The Minnesota Vikings host Week 8's Thursday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:30 p.m. ET. Here are my predictions for this game.

If you had asked me about my thoughts on this matchup prior to the beginning of the season, I would have yawned, scratched my head and given a Kanye shrug with my reply, "The Buccaneers?" 

Thanks to the Vikings' defense, however, Minnesota is off to a hot start and challenging some of the toughest teams in the league for the top spot in the NFC North. 

Did you have the Vikings in a tight second place with the Chicago Bears? Did you have anybody but the Green Bay Packers in first place in that division?

I doubt it, so I'm not going to even bother asking if anybody had the Vikings having a better record than the Packers. 

What do the Vikings pack on defense? One of the toughest the league has seen in 2012. 

They rank 6th in points allowed, 9th in total yards allowed, 11th in passing yards and 12th in rushing yards allowed per game. They terrorize quarterbacks racking up 22 sacks through their first seven games of the year.

Going for the Bucs would be foolish, but I must say this, if Tampa Bay can stuff the run the way they have so far in the season, the Vikings will need Christian Ponder to step up and be a real quarterback.

The Bucs' best team stat is their rushing defense. Opponents are only averaging 76 yards per game on the ground.

The Vikings' best offensive stat is their rush, averaging 132.3 yards per game. Because the Bucs have had such a hard time defending the pass, I give the edge to the Vikings.

I still do not trust Josh Freeman, despite having a great game against the New Orleans Saints, but I just said it, they played against the New Orleans Saints. 

Score Prediction: I will give Adrian Peterson the benefit of the doubt and say he will go for about 80-90 yards with a touchdown. Ponder will have two touchdowns and an interception, because INTs are a part of his game. 24-16 Vikings win.