Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 Atlanta Falcons 17
The Buccaneers entered the game with the NFL's fourth-ranked run defense, but the Falcons were able to match the season-high rushing total of 181 yards that had been previously set by the Cardinals on September 18. John Settle broke several tackles in a 48-yard run, the longest against the Buccaneers all season, which set up Chris Miller's game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass to Michael Haynes.
Gerald Riggs rushed for 98 yards, while Settle gained 83. The Buccaneers outgained the Falcons in total yardage, but dropped passes and committed penalties and turnovers at key times. Vinny Testaverde's three interceptions gave him an NFL-leading total of 31 for the season. The game was played in a downpour, in front of an NFL season-low crowd of 14,020.
Calvin Magee suffered a season-ending knee injury, and was replaced by Jeff Parks, who had spent parts of the 1986–1988 seasons with the Oilers and the Packers. The team also cut wide receiver Joey Clinkscales, and replaced him with speedy former Vikings receiver Jeff Richardson.
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Johnny Grier
- UMPIRE: Art Demmas
- LINE JUDGE: Ron Blum
- SIDE JUDGE: Gil Mace
- HEAD LINESMAN: Paul Weidner
- BACK JUDGE: Roy Clymer
- FIELD JUDGE: Ron Spitler
- REPLAY OFFICAL: Al Sabato
SCORING
- FALCONS: 6:47-1Q Davis FG40
- FALCONS: 0:46-2Q Settle 8 run (Davis kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 9:14-3Q Carney FG24
- BUCCANEERS: 1:03-3Q Tate 1 run (Carney kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 11:20-4Q Haynes 37 pass from Miller (Davis kick)
STARTERS OFFENSE
- QB: #14 Testaverde
- LT: #74 Gruber
- LG: #68 Mallory
- C: #60 Grimes
- RG: #69 Bruhin
- RT: #72 Taylor
- WR: #84 Hill
- WR: #88 Carrier
- FB: #43 Howard
- TE: #86 Magee
- RB: #34 Tate
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LDE: #79 Davis
- NT: #95 Jarvis
- RDE: #94 Goff
- LOLB: #59 Murphy
- LILB: #99 Marve
- RILB: #53 Coleman
- ROLB: #58 Moss
- LCB: #29 Reynolds
- SS: #30 Robinson
- FS: #39 Hamilton
- RCB: #36 Futrell
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 4 Carney, 13 Criswell, 20 Harris. 21 Wright, 27 Goode, 35 J Smith, 40 Elder, 47 D Smith, 50 Turk, 51 Washington, 54 Randle, 55 Rolling, 56 Walker, 64 Thomas, 71 Cooper, 73 McHale, 75 Kellin, 78 Cannon, 80 Pillow, 82 Hall. 83 Clinkscales, 97 Lee
DID NOT PLAY
- 12 Ferguson
INACTIVE
- 22 R Jones, 52 V Jones
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Testaverde 5-58, Tate 12-39, Howard 9-30.
- FALCONS: Riggs 18-92, Settle 12-83, Miller 5-7, Lang 1-(-1).
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Testaverde 29-12-190-3-0.
- FALCONS: Miller 24-14-121-1-1.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Carrier 4-54, Hall 3-66, Hill 2-26, D.Smith 1-25, Howard 1-15, Tate 1-4.
- FALCONS: Dixon 3-22, Settle 3-22, Riggs 3-16, Haynes 2-44, Milling 1-9, Whisenhunt 1-5, Wilkins 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: Hamilton 1-58
- FALCONS: Case 2-13, Bruce 1-10.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Elder 2-33, D.Smith 1-17.
- FALCONS: Gordon 2-28, Cooper 1-22.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Futrell 1-0.
- FALCONS: Barnes 2-7.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Davis 1-13.
- FALCONS: Rade 1-4.
