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

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