NFL game summary for 10/01/1978:
The Minnesota defense intercepted three passes and blocked a punt to lead the Vikings past Tampa Bay. With 29 seconds left in the first half, Fran Tarkenton threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sammy White to give the Vikings a 17-7 halftime lead. In the second half the only score came in the fourth period, when Fred McNeill picked up a blocked punt and returned it 16 yards for the Vikings' final touchdown. Despite throwing three interceptions, Tampa Bay's Doug Williams set a club record by passing for 311 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 120.5 (20) | 165.5 (15) | 286.0 (18) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 105.5 (6) | 140.8 (11) | 246.2 (5) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.8 (18) | 50.0 (28) | 172.8 (28) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 111.5 (7) | 106.0 (2) | 217.5 (2) | 11 |
Line: Vikings by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (3-2-0) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
( 7- 0) MIN Robert Miller 1 yard rush (Rick Danmeier kick) (10- 0) MIN Rick Danmeier 36 yard field goal (10- 7) TB Morris Owens 56 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick) (17- 7) MIN Sammy White 21 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick) (24- 7) MIN Fred McNeill 16 yard return of blocked punt (Rick Danmeier kick)
MIN TB
First Downs: 19 18
Rushes-yards: 37-111 24-87
Yards/rush: 3.0 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-31-213-1 16-35-311-3
Sacked-yards: 1-5 2-28
Net pass yards: 208 283
Net yards/pass: 6.5 7.6
Total net yards: 319 370
Total plays: 69 (53% run) 61 (39% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 6.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 5-35 3-25
Attendance: 65,972
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 20 of 31 for 213 yards and 1 TD (1 int) TB: Doug Williams, 16 of 35 for 311 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Rickey Young, 15 for 38 yards; Robert Miller, 13 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mark Kellar, 5 for 16 yards; Brent McClanahan, 4 for 19 yards TB: Jimmy DuBose, 10 for 35 yards; Ricky Bell, 9 for 31 yards; Doug Williams, 4 for 10 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 60 yards; Sammy White, 4 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Robert Miller, 4 for 26 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 44 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 14 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 13 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards TB: Morris Owens, 5 for 132 yards and 1 TD; John McKay, 3 for 54 yards; Jimmie Giles, 3 for 36 yards; Larry Mucker, 2 for 66 yards; Ricky Bell, 1 for 11 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 9 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 38 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 17 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 3 for 73 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 12 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 28 yards TB: Larry Mucker, 2 for 18 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 21 yards; John Turner, 1 for 15 yards; Matt Blair, 1 for 0 yards TB: Jeris White, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Wood, 6 for 218 yards TB: Dave Green, 4 for 169 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 1/1 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 20 of 31 for 213 yards and 1 TD (1 int) TB: Doug Williams, 16 of 35 for 311 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Rickey Young, 15 for 38 yards; Robert Miller, 13 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mark Kellar, 5 for 16 yards; Brent McClanahan, 4 for 19 yards TB: Jimmy DuBose, 10 for 35 yards; Ricky Bell, 9 for 31 yards; Doug Williams, 4 for 10 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 60 yards; Sammy White, 4 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Robert Miller, 4 for 26 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 44 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 14 yards; Rickey Young, 2 for 13 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards TB: Morris Owens, 5 for 132 yards and 1 TD; John McKay, 3 for 54 yards; Jimmie Giles, 3 for 36 yards; Larry Mucker, 2 for 66 yards; Ricky Bell, 1 for 11 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 9 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 38 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 17 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 3 for 73 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 12 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 28 yards TB: Larry Mucker, 2 for 18 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 21 yards; John Turner, 1 for 15 yards; Matt Blair, 1 for 0 yards TB: Jeris White, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Wood, 6 for 218 yards TB: Dave Green, 4 for 169 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 1/1 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/2