NFL game summary for 09/01/1979:

Rookie Jerry Eckwood rushed for a club record 121 yards on 20 carries to lead Tampa Bay to its first-ever season-opening win. Tampa Bay built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on Neil O'Donoghue's 31-yard field goal and a 29-yard fumble recovery return by defensive end Lee Roy Selmon. After Ricky Bell scored on a seven-yard run, quarterback Doug Williams improved the Buccaneers' margin to 24-7 at halftime with a touchdown pass of 66 yards to Jimmie Giles. He had another of two yards to Jim Obradovich. The victory was Tampa Bay's first ever over Detroit.

Line: Buccaneers by 3

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Detroit Lions (0-1-0)	0	7	9	0	16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0-0)	10	14	7	0	31

( 0- 3) TB Neil O'Donoghue 31 yard field goal ( 0-10) TB Lee Roy Selmon 29 yard fumble return (Neil O'Donoghue kick) ( 7-10) DET David Hill 11 yard pass from Joe Reed (Benny Ricardo kick) ( 7-17) TB Ricky Bell 7 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick) ( 7-24) TB Jimmie Giles 66 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick) ( 7-31) TB Jim Obradovich 2 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick) (14-31) DET Rick Kane 3 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick) (16-31) DET Safety, Mike Rae tackled in end zone by Doug English

                     DET             TB
First Downs:         16              18
Rushes-yards:        32-142          48-229
Yards/rush:          4.4             4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-36-106-0     5-20-111-0
Sacked-yards:        2-17            2-6
Net pass yards:      89              105
Net yards/pass:      2.3             4.8
Total net yards:     231             334
Total plays:         70 (45% run)    70 (68% run)  
Yards/play:          3.3             4.8
Fumbles-lost:        5-3             1-1
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     8-70            8-70

Attendance: 68,225

Passing:
DET: Jeff Komlo, 5 of 21 for 45 yards; Joe Reed, 8 of 15 for 61 yards and 1 TD TB: Doug Williams, 4 of 16 for 99 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Rae, 1 of 4 for 12 yards
Rushing:
DET: Horace King, 10 for 53 yards; Dexter Bussey, 9 for 28 yards; Bo Robinson, 5 for 27 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Lawrence Gaines, 2 for 3 yards; Jeff Komlo, 2 for -2 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 18 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 10 yards TB: Jerry Eckwood, 20 for 121 yards; Ricky Bell, 13 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 6 for 26 yards; Rick Berns, 4 for 9 yards; George Ragsdale, 3 for 4 yards; Doug Williams, 2 for 16 yards
Receiving:
DET: David Hill, 5 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 4 for 23 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 16 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 11 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 6 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 2 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 3 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Rick Berns, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Obradovich, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DET: Tony Leonard, 3 for 70 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 81 yards; Ken Callicutt, 2 for 23 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 1 for 19 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 27 yards; Tony Leonard, 1 for 7 yards TB: Danny Reece, 8 for 42 yards
Interceptions:

Punting:
DET: Larry Swider, 8 for 346 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 176 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 0/1 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 1/2