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Rick Stroud, The St.Petersburg Times, published 9 November 1998
It'd figure that a vagabond team such as the Tennessee Oilers would play the role of homewreckers to the Buccaneers. The Oilers on Sunday took a spray paint can to Tampa Bay's unbeaten streak at Raymond James Stadium. Running back Eddie George rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Steve McNair scored on a 71-yard scramble with 1:46 remaining to give the Oilers a 31-22 come-from-behind win over the Bucs.
It was a heartbreaking and devastating loss for the Bucs, who blew their best chance to crack the .500 barrier for the first time and fell to 4-5. Tennessee improved to 5-4 by winning their fourth road game. It was the fifth straight 100-yard rushing performance by George, the third-year Pro Bowl running back from Ohio State. But it was the Oilers defense that provided the turning point.
With Tampa Bay trailing 17-16 and backed up at its 1, linebacker Joe Bowden made a one-handed interception of a pass from Trent Dilfer intended for Reidel Anthony and walked into the end zone. A comeback try fell short. A 10-yard TD pass from Dilfer to Anthony left the Bucs needing just a two-point conversion to tie the score. But Dilfer's pass on a fade route to Bert Emanuel fell incomplete with 3:32 left.
The Bucs had a chance to get the ball back needing just a field goal to win. But on third-and-8 from the Tampa Bay 29, McNair ran right and avoided Bucs defensive end Tyoka Jackson before weaving his way into the end zone. The Bucs took what looked to be a commanding 16-3 halftime lead on a juggling, 58-yard touchdown catch by Emanuel and three field goals by Michael Husted.
It was the first TD catch of the season by Emanuel, who was playing in just his fifth game after missing four with an ankle sprain he sustained in the season opener.
But for some reason, the Bucs don't feel comfortable this season unless they're trailing in the fourth quarter. Behind the running of George, the Oilers scored touchdowns on their first two possessions to start the second half. Tennessee added the potential knockout blow when Bowden picked off Dilfer's pass. The Oilers got on track by taking the second-half kickoff and driving 80 yards for a touchdown. George did the honors, scoring on a 14-yard run to make it 16-10. But the Bucs hurt themselves with penalties. Ronde Barber was called for pass interference on Willie Davis, erasing an interception on the play by Charles Mincy.
Then Mincy made matters worse by drawing unsportsmanlike conduct for taking his helmet off, setting up George's run. That's when George took over. Reminiscent of running back Eric Dickerson, George high-stepped through the Bucs defense for runs of 7, 16 and 30 yards on consecutive carries. He gave way to Mike Archie, who went untouched for a 7-yard touchdown. The point after by Al Del Greco made it 17-16 with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Emanuel's catch ignited the Bucs defense. On the Oilers first play following the touchdown, defensive tackle Warren Sapp blindsided McNair with a neck-snapping sack.
The Oilers went three-and-out, but a 71-yard punt by Craig Hentrich backed the Bucs to their 15. Dilfer completed three passes - starting with a 31-yard screen to Warrick Dunn - to move to the Oilers 29. Husted lined up for an apparent 44-yard field goal try, but instead the Bucs ordered a fake. Taking a pitch right from holder Tommy Barnhardt, Husted dashed 20 yards for a first down until he was collared at the Tennessee 6. Unfortunately, only four seconds remained before the half. So a winded Husted then connected on his third field goal, a 24-yarder, to give the Bucs a 16-3 halftime lead.
The Bucs took a 3-0 lead on Husted's 46-yard field goal on their first possession. But really, it was a gift from the officials.
Dunn was stripped of the ball by former Bucs linebacker Lonnie Marts and the Oilers appeared to have recovered at their 32. But after a short conference, referee Larry Nemmers ruled the whistle had blown before the ball came free and awarded it to the Bucs.
The Oilers answered with Del Greco's 45-yard field goal. But more importantly, they held the ball for 7:03 seconds during a 10-play drive that featured the legs of George, the arm of McNair and the hands of tight ends Frank Wycheck and Jackie Harris. A fumble by George that was forced by safety Mincy and scooped up by rookie cornerback Brian Kelly set up Husted's second field goal, a 33-yard attempt that gave the Bucs a 6-3 advantage.
The Bucs were playing without three of their four starters in the secondary. Safety John Lynch, who had made 40 straight starts, was sideline with back pain. And cornerbacks Donnie Abraham (knee) and Anthony Parker (hamstring) also were unable to play. Their replacements had a combined four games of NFL starting experience. Eric Vance, who was signed off the Indianapolis Colts practice squad two weeks ago, made his first NFL start.
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