Total defense? Spell it Vikings Joanne Korth, The St.Petersburg Times, published 13 November 1989 The Minnesota defense came here with a nasty reputation, and in Sunday's 24-10 beating of Tampa Bay, the Vikings did plenty to preserve their status as baddest guys on the block. The National Football League's top-ranked defensive unit scored off, denied, controlled and sacked the Bucs offense, prompting head coach Ray Perkins to declare he had never seen their equal. “I don't think I've faced or ever seen a better defensive team,” Perkins said. Take a look at the proof. Most obvious were the sacks. Minnesota's defensive front four sacked quarterback Vinny Testaverde seven times - setting a team record for sacks in a season with 50. “I don't think anybody's got four guys like we've got,” Minnesota head coach Jerry Burns said. “They made it hard on Testaverde.” Defensive end Chris Doleman tackled Testaverde three times for losses of 15, 11, and 6 yards. Tackle Keith Millard and end Al Noga had two sacks apiece. Before Sunday, Tampa Bay quarterbacks had been sacked only 14 times, fifth-best in the NFL. For the first time this season, the Buccaneers gave up more than two sacks in one game. “I don't think too many front fours have put as much pressure on him (Testaverde) or sacked him as much,” said Millard, who leads the league with 15 sacks. So effective was the Vikings front line that Minnesota seldom called a blitz to pressure Testaverde. It just wasn't necessary. “There were a few (blitzes) - just the basic stuff, nothing exotic,” Millard said. “You blitz because you want to put pressure on the quarterback and we did that all right ourselves.” Burns was more blunt: “We didn't feel that we needed blitzing. We didn't want to sacrifice our coverage.” With the defensive line taking care of the rush, Minnesota was able to leave seven defenders back in pass coverage. No team has touched the Vikings defense for more than 200 net yards passing in a game. Testaverde managed 111 net yards. Minnesota's defense turned offensive in the first quarter when Reggie Rutland scooped up a Bruce Hill fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. And a 10-0 Vikings lead. The defense also set up Minnesota's second touchdown. After Rutland's score, the Buccaneers started from their own 17-yard line and in four plays moved the ball 1 yard forward. The Minnesota defense, meanwhile, moved them 12 yards backward. After a 40-yard punt and 12-yard return, Minnesota's offense set up at the Bucs' 34. It took the Vikings six plays to score a touchdown and take a 17-0 lead. Finally, there was this goal-line stand. Tampa Bay's offense started to show signs of life midway through the second quarter, moving from its 37 to the Minnesota 3. But the Vikings defense held on fourth-and-1. “When you play a defense like this, you have to take advantage of every opportunity you get,” offensive guard Tom McHale said. “If you don't it's very hard to win. It's not like they are going to give you another chance.`