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Eric Rhett Running Back Minnesota  WEEK 1 STATISTICS ATT YDS YDS/A TD LNG FUM 21 130 6.2 2 30 0

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 18, 1998) — The Buccaneers suffered a heart breaking loss to the Vikings in the first game of the 1999 season. The Vikings crushed the Buccaneers both times they faced each other in 1998, but it seems that both are different teams this year.

Tampa Bay jumped out to an early lead with a 43 yard field goal from their new kicker John Hall. Then extended their lead with another field goal of 49 yards. And went into the locker room at half-time holding on to a 6-3 lead after Matt Stover of Minnesota put a 30 yard field goal through the up rights just as time expired.

After the half is when Minnesota lead by Eric Rhett took control of the ball game. Rhett scored from 31 yards out on the Vikings second possession. Then after an interception by rookie Charles Woodson, Rhett scored again from 5 yards out giving his team a 16-6 lead after Stovers kick. But Tampa Bay came right back on the next drive on 5 plays for 74 yards in just 2 minutes and 40 seconds ending with Terry Glenn's 41 yard TD reception from Trent Dilfer. Tampa Bays 2-point conversion failed leaving them trailing 16-12 going into the fouth quarter.

Minnesota shut down the Bucs offense in the fouth quarted and added another 10 insurance points to their score. Tampa Bay's hopes ended withed just a minute to go after Dilfer threw his second interception of the game allowing Minnesota to just run the clock out on their 26-12 victory.