Buccaneers use cheerleaders to try and distract Vikings

The NFL is comprised of a bunch of enormous and powerful men in the peak of physical shape, but sometimes the distraction that scantily-clad women provide can be a team's best defense.

The NFL is comprised of a bunch of enormous and powerful men in the peak of physical shape, but sometimes the distraction that scantily-clad women provide can be a team's best defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers must believe this, as they sent out their cheerleaders to dance directly in front of the Minnesota Vikings on the field during a timeout on Sunday. Minnesota had the ball down three points with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter looking to tie or win the game.

Unfortunately, though, it didn't work. The Vikings did a pretty respectable job of not letting their minds wander away from the game, as they went right down the field and kicked a field goal to tie the game, then won in overtime 19-13.

We can't say for sure that the Bucs ordered the cheerleaders to dance where they did, but considering how little has gone right for Lovie Smith and his 1-6 team this year, it wouldn't be surprising if they felt the need to resort to such tactics.

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The incident was reminiscent of the marching band that played right through Panthers kicker Graham Gano's second half warm-ups during a game earlier this year. Unlike Gano, the Vikings (and the Buccaneers) didn't seem to mind that their field had been taken over.

- Ben Estes