NFL game summary for 09/09/1978:
Tampa Bay errors led to all of Detroit's points as the Lions won their first game under head coach Monte Clark. Mike Boryla, making his first start in two years, fumbled on Tampa Bay's second offensive series and Detroit's John Woodcock recovered at the Buccaneers' 29. Four plays later Benny Ricardo kicked a 48-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, the Lions' Leonard Thompson recovered George Ragsdale's fumble at the 12. Three plays later Greg Landry threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jessie Thompson. A roughing the passer penalty and a fumble set up Ricardo field goals in the second and fourth quarters.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 82.0 (26) | 40.0 (26) | 122.0 (28) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 181.0 (24) | 31.0 (2) | 212.0 (7) | 0 | |
 | OFFENSE | 165.0 (6) | 86.0 (21) | 251.0 (17) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 76.0 (1) | 162.0 (14) | 238.0 (10) | 1 |
Line: Lions by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (1-1-0) | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
( 0- 7) TB Ricky Bell 1 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
( 3- 7) DET Benny Ricardo 48 yard field goal
( 9- 7) DET Jesse Thompson 9 yard pass from Greg Landry (kick failed)
(12- 7) DET Benny Ricardo 47 yard field goal
(15- 7) DET Benny Ricardo 27 yard field goal
DET TB
First Downs: 11 10
Rushes-yards: 46-149 29-140
Yards/rush: 3.2 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-14-69-0 6-14-63-1
Sacked-yards: 2-22 7-94
Net pass yards: 47 -31
Net yards/pass: 2.9 -1.5
Total net yards: 196 109
Total plays: 62 (74% run) 50 (58% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 2.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 6-5
Turnovers: 2 6
Penalties-yards: 8-80 5-45
Attendance: 64,445
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 8 of 10 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Gary Danielson, 1 of 4 for 14 yards TB: Gary Huff, 4 of 9 for 48 yards (1 int); Mike Boryla, 2 of 5 for 15 yards
Rushing:
DET: Dexter Bussey, 21 for 88 yards; Horace King, 17 for 38 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 3 for 17 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 1 yard; Andy Bolton, 2 for 5 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 15 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 8 for 28 yards; Louis Carter, 5 for 9 yards; George Ragsdale, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DET: Jesse Thompson, 3 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 3 for 27 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 9 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 6 yards; David Hill, 1 for -2 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 2 for 37 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 18 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 11 yards; Johnny Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 52 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 4 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Jesse Thompson, 3 for 30 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 19 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 11 yards TB: Mark Cotney, 5 for 38 yards; Cedric Brown, 2 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DET: Tom Skladany, 9 for 379 yards TB: Dave Green, 8 for 352 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 3/4 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/1
DET: Greg Landry, 8 of 10 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Gary Danielson, 1 of 4 for 14 yards TB: Gary Huff, 4 of 9 for 48 yards (1 int); Mike Boryla, 2 of 5 for 15 yards
Rushing:
DET: Dexter Bussey, 21 for 88 yards; Horace King, 17 for 38 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 3 for 17 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 1 yard; Andy Bolton, 2 for 5 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 15 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 8 for 28 yards; Louis Carter, 5 for 9 yards; George Ragsdale, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DET: Jesse Thompson, 3 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 3 for 27 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 9 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 6 yards; David Hill, 1 for -2 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 2 for 37 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 18 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 11 yards; Johnny Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 52 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 4 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Jesse Thompson, 3 for 30 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 19 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 11 yards TB: Mark Cotney, 5 for 38 yards; Cedric Brown, 2 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DET: Tom Skladany, 9 for 379 yards TB: Dave Green, 8 for 352 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 3/4 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/1