PRO FOOTBALL : Buccaneers Cap Strong Finish by Beating Lions

This season is over, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t wait for the next one to start.

The Buccaneers wrapped up a strong finish Sunday by defeating the Detroit Lions, 21-10.

“Everyone on this team is excited about next year,” wide receiver Mark Carrier said. “Right now, it’s kind of scary, because we really don’t know how good we can be.”

Tampa Bay (5-11) won 2 of its last 3 games, losing last week to New England, 10-7, in overtime. The Buccaneers were competitive in their last 6 games, even against the Chicago Bears, and won 3 of them to wind up third in the NFC Central, their best finish since 1984.

“We’re heading in the right direction and not very far away from being a good team,” Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins said.

Detroit (4-12) was 2-3 under interim coach Wayne Fontes after Darryl Rogers was fired.

Vinny Testaverde threw 3 interceptions but also had 3 touchdown passes.

Testaverde, who threw his 33rd interception to break Fran Tarkenton’s 18-year-old NFC record, wound up with 35 interceptions, 7 shy of the NFL record set by George Blanda in 1962.

Testaverde threw touchdown passes to Carrier and Bruce Hill, both covering 31 yards, to give Tampa Bay a 14-0 halftime lead.

The Lions, held to 86 yards in the first half, cut the lead to 14-10 on Eddie Murray’s 27-yard field goal and Rusty Hilger’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Chadwick.

Testaverde clinched the victory on a 27-yard scoring pass to Carrier with 10:12 left.