Igwebuike’s Kick Drops Green Bay

TAMPA, Fla. —  In a matter of minutes, Vinny Testaverde turned the boos to cheers.

After throwing 4 interceptions Sunday, Testaverde led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 10 points in the final 4 minutes for a 27-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Donald Igwebuike provided the winning margin on a 44-yard field goal with 12 seconds left. Igwebuike kicked a 28-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to give the Buccaneers (2-3) a 13-10 victory over Green Bay (0-5) 3 weeks ago.

“I expect myself to make field goals like that,” the Nigerian said.

Testaverde completed his last 5 passes for 107 yards in the final minutes, hitting Bruce Hill on a 19-yard scoring pass to tie the score, 24-24, with 1:52 left.

The touchdown capped an 8-play, 72-yard drive that began with a 22-yard pass from Testaverde to Mark Carrier on third and 18. Testaverde completed 20 of 37 passes for 300 yards.

“It felt good to win after throwing 4 interceptions, making 4 poor decisions,” he said. “The guys were counting on me to help them out.”

After Hill’s score, Green Bay was forced to punt. Starting from his 43, Testaverde hit Hill for 26 yards and Jeff Smith for 6 before Igwebuike came on for his winning kick.

The Packers lost their seventh straight game over 2 seasons.

“All I can say is, one of these days we’re going to figure out a way to win,” Coach Lindy Infante said. “We haven’t done it yet, but it’s going to happen.”

Green Bay took a 24-17 lead with 4:37 left on a 1-yard run by quarterback Randy Wright to cap a 64-yard drive. Wright, who hit rookie Sterling Sharpe for a 34-yard gain on the play before the touchdown, was 28 of 51 passes for 321 yards with 2 interceptions.

Green Bay scored the only third-quarter points on Brent Fullwood’s 1-yard run after Chuck Cecil returned his second interception 23 yards to the Buccaneers’ 15.