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Week 8 scouting report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

October 24, 2012 at 3:26AM

game 8

VIKINGS

VS. TAMPA BAY

7:20 p.m. Thursday

Mall of America Field

TV: Ch. 11, NFLN (100.3-FM, 1130-AM)

Line: Vikings by 6 1/2

ABOUT TAMPA BAY

RECORD: 2-4

Lost 35-28 to New Orleans on Sunday when a game-tying touchdonwn was disallowed because of a penalty.

Under new coach Greg Schiano, the Buccaneers have lost their four games by a total of 22 points.

Coming out of their bye, the Buccaneers scored 66 points in two games; the 513 yards gained against New Orleans was second most in franchise history and the 463 the week before against Kansas City was 10th most. Together they mark the biggest two-week stretch of offense in team history.

The Buccaneers defense is ranked third vs. the run but 31st vs. the pass. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees passed for 377 yards and four touchdowns and had a passer rating of 130.1 on Sunday.

PLAYER TALK BUCS WR VINCENT JACKSON

Jackson, in his first year with the Bucs, is coming off a career-best 216 receiving yards, including a 95-yard catch in which he was run down at the 1 by the Saints' Malcolm Jenkins.

On his relationship with QB Josh Freeman: "He's a smart guy, he studies a lot of film, he sees things very well on the field. We're growing. Even during the game, when things are going on, we're talking and growing and learning from situations."

On being the road team in a short week: "Their week is as short as ours. I don't believe being a road team or a home team will make any difference."

COACH SPEAK GREG SCHIANO

On going from coaching Rutgers to the NFL: "The biggest thing is the human element of having a 21- or 22-year-old rookie and a 37-year-old safety, the different stages of life those guys are in. Yet you're coaching them all on one team."

On the recent offensive spurt: "No. 1 the offensive line is protecting the quarterback. ... And I think [Freeman] is playing at a high level."

On traveling in a short week: "I hear the stats [for teams that travel]. But the reality is nobody cares. You got a game that's one in 16, you got a plane to get on to go play it. So let's get on a plane and go play it."

KENT YOUNGBLOOD