It Isn’t Very Pretty, but Buccaneers End Streak

Tampa Bay beat Detroit, 23-20, Sunday and moved out last place in the NFC Central Division, but it wasn’t pretty.

The Buccaneers had only 304 total yards. Vinny Testaverde, who has thrown for more than 300 yards 4 times this season, had 79 net passing yards. Tampa Bay had four turnovers and Testaverde got sacked twice for losses totaling 28 yards.

Still, Donald Igwebuike’s 52-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining won the game for Tampa Bay.

“I don’t know if we could have beaten a good football team today,” Buccaneers Coach Ray Perkins said. “That’s not to criticize the Detroit Lions. They have a lot better football players than more people on the face of this earth think.”

That would include many in the crowd of 25,956, many of whom were wearing bags over their heads.

Lars Tate, who gained 106 yards in 18 carries, scored on a 5-yard run, and Igwebuike, who also had a 23-yarder in the second quarter, kicked a 22-yarder to put the Bucs ahead, 20-13, with 2:10 remaining.

The loss left Detroit 2-9. Tampa Bay improved to 3-8.