Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 07 Minnesota Vikings 31
Coming off their playoff season from 1997, the Buccaneers opened 1998 with high expectations. Still on the road, their first game in the new stadium would have to wait until week 3. Receiver Bert Emanuel went out with a sprained ankle, and Tampa Bay lost 31–7.
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Johnny Grier
- UMPIRE: Jim Daopoulos
- LINE JUDGE: Gary Arthur
- SIDE JUDGE: Dean Look
- HEAD LINESMAN: John Schleyer
- BACK JUDGE: Scott Green
- FIELD JUDGE: Duke Carroll
- REPLAY OFFICIAL: not documented
SCORING
- VIKINGS: 06:31-1Q Carter 1 pass from Johnson (Anderson kick)
- VIKINGS: 03:54-1Q Moss 47 pass from Johnson (Anderson kick)
- VIKINGS: 06:30-2Q Moss 30 pass from Johnson (Anderson kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 06:06-3Q Neal 3 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
- VIKINGS: 14:57-4Q Anderson FG20
- VIKINGS: 06:35-4Q Carter 19 pass from Johnson (Anderson kick)
STARTERS OFFENSE
- WR: #85 R. Anthony
- LT: #74 P. Gruber
- LG: #64 J. Diaz
- C: #61 T. Mayberry
- RG: #73 F. Middleton
- RT: #71 J. Wunsch
- TE: #83 D. Moore
- WR: #87 B. Emanuel
- QB: #12 T. Dilfer
- RB: #28 W. Dunn
- FB: #40 M. Alstott
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LE: #72 C. Ahanotu
- NT: #77 B. Culpepper
- DT: #99 W. Sapp
- RE: #91 R. Upshaw
- SLB: #50 J. Gooch
- MLB: #56 H. Nickerson
- WLB: #55 D. Brooks
- LCB: #21 D. Abraham
- RCB: #27 A. Parker
- SS: #47 J. Lynch
- FS: #22 C. Mincy
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 4 Walsh, 5 Husted, 6 Barnhardt, 19 Hunter, 20 Barber, 23 Bouie, 24 Robinson, 25 Kelly, 31 Young, 37 Ellison, 41 Neal, 51 Singleton, 52 Bellisari, 53 Quarles, 54 Palmer, 69 Pierson, 80 Davis, 82 Hape, 86 Williams, 94 White, 97 Jackson, 98 Cannida
DID NOT PLAY
- 65 Dogins
INACTIVE
- 13 Milanovich, 26 Abdullah, 59 Duncan,70 Odom, 75 Washington, 78 Jones, 81 Green, 90 Maniecki
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Dunn 12-47, Alstott 7-12, Ellison 3-6, Dilfer 1-3.
- VIKINGS: Smith 18-90, Hoard 7-29, Johnson 2-(-2).
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Dilfer 25-17-207-0-1, Walsh 12-6-53-1-0.
- VIKINGS: Johnson 25-15-189-1-4.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Emanuel 7-98, Anthony 4-58,Alstott 4-29, Williams 2-24, Dunn 2-21, Hape 2-11, Moore 1-16, Neal 1-3.
- VIKINGS: Carter 5-31, Moss 4-95, Hoard 2-23, Smith 2-23, Evans 1-14, Reed 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: Mincy 1-22.
- VIKINGS: Hitchcock 1-38.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Anthony 5-130.
- VIKINGS: Palmer 1-19, Williams 1-12.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Williams 2-23.
- VIKINGS: Palmer 2-7.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Parker 1-8.
- VIKINGS: Williams 1-9.
