NFL game summary for 09/24/1977:
Fran Tarkenton completed five straight passes in a nine play, 53-yard, third-quarter touchdown drive to lead the Vikings past new NFC Central rival Tampa Bay. Minnesota took a 2-0 lead early in the second period when Carl Eller tackled Buccaneers' quarterback Randy Hedberg for a safety. Tampa Bay had a 3-2 lead at halftime following rookie Allan Leavitt's 18-yard field goal with 1:57 left in the second quarter. Tarkenton, who was 25 of 38 for 223 yards, hit Chuck Foreman with a 31-yard scoring pass for the game's only touchdown on the Vikings' first series of the second half. Minnesota held Hedberg to 51 yards passing, 34 yards net, sacked the Tampa Bay rookie twice and picked off three passes. The Vikings' Paul Krause had his 77th career interception.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 156.0 (9) | 138.0 (14) | 294.0 (11) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 131.0 (15) | 166.0 (23) | 297.0 (19) | 1 | |
 | OFFENSE | 92.0 (23) | 26.0 (27) | 118.0 (27) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 144.0 (17) | 137.0 (14) | 281.0 (16) | 5 |
Line: Vikings by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (1-1-0) | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
( 2- 0) MIN Safety, Randy Hedberg tackled in end zone by Carl Eller
( 2- 3) TB Allan Leavitt 18 yard field goal
( 9- 3) MIN Chuck Foreman 31 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
MIN TB
First Downs: 17 8
Rushes-yards: 32-104 34-104
Yards/rush: 3.2 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 25-38-223-2 5-17-48-3
Sacked-yards: 1-12 2-14
Net pass yards: 211 34
Net yards/pass: 5.4 1.8
Total net yards: 315 138
Total plays: 71 (45% run) 53 (64% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 2.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 7-64 8-69
Attendance: 66,272
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 25 of 38 for 223 yards and 1 TD (2 int) TB: Randy Hedberg, 4 of 14 for 51 yards (3 int); Gary Huff, 1 of 3 for -3 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 58 yards; Brent McClanahan, 9 for 33 yards; Sammy Johnson, 4 for 11 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for -3 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 5 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 21 for 66 yards; Randy Hedberg, 6 for 25 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 12 yards; Louis Carter, 2 for -1 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 2 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 5 for 46 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 45 yards; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Sammy White, 3 for 40 yards; Stu Voigt, 3 for 14 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 13 yards; Sammy Johnson, 2 for 13 yards TB: Morris Owens, 2 for 26 yards; John McKay, 2 for 25 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 1 for 18 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 4 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 27 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bob Grim, 5 for 15 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 19 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 1 for 25 yards; Matt Blair, 1 for 18 yards; Jeff Wright, 1 for 5 yards TB: Dewey Selmon, 1 for 9 yards; Jeris White, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 6 for 237 yards TB: Dave Green, 7 for 287 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1 TB: Allan Leavitt, 1/1
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 25 of 38 for 223 yards and 1 TD (2 int) TB: Randy Hedberg, 4 of 14 for 51 yards (3 int); Gary Huff, 1 of 3 for -3 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 58 yards; Brent McClanahan, 9 for 33 yards; Sammy Johnson, 4 for 11 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for -3 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 5 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 21 for 66 yards; Randy Hedberg, 6 for 25 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 12 yards; Louis Carter, 2 for -1 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 2 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 5 for 46 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 45 yards; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Sammy White, 3 for 40 yards; Stu Voigt, 3 for 14 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 13 yards; Sammy Johnson, 2 for 13 yards TB: Morris Owens, 2 for 26 yards; John McKay, 2 for 25 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 1 for 18 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 4 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 27 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bob Grim, 5 for 15 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 19 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 1 for 25 yards; Matt Blair, 1 for 18 yards; Jeff Wright, 1 for 5 yards TB: Dewey Selmon, 1 for 9 yards; Jeris White, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 6 for 237 yards TB: Dave Green, 7 for 287 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1 TB: Allan Leavitt, 1/1