NFL game summary for 09/12/1976:
Houston running back Ronnie Coleman rushed for 142 yards and Dan Pastorini completed 17 of 27 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns to give the expansion Buccaneers a rough opening. Oilers safety C. L. Whittington had two interceptions to stifle Buccaneer drives and Skip Butler kicked field goals of 33 and 44 yards.
Line: Oilers by 15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Houston Oilers (1-0-0) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
( 0- 7) HOU Fred Willis 13 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
( 0-10) HOU Skip Butler 33 yard field goal
( 0-17) HOU Ken Burrough 42 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
( 0-20) HOU Skip Butler 44 yard field goal
TB HOU
First Downs: 8 21
Rushes-yards: 26-52 42-190
Yards/rush: 2.0 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-26-105-2 19-29-205-1
Sacked-yards: 6-47 2-23
Net pass yards: 58 182
Net yards/pass: 1.8 5.9
Total net yards: 110 372
Total plays: 58 (44% run) 73 (57% run)
Yards/play: 1.9 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-3
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 9-80 8-60
Attendance: 42,228
Passing:
TB: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 21 for 90 yards (2 int); Parnell Dickinson, 1 of 5 for 15 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 27 for 194 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); John Hadl, 2 of 2 for 11 yards
Rushing:
TB: Louis Carter, 12 for 7 yards; Essex Johnson, 5 for 15 yards; Charlie Davis, 3 for 14 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 5 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 1 for 5 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 3 yards; Vince Kendrick, 1 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 25 for 142 yards; Fred Willis, 8 for 30 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 11 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 3 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 2 yards; Melvin Baker, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
TB: John McKay, 3 for 49 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 2 for 21 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 21 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 14 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Billy Johnson, 5 for 41 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 35 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; John Sawyer, 1 for 12 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 7 yards; Melvin Baker, 1 for 6 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Manfred Moore, 3 for 74 yards; Isaac Hagins, 2 for 35 yards HOU: Don Hardeman, 1 for 40 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 4 yards; Mark Cotney, 1 for 8 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 7 for 76 yards; C.L. Whittington, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Ken Stone, 1 for 21 yards HOU: C.L. Whittington, 2 for 58 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 11 for 466 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 199 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Mirro Roder, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 2/3
TB: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 21 for 90 yards (2 int); Parnell Dickinson, 1 of 5 for 15 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 27 for 194 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); John Hadl, 2 of 2 for 11 yards
Rushing:
TB: Louis Carter, 12 for 7 yards; Essex Johnson, 5 for 15 yards; Charlie Davis, 3 for 14 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 5 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 1 for 5 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 3 yards; Vince Kendrick, 1 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 25 for 142 yards; Fred Willis, 8 for 30 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 11 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 3 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 2 yards; Melvin Baker, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
TB: John McKay, 3 for 49 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 2 for 21 yards; Manfred Moore, 2 for 21 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 14 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Billy Johnson, 5 for 41 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 35 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; John Sawyer, 1 for 12 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 7 yards; Melvin Baker, 1 for 6 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Manfred Moore, 3 for 74 yards; Isaac Hagins, 2 for 35 yards HOU: Don Hardeman, 1 for 40 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 4 yards; Mark Cotney, 1 for 8 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 7 for 76 yards; C.L. Whittington, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Ken Stone, 1 for 21 yards HOU: C.L. Whittington, 2 for 58 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 11 for 466 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 199 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Mirro Roder, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 2/3