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Michelle Kaufman, The St.Petersburg Times, published 26 December 1989
Pittsburgh's incredible journey is at last complete. An NFL laughing stock after just two weeks, the Steelers reached their first playoff berth since 1984 beating the Buccaneers 31-22. Bitter winds lashed Tampa Stadium which saw inclement weather for virtually the first time this year.
But that didn't stop receiver Louis Lipps and rookie back Tim Worley scoring two TDs apiece for Pittsburgh, which was out-scored 92-10 in opening losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati. "It was a big one, you betcha" said coach Chuck Noll, a four-time SuperBowl winner who was ridiculed by Pittsburgh fans for his team's hapless start. "Our guys hung in all season and did everything we had to do."
But Noll's men had to wait 24 hours to finally learn their fate. A Minnesota loss to Cleveland on Monday night would have meant the Steelers, not Cincinnati, stayed home. But after the bungling Bengals slumped 29-21, Pittsburgh was home free and will face the Oilers for the AFC Wild Card with the winners travelling to Denver for a divisional playoff match-up.
Lipps caught first-half scoring passes of 79 and 12 yards, Worley also scored from one and two yards out, and Gary Anderson kicked a 32-yard fieldgoal for the Steelers who have beaten Tampa Bay in all four meetings.
The Buccaneers, 5-11, closed with nine losses in their last 11 games to finish in the NFC Central Division basement for the seventh time in 12 years. Mark Carrier caught TD passes of seven and 39 yards, Donald Igwebuike kicked fieldgoals of 45 and 24 yards, and the Bucs added a late safety on a blocked punt by Sherman Cocroft.
QB Joe Ferguson, the NFL's oldest player at 39, played the entire game in place of Vinny Testaverde who bruised his left ankle last week against Detroit. Ferguson completed 21 of 41 passes on the day for 244 yards and two scores.
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