NFL game summary for 12/04/1977:
Walter Payton scored on a three-yard run for the only touchdown of the game but gained 101 yards on 33 carries against a stubborn Tampa Bay defense. Payton brought his season rushing total to 1,642 yards to pull within 362 yards of shattering O. J. Simpson's single season NFL rushing record of 2,003 yards. Lee Roy Selmon had an outstanding day for Tampa with sacks of 16 and 13 yards, three tackles and two assists.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 211.3 (1) | 129.5 (20) | 340.8 (2) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 148.2 (19) | 170.4 (25) | 318.5 (22) | 25 | |
 | OFFENSE | 97.0 (27) | 88.5 (28) | 185.5 (28) | 42 |
| DEFENSE | 150.9 (20) | 132.2 (10) | 283.1 (14) | 29 |
Line: Bears by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (7-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-12-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 3- 0) CHI Bob Thomas 32 yard field goal
(10- 0) CHI Walter Payton 3 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI TB
First Downs: 17 9
Rushes-yards: 44-141 42-114
Yards/rush: 3.2 2.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-27-162-1 4-15-36-2
Sacked-yards: 3-29 2-15
Net pass yards: 133 21
Net yards/pass: 4.4 1.2
Total net yards: 274 135
Total plays: 74 (59% run) 59 (71% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 2.3
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-0
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 8-84 5-50
Attendance: 48,948
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 11 of 25 for 130 yards (1 int); Roland Harper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 32 yards TB: Randy Hedberg, 4 of 15 for 36 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 33 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 9 for 27 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 10 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 3 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 25 for 94 yards; Ed Williams, 8 for 18 yards; Louis Carter, 5 for -6 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 2 for 8 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 2 yards; George Ragsdale, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 7 for 79 yards; Steve Schubert, 3 for 60 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 15 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 8 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 10 yards; John McKay, 1 for 9 yards; Jack Novak, 1 for 9 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Johnny Musso, 1 for 15 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 7 for 22 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 3 yards; Isaac Hagins, 2 for -3 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 1 for 29 yards; Gary Fencik, 1 for 10 yards TB: Jeris White, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 330 yards TB: Dave Green, 10 for 422 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/3 TB: Allan Leavitt, 0/1
CHI: Bob Avellini, 11 of 25 for 130 yards (1 int); Roland Harper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 32 yards TB: Randy Hedberg, 4 of 15 for 36 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 33 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 9 for 27 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 10 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 3 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 25 for 94 yards; Ed Williams, 8 for 18 yards; Louis Carter, 5 for -6 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 2 for 8 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 2 yards; George Ragsdale, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 7 for 79 yards; Steve Schubert, 3 for 60 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 15 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 8 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 10 yards; John McKay, 1 for 9 yards; Jack Novak, 1 for 9 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Johnny Musso, 1 for 15 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 7 for 22 yards TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 3 yards; Isaac Hagins, 2 for -3 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 1 for 29 yards; Gary Fencik, 1 for 10 yards TB: Jeris White, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 330 yards TB: Dave Green, 10 for 422 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/3 TB: Allan Leavitt, 0/1