McMahon Credits Viking Defense : NFC: Interceptions and pressure help Minnesota shut out Tampa Bay, 15-0.

MINNEAPOLIS —  A good defense was enough to give the Minnesota Vikings the NFC Central title last season. It was more than enough Sunday to beat division doormat Tampa Bay.

“They’re playing as good as any defense in the league,” Viking quarterback Jim McMahon said after the 15-0 victory over the Buccaneers. “And it’s a good thing they are, because we’re not helping them.”

The Vikings (3-2) needed four cracks from the one-yard line to get only their fifth touchdown of the season, a run by Barry Word, but they still pulled into a first-place tie with Chicago and idle Detroit heading into their bye week.

“I am not a whiner or crybaby, so don’t get into me with a lot of questions about what’s wrong,” said Dennis Green, Minnesota’s second-year coach, who is 10-1 against NFC Central teams.

“The defense was outstanding. Anytime you get a shutout in the National Football League, you’re pleased. We’re 3-2. I’m happy about it. But I’ll tell you this: We will be a lot better on offense.”

Green was so upset with his team’s offense last season that he signed McMahon as a free agent and dumped 1992 starter Rich Gannon. But McMahon has struggled this season. Sunday, he was 15 of 25 for 157 yards, bruised his right knee, and was relieved by Sean Salisbury with about 7 1/2 minutes to go.

“After (McMahon) got sacked three times in four plays, we thought we’d better take him out,” Green said. “We had a couple of disastrous protection series.”

Tampa Bay (1-4) thought its offense was coming around after the previous week’s upset of Detroit, but the Buccaneers managed only 169 yards against Minnesota. Quarterback Craig Erickson had a rough day as the Buccaneers remained on pace for their 11th consecutive season of double-digit losses.

Vencie Glenn intercepted two of Erickson’s passes, Carl Lee and Todd Scott picked off one each, and Roy Barker pressured Erickson into intentional grounding from the end zone, giving Minnesota a safety.

Erickson finished 12 of 29 for only 122 yards.