my second year, but he always said it doesn't matter what was going on. He'd say, 'Tough times don't last, tough people do.' … These first six games here have been tough times down here, so tough times don't last, but tough people do. I've taken that with me from Cincinnati."

• On defensive coordinator, and former Vikings head coach, Leslie Frazier: "The year that I was off, I didn't plan on having the opportunity to hire Leslie. But when he was available, I've known him for a long time, I've competed against this teams for a long time. It was a natural fit. We both see things in a similar way. I couldn't be happier to have him on my staff."

• On Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater: "We brought Teddy in for a visit here. I was a big fan of his from just being a fan of college football and what he did at Louisville. When I had a chance to meet him face-to-face, we visited with him and it's not a surprise at all that he's having success in the league. "