NFL game summary for 10/29/1978:
Chester Marcol's 48-yard field goal with 41 seconds left culminated an 80-yard, 10-play drive as the Packers, off to their best start since 1966, maintained a two-game advantage over Minnesota in NFC Central Division. Green Bay's winning march featured the passing of David Whitehurst, who had completions to James Lofton for 21 yards, Aundra Thompson for 12 yards, and a fourth-down 18-yarder to Steve Odom. The Packers' defense forced two fumbles and one interception as the Buccaneers were limited to 170 yards (72 rushing and 98 passing). Marcol's decisive kick moved the seven-year pro into a fourth place tie with Fred Cone on the Packers' all-time scoring list with 455 points.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 126.0 (21) | 122.8 (23) | 248.8 (27) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 120.9 (5) | 127.4 (3) | 248.2 (2) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 154.5 (9) | 117.4 (26) | 271.9 (21) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 143.5 (17) | 174.4 (23) | 317.9 (22) | 31 |
Line: Packers by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Green Bay Packers (7-2-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
( 0- 6) GB Terdell Middleton 2 yard rush (pass failed)
( 7- 6) TB Ricky Bell 1 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
( 7- 9) GB Chester Marcol 48 yard field goal
TB GB
First Downs: 7 18
Rushes-yards: 34-72 45-91
Yards/rush: 2.1 2.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 5-17-98-1 16-33-173-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-15
Net pass yards: 98 158
Net yards/pass: 5.8 4.5
Total net yards: 170 249
Total plays: 51 (66% run) 80 (56% run)
Yards/play: 3.3 3.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 5-3
Turnovers: 3 4
Penalties-yards: 3-38 3-20
Attendance: 55,108
Passing:
TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 17 for 98 yards (1 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 16 of 31 for 173 yards (1 int); James Lofton, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Dennis Sproul, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
TB: Ricky Bell, 20 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 9 for 28 yards; Doug Williams, 5 for 14 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 20 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 10 for 29 yards; Jim Culbreath, 9 for 23 yards; David Whitehurst, 6 for 2 yards
Receiving:
TB: Ricky Bell, 2 for 21 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 53 yards; Jim Obradovich, 1 for 14 yards; Frank Grant, 1 for 10 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 6 for 45 yards; Aundra Thompson, 3 for 47 yards; James Lofton, 3 for 41 yards; Steve Odom, 2 for 36 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 6 yards; Barty Smith, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Louis Carter, 1 for 18 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 5 for 24 yards GB: Steve Odom, 5 for 16 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Mike Washington, 1 for 8 yards GB: Willie Buchanon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 8 for 298 yards GB: David Beverly, 7 for 275 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/2 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/2
TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 17 for 98 yards (1 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 16 of 31 for 173 yards (1 int); James Lofton, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Dennis Sproul, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
TB: Ricky Bell, 20 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 9 for 28 yards; Doug Williams, 5 for 14 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 20 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 10 for 29 yards; Jim Culbreath, 9 for 23 yards; David Whitehurst, 6 for 2 yards
Receiving:
TB: Ricky Bell, 2 for 21 yards; Morris Owens, 1 for 53 yards; Jim Obradovich, 1 for 14 yards; Frank Grant, 1 for 10 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 6 for 45 yards; Aundra Thompson, 3 for 47 yards; James Lofton, 3 for 41 yards; Steve Odom, 2 for 36 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 6 yards; Barty Smith, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Louis Carter, 1 for 18 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 5 for 24 yards GB: Steve Odom, 5 for 16 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Mike Washington, 1 for 8 yards GB: Willie Buchanon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 8 for 298 yards GB: David Beverly, 7 for 275 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/2 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/2