NFL game summary for 09/26/1976:
Joe Ferguson threw touchdown passes to Bob Chandler and Reuben Gant to give the Bills their first victory of the season. Buccaneer kicker Dave Green scored the first points of the season for Tampa Bay and almost turned the tables on Buffalo. In the final minutes of the game Green caught a nine-yard pass from Steve Spurrier on a fake field goal, but was short of a first down at the Bills' 11. The Buccaneers' defense virtually shut down the Buffalo ground attack, giving up 109 yards rushing, only 39 to O.J. Simpson.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 98.5 (23) | 177.0 (10) | 275.5 (19) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 206.0 (23) | 124.5 (11) | 330.5 (18) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 90.5 (25) | 27.0 (28) | 117.5 (28) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 192.5 (21) | 156.5 (13) | 349.0 (20) | 6 |
Line: Bills by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (1-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
( 0- 3) TB Dave Green 39 yard field goal ( 0- 6) TB Dave Green 24 yard field goal ( 7- 6) BUF Bob Chandler 58 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Benny Ricardo kick) ( 7- 9) TB Dave Green 19 yard field goal (14- 9) BUF Reuben Gant 15 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Benny Ricardo kick)
BUF TB
First Downs: 14 15
Rushes-yards: 35-109 40-170
Yards/rush: 3.1 4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-22-188-0 13-28-170-1
Sacked-yards: 1-2 1-2
Net pass yards: 186 168
Net yards/pass: 8.1 5.8
Total net yards: 295 338
Total plays: 58 (60% run) 69 (57% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 4.9
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 2-1
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 4-30 10-59
Attendance: 42,805
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 12 of 22 for 188 yards and 2 TDs TB: Steve Spurrier, 13 of 27 for 170 yards (1 int); Louis Carter, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 20 for 39 yards; Jeff Kinney, 12 for 62 yards; Darnell Powell, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for 0 yards TB: Louis Carter, 12 for 72 yards; Ed Williams, 12 for 50 yards; Charlie Davis, 10 for 31 yards; Essex Johnson, 3 for 14 yards; Bob Moore, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 1 yard; Manfred Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Reuben Gant, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 19 yards; John Holland, 1 for 9 yards; Jeff Kinney, 1 for 0 yards TB: Bob Moore, 4 for 65 yards; Charlie Davis, 3 for 32 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 15 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 14 yards; John McKay, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Smith, 1 for 13 yards; Dave Green, 1 for 9 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Roscoe Word, 2 for 36 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 24 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 14 yards TB: Louis Carter, 1 for 17 yards; Charlie Davis, 1 for 11 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 1 for 0 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 0 yards; Roscoe Word, 1 for -8 yards TB: Manfred Moore, 4 for 37 yards; Danny Reece, 2 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 18 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 7 for 289 yards TB: Dave Green, 5 for 200 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Benny Ricardo, 0/1 TB: Dave Green, 3/4
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 12 of 22 for 188 yards and 2 TDs TB: Steve Spurrier, 13 of 27 for 170 yards (1 int); Louis Carter, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 20 for 39 yards; Jeff Kinney, 12 for 62 yards; Darnell Powell, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for 0 yards TB: Louis Carter, 12 for 72 yards; Ed Williams, 12 for 50 yards; Charlie Davis, 10 for 31 yards; Essex Johnson, 3 for 14 yards; Bob Moore, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 1 yard; Manfred Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Reuben Gant, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 19 yards; John Holland, 1 for 9 yards; Jeff Kinney, 1 for 0 yards TB: Bob Moore, 4 for 65 yards; Charlie Davis, 3 for 32 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 15 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 14 yards; John McKay, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Smith, 1 for 13 yards; Dave Green, 1 for 9 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Roscoe Word, 2 for 36 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 24 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 14 yards TB: Louis Carter, 1 for 17 yards; Charlie Davis, 1 for 11 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 1 for 0 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 0 yards; Roscoe Word, 1 for -8 yards TB: Manfred Moore, 4 for 37 yards; Danny Reece, 2 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 18 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 7 for 289 yards TB: Dave Green, 5 for 200 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Benny Ricardo, 0/1 TB: Dave Green, 3/4