The Vikings and Buccaneers will meet on Sunday in what is now an inter-division matchup within the NFC – the Vikings from the NFC North and the Buccaneers from the NFC South. But the Vikings and Buccaneers are old rivals because their games were at one time an intra-division matchup within the old NFC Central.

The Vikings and Buccaneers renewing their old NFC Central rivalry on Sunday is the subject of this week's Ticketmaster Hot Matchup.

From 1977-2001, the Vikings and Buccaneers were NFC Central rivals. The Vikings went 31-18 versus Tampa Bay as division opponents, a record that included a run of 15 wins in 18 games from 1984-93. Also, the Buccaneers suffered a loss each in Minnesota season from 1998-2001 in the final four years as a member of the Central before the 2002 NFL re-alignment. As members of the NFC Central, the Vikings won 14 division titles and the Buccaneers captured the crown three times.

The NFL's realignment in 2002 sent the Buccaneers to the NFC South, where they have since won three more division titles, and the Vikings to the NFC North, where they have won two division championships. Since realignment, the Vikings and Buccaneers have matched up five times, with Tampa Bay winning each contest.

In the all-time series between these two franchises, the Vikings hold a 31-22 advantage, which includes a mark of 13-13 on the road.

A Super Minnesota-Tampa Bay ConnectionFollowing the 1995 season, the Buccaneers made a move that kick-started their franchise when they hired then-Vikings Defensive Coordinator Tony Dungy as head coach. Dungy rebuilt the squad and set the table for the team to advance to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, a season after Dungy was dismissed and Jon Gruden took the helm. The Buccaneers quarterback en route to their Super Bowl run was Brad Johnson, the Vikings long-shot signal caller selected in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft.

To purchase Vikings single-game tickets, visit the official NFL Ticket Exchange.