Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 Minnesota Vikings 24
The Buccaneers quarterback Vinny Testaverde was sacked seven times during the battle at home in Tampa Stadium.
Defensive end Reuben Davis, was in full-sail holding Herschel Walker to his lowest rushing total as a Viking (48 yards on 18 carries), said there's nowhere to point a finger. “It's not one guy, or one position, or even the offense or defense that's to blame,” Davis said. “It's just that we don't do what we have to when we really need to. We did a good job against them all day, and then on a crucial drive, when we needed to stop them, we couldn't.” (speking about the 4th quarter drive.
Tampa Bay had closed a 17-0 deficit to 17-10 when James Wilder caught a 5-yard Testaverde pass and steamed it thru tackle atempts and over the goal line with thirteen minutes remaining in regulation play.
The Vikings marched 76 yards within 13 plays, 29 of them by fullback Rick Fenney, scoring on a 1 yard dive by Walker. Eating up nearly eight minutes off the play-clock, giving the Buccaneers a slim opportunity of a come-back.
Defensive coordinator Doug Graber said he was encouraged by what he saw of the defense until that point. “I can live with the way we played today, except for that drive,” Graber said. “When we needed to make the play, we didn't. We had a chance there to keep the momentum going, and we didn't get the job done. I wish I knew why, but I don't have a magic answer.”
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Dick Jorgenson
- UMPIRE: Ron Botchan
- LINE JUDGE: Dale Urem
- SIDE JUDGE: Larry Nemmers
- HEAD LINESMAN: Sanford Rivers
- BACK JUDGE: Jim Poole
- FIELD JUDGE: Donnie Hampton
- REPLAY OFFICIAL: George Sladky
SCORING
- VIKINGS: 08:40-1Q Karlis FG41
- VIKINGS: 04:33-1Q Rutland 27 fumble return (Karlis kick)
- VIKINGS: 02:24-1Q Jordan 3 pass from Wilson (Karlis kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 11:06-2Q Igwebuike FG22
- BUCCANEERS: 13:26-4Q Wilder 5 pass from Testaverde (Igwebuike kick)
- VIKINGS: 05:40-4Q Walker 1 run (Karlis kick)
STARTERS OFFENSE
- WR: #88 M. Carrier
- LT: #74 P. Gruber
- LG: #73 T. McHale
- C: #60 R. Grimes
- RG: #75 C. Bax
- LT: #72 R. Taylor
- TE: #82 R. Hall
- WR: #84 B. Hill
- QB: #14 V. Testaverde
- FB: #32 J. Wilder
- RB: #34 L. Tate
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LE: #79 R. Davis
- NT: #95 C. Jarvis
- RE: #77 R. Weston
- LOLB: #59 K. Murphy
- LILB: #99. E. Marve
- RILB: #54 E. Randle
- ROLB: #57 W. Moss
- LC: #29 R. Reynolds
- RC: #22 R. Jones
- SS: #30 M. Robinsons
- FS: #39 H. Hamilton
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 1 Igwebuike, 5 Mohr, 12 Ferguson, 20 Harris, 24 Stamps, 25 Cocroft, 36 Futrell, 40 Elder, 43 Howard, 47 Smith, 51 Thomas, 56 Anno, 57 Najarian, 70 Swayne, 71 Cooper, 78 Cannon, 80 Pillow, 85 Walker, 86 Harris, 87 Drewrey, 92 Smith, 97 Lee
DID NOT PLAY
- 65 Graham
INACTIVE
- 83 Peebles, 94 Goff
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Wilder 8-30, Tate 13-27, Testaverde 2-20, Stamps 2-8, Howard 1-3, Ferguson 1-2.
- VIKINGS: Fenney 13-55, Wilson 8-55, Walker 18-48.
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Testaverde 28-18-165-0-1, Ferguson 2-0-0-1-0.
- VIKINGS: Wilson 21-13-146-0-1.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Hill 4-55, Wilder 4-42, Stamps 4-23, Carrier 2-31, Drewrey 2-10, Hall 1-2, Tate 1-2.
- VIKINGS: Jordan 4-25, Carter 2-49, Gustafson 2-22, Dozier 1-16, Jones 1-13, Walker 1-8, Fenney 1-7, Lewis 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: none.
- VIKINGS: Brim 1-0.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Elder 1-14, Stamps 1-0.
- VIKINGS: Dozier 3-69.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Drewrey 2-27.
- VIKINGS: Lewis 4-28.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Moss 1-1.
- VIKINGS: Doleman 3-33, Millard 2-12, Noga 2-9.
