Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 Cleveland Browns 42 Sunday 5 November 1989 at Tampa Stadium
SCORING TB 8:18-1Q Tate 1 run (Igwebuike kick) CLE 2:36-1Q Metcalf 24 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick) CLE 14:07-2Q Tillman 7 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick) CLE 7:42-2Q Wright 27 interception return (Bahr kick) CLE 7:23-2Q Gash 15 interception return (Bahr kick) TB 3:54-2Q Wilder 9 pass from Testaverde (Igwebuike kick) CLE 2:26-2Q Tennell 4 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick) TB 1:17-2Q Igwebuike FG53 TB 3:53-3Q Wilder 9 pass from Testaverde (Igwebuike kick) CLE 14:03-4Q Metcalf 54 run (Bahr kick) TB 9:35-4Q Tate 1 run (Igwebuike kick)
Two classic Vinny interceptions, both run back for scores and both within 20 seconds of each other, ensured the Bucs would lose their fourth game in a row. This was James Wilder's last great game for the franchise as he gained over 100 yards receiving and caught two TD passes. Donald Igwebuike kicked a 50-yard plus fieldgoal for the 10th time in his career.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Wilder 6-23, Tate 6-15, Howard 1-6, Smith 1-6, Stamps 1- 6, Peebles 1-(-7). BROWNS: Metcalf 17-87, Manoa 4-15, Oliphant 1-14, Redden 2- 4, Kosar 5-(-6). PASSING BUCS: Testaverde 50-27-370-4-2. BROWNS: Kosar 22-18-164-0-3. RECEIVING BUCS: Wilder 8-107, Hill 4-58, Hall 3-57, Drewrey 3-31, Carrier 2- 33, Smith 2-30, Stamps 2-4, Harris 1-21, Tate 1-15, Howard 1-14. BROWNS: Metcalf 7-52, Langhorne 3-53, Manoa 2-17, Jones 2-7, Slaughter 1-15, Oliphant 1-9, Tillman 1-7, Tennell 1-4. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: none. BROWNS: Wright 1-27, Minnifield 1-25, Gash 1-15, Lyons 1-0. KICK RETURNS BUCS: Elder 5-70, Stamps 1-24. BROWNS: Metcalf 3-94, Oliphant 1-11. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Drewrey 2-14. BROWNS: McNeil 1-(-1). SACKS BUCS: Weston 1-7. BROWNS: Pike 1-13, Baker 1-8.
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 74 Gruber DE 79 Davis LG 73 McHale DT 95 Jarvis C 60 Grimes DE 77 Weston RG 75 Bax LOLB 59 Murphy RT 72 Taylor LILB 99 Marve TE 82 Hall RILB 54 Randle WR 84 Hill ROLB 58 Moss WR 88 Carrier LCB 29 Reynolds FB 43 Howard RCB 22 Jones RB 34 Tate SS 30 Robinson QB 14 Testaverde FS 25 Cocroft PLAYED 1 Igwebuike, 5 Mohr, 20 Harris, 24 Stamps, 32 Wilder, 36 Futrell, 40 Elder, 47 Smith, 51 Thomas, 56 Anno, 57 Najarian, 70 Swayne, 78 Cannon, 83 Peebles, 85 Walker, 86 Harris, 87 Drewrey, 92 Smith, 97 Lee DID NOT PLAY 12 Ferguson, 61 Ingram, 65 Graham, 71 Cooper INACTIVE 39 Hamilton, 94 Goff
COMMENTARY CREW Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
GAME HIGHLIGHTS Click on the boxes below to watch the clip Lars Tate had the first Tampa touchdown before the rush of turnovers put the Browns in front for good James Wilder had his best receiving day in several years including this touchdown reception And he added another late in the third quarter