Buccaneers vs. Vikings: The matchup of the decade for Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers have the matchup of the decade when they take on the Minnesota Vikings

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just a few wins away from locking up a spot in the playoff for the first time in 12 seasons.

The Buccaneers currently sit at 7-5 and are in control of their own destiny as we head down the stretch of the season.

Now, coming off a bye week, Tampa Bay will face its largest task of the season: Keeping control of their own destiny in a game that has postseason hopes resting on it.

How many times in the past have we made it to December and seen the Bucs with a chance to take a major step forward in the playoff race, just to be disappointed?

The Buccaneers can’t afford to disappoint this time against the Vikings

This is the biggest game in a decade for the Bucs and that can’t be understated. Why? Playoff hopes hang in the balance for a year where this franchise has gone all-out unlike any other to make moves to compete.

You brought in Tom Brady. You brought in Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette and drafted a right tackle to help fortify an offensive line for your new veteran quarterback.

If the franchise can’t win or lock up a playoff spot this season- when they’ve put all this effort and money into it- it’s simply not going to happen.

So, why is it that this game matters so much? The Vikings are one of just a few teams that could take the Buccaneers out of the wildcard spot. Minnesota, Arizona and San Francisco are currently the biggest threats to the Bucs being left out of the postseason and this is the only one of those three teams that the Bucs will play head-to-head.

You’ve got to win this one and there’s no way around it. It’s the biggest game in the last decade for the Buccaneers.