Thursday Night Football: Tampa can buck recent trends against Minny

Tampa's Doug Martin

Romilly Evans predicts a rebirth for the Bucs offense and a quiet night for once for Adrian Peterson

Rumours of Adrian Peterson's superhuman status don't appear to have been greatly exaggerated. This year's return from debilitating, two-tear ACL surgery had led many to question the great running back's immediate future in the league. Of course he couldn't come back straight away - and even if he did, he would surely be well below his best. Wrong on both counts, as it turns out.

Peterson is already third in the rushing charts with 652 yards this term - a mere seven behind the league-leading Arian Foster - and posted a season-best 153 yards and a touchdown during last weekend's 21-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals. During that victory for his adoring Minnesota Vikings, the four-time All-Pro back resembled champion jockey, Tony McCoy. He took the reins on a recalcitrant nag, and single-handedly galvanised it to victory. Vikes quarter-back, Christian Ponder, did his best to throw it away, but Peterson gave him no choice in the matter: a fourth consecutive home win.

However, even Achilles had an issue with his heel. And Peterson has been "consistently suffering" from an injured ankle for the past few games. He missed early practice again this week but is committed to playing through the pain again on Thursday night when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to visit.

While Peterson's miraculous return to form is the main reason for the Vikings' unexpected resurgence, they are not a one-man band. The defense has recorded 22 sacks for the current campaign (putting them in a share of third in the NFL) and are led by two defensive ends who are positively champing at the bit. De Jared Allen and Brian Robson are both riding nice streaks for successive sacking games - Robinson gobbled three himself on Sunday - and will seek to maintain this pressure once more.

As much as the Vikings are exceeding expectations, the Buccaneers have been living down to them. But in truth, there was nothing shameful about their 35-28 loss to New Orleans last week. The much-maligned Saints are finally finding their offensive stride and the Bucs simply did well to keep pace for as long as they did. QB Josh Freeman lobbed out three TDs for a career-high 420 yards in that game and also took the wraps off his receivers and shone a light on their talents. Chief among the wide men is the supremely gifted Vincent Jackson (who snaffled seven catches for a franchise-topping 216 yards and one touchdown), but he is ably supported by Tiquan Underwood and Arrelious Benn.

Tampa also enjoys the one of the rookie finds of the season in RB, Doug Martin, who motored for another 85 yards and a score against New Orleans. Martin is not the explosive Peterson type (who is?), but his carrying consistency over the gain line is bringing both dependability and variety to an erratic offense. Freeman certainly appreciates Martin's arrival, which has freed up his throwing lanes and guarded against his destabilising touchdown-to-interception percentage from 2011.

So if Freeman is becoming a more mature leader who understands that discretion can sometimes prove the better part of valour, his opposing number could do with enrolling in the same self-help classes. The aforementioned Ponder appears to be regressing and probed new lows last Sunday with his worst performance to date: 58 yards, one TC and two interceptions. Closer scrutiny even reveals that he completed but one pass (a jaw-dropping four-yarder) in the second period, and yielded five three-and-outs in five possessions.

The rookie is clearly struggling while even Peterson may reap diminished gains now that he's faced with the league's third-best run-defence (allowing 76.0 yards per match). Freeman's offense, on the other hand, looks like it's about to click into a higher gear. As a result, a touchdown-start for Tampa looks invaluable on the handicap, as do most other marks. Contrary to present standings, these two teams could be about to go in opposite directions.

Recommended Bets

Back Tampa Buccaneers (+6.5 points) on the Match Point Spread @ 2.01/1 or better
Back Tampa Buccaneers (+3.5 points) on the First-Half Point Spread @ 1.855/6 or better
Back Over 40.5 Total Points @ 1.845/6 or better