Washington's Leslie Shepherd scores on a first half reverse to tie the game at 7-7 on Saturday. (AP)

By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 20, 1998; Page D1

With their second fourth-quarter comeback of the season, the Washington Redskins took huge step yesterday toward building a case for extending Norv Turner's tenure and along the way dealt a serious blow to Tampa Bay's playoff hopes.

After trailing the entire game, the Redskins staged a spirited fourth-quarter comeback – reeling off 13 points in less than eight minutes – to claim a 20-16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before a crowd of 66,309 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium yesterday.

The victory over the team with the NFC's top-ranked defense extended the Redskins' winning streak to four and boosted their record to 6-9 with the Dec. 27 season finale in Dallas remaining.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers (7-8), whose aggressive blitz frustrated the Redskins all afternoon, now face long odds of earning the NFC's final wildcard playoff spot.

In the locker room afterward, Turner was as giddy as he has been all season, praising the leadership of his veteran players and the heart of a team that regrouped after an 0-7 start.

"Despite what people think, these guys have worked their butts off," Turner said. He recalled what he told his players after they lost their first seven games: "We have 16 games, and we screwed the first part of this up. So let's make the most of it."

Against Tampa Bay, the Redskins did make the most of it – but not until they had fallen behind, 16-7, with 13:39 to play.

After scoring a first-quarter touchdown, the Redskins' offense fell silent for the next two periods as Tampa Bay exploited a flurry of Redskins' mistakes – including an assortment of penalties and a pair of turnovers by quarterback Trent Green that led to Buccaneers' field goals.

But in the final period, Cary Blanchard hit field goals of 26 and 35 yards to pull the Redskins to 16-13. With five minutes 56 seconds remaining, tight end Mike Sellers recovered a fumble on a punt return by Jacquez Green on the Tampa Bay 15. On the next play, Green hit Stephen Alexander in the end zone with the game-winning touchdown pass, a 15-yarder.

Interceptions by backup linebacker Greg Jones and cornerback Darrell Green snuffed out the Buccaneers' attempts to rally. As fans cheered and waved pompons, Turner accepted handshakes and congratulatory pats on the sideline when the game ended.

"If you just keep playing, keep believing and have some faith, something good can happen," Turner said afterward.

Asked if he felt that the upset victory solidified his hold on the Redskins' head coaching job, should team president John Kent Cooke succeed in his bid to buy the team from his late father's estate, Turner said: "I haven't given that a lot of thought. This team has fought their butts off. That was my focus at the bye, and I think they've done that."

With the Redskins' offense decidedly off its game (converting just two of 13 third downs) and a season-high 12 penalties, Washington's defense carried the day, holding the Buccaneers to just 237 yards of total offense. Of that, 150 came on the ground. Quarterback Trent Dilfer completed 14 of 34 passes for 100 yards. His one touchdown was overshadowed by a pair of interceptions.

The Redskins managed 226 total yards and got a touchdown on a 16-yard double reverse by Leslie Shepherd, the pair of Blanchard field goals and Alexander's game-clinching catch.

Green, who completed 16 of 33 passes for 191 yards, was sacked five times.

"You've got to give Tampa's defense all the credit in the world," Green said. "They caused fits for us all day."

It had been a surreal day for Washingtonians all around. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton and four days of bombing Iraqi targets ended. Those who sought refuge from the tumultuous events in football seemed destined for disappointment after the game's opening series.

Tampa Bay scored on its first possession with help from three Redskins penalties on the drive – including a 20-yard pass interference call against Darrell Green. Dilfer found tight end Dave Moore with an eight-yard touchdown pass in the end zone, and the Buccaneers took a 7-0 lead after the 65-yard drive chewed up 6:51.

The Redskins offense struggled from the start, wilting under Tampa's pressure.

Punt returner Brian Mitchell scampered 32 yards to give the Redskins' second possession a jump start. Running back Skip Hicks gained 14 yards for a first down, and on third and nine Green hit Chris Thomas on a 12-yard completion. Then, from the Tampa Bay 16, Green handed off to Albert Connell, who ran right and handed to Shepherd, who cut left and hurtled 16 yards into the end zone to tie the game at 7.

Hicks exploded for 28 yards on the opening play of Washington's next possession. The drive was squelched when Green was sacked by safety John Lynch and the ball squirted loose as Green was flipped on his back.

Eight plays later – helped again by a Redskins' holding penalty – the Buccaneers hit a 20-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

The Redskins' next series found Green, once again, scrambling for cover. Forced out of the pocket, he tried to throw a pass that Tampa Bay safety Charles Mincy plucked from the air. It was worth a second field goal, a 42-yarder, that padded the Buccaneers' lead to 13-7. They took that margin into the halftime break, having won the battle of ball control, 20:05 to 9:55.

It was a dismal third quarter for the Redskins, who managed just one first down in the period.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers leaned on their running game in hopes of protecting their lead. Fullback Mike Alstott almost single-handedly delivered the next score, carrying six of seven plays to the Redskins 10. Washington's Darryl Pounds tipped a Dilfer pass to save a touchdown, but kicker Michael Husted salvaged the effort with a 24-yard field goal for a 16-7 lead.

The Redskins stayed in it, however. Connell made a 61-yard reception, the longest of his career, but looked over his shoulder just shy of the end zone and was brought down by cornerback Ronde Barber. Two plays later, Hicks left the game with a sprained his ankle, X-rays later confirmed. Green's fourth sack brought up Blanchard, whose field goal pulled the Redskins to 16-10.

With just under 10 minutes left, the Redskins were in scoring position again, on Tampa Bay's 17 on fourth and 5. Turner opted for a field goal rather than going for a touchdown. Later, he explained that he felt confident that his defense could keep the game within reach and another scoring chance would follow. Blanchard's 35-yarder made it 16-13.

And the gift Turner was counting on followed. Sellers recovered Dilfer's fumble, and Green , taking over on Tampa's 15, fired the game-winning pass.

Jones' interception cut short the Buccaneers' next drive, and with 1:12 remaining, Darrell Green intercepted Dilfer again as fans shouted "Darrell! Darrell!" in tribute to the player who was overlooked in Pro Bowl voting.

"It was just an old veteran move," said Green, 38, who thanked fans for their support afterward. "I will retire as a Redskin, and not many will be able to say that in years to come. It's just been a great place to play for me."