All NFL game summaries for 09/09/1979:

Neil O'Donoghue kicked a 31-yard field goal 1:41 into overtime to give the Buccaneers their second victory. The winning score was set up by Bill Kollar, who recovered Greg Landry's third-down fumble at the Baltimore 14. The Colts scored on their first three possessions to lead 17-0. Tampa Bay countered with Ricky Bell's one-yard touchdown plunge, two Doug Williams scoring passes, and Mike Washington's 49-yard interception return to go ahead 26-17. A 67-yard touchdown pass from Landry to Brian DeRoo plus Toni Linhart's 38-yard field goal sent the game into overtime. Lee Roy Selmon highlighted Tampa Bay's defensive charge, causing Landry's overtime fumble, blocking an extra point, and leading the Buccaneers to 10 quarterback sacks.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Colts by 2

                     TB              BAL
First Downs:         17              18
Rushes-yards:        34-98           35-92
Yards/rush:          2.9             2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-29-196-2     22-37-183-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             10-69
Net pass yards:      196             114
Net yards/pass:      6.8             2.4
Total net yards:     294             206
Total plays:         63 (53% run)    82 (42% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             2.5
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             2-2
Turnovers:           5               4
Penalties-yards:     10-111          11-105

Attendance: 36,374

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The Bills exploded for 41 second-half points to post their initial win of the season. Running back Roland Hooks carried the ball four times in the second half and scored all four times -- on runs of 3, 4, 28 and 32 yards -- as the Bills had the second-highest scoring game in their history. Buffalo's offense, which compiled 455 yards, was led by Hooks (70 yards rushing and 60 yards on three pass receptions), quarterback Joe Ferguson (16 of 21 for 282 yards), and rookie wide receiver Jerry Butler (seven receptions for 116 yards). Linebackers Isiah Robertson and Lucius Sanford scored Buffalo touchdowns, Robertson on a 23-yard interception return and Sanford on a three-yard return of a blocked punt.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bengals by 3

                     CIN             BUF
First Downs:         16              23
Rushes-yards:        33-134          36-209
Yards/rush:          4.1             5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-27-220-2     16-21-282-0
Sacked-yards:        2-19            4-36
Net pass yards:      201             246
Net yards/pass:      6.9             9.8
Total net yards:     335             455
Total plays:         62 (53% run)    61 (59% run)  
Yards/play:          5.4             7.5
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             4-2
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     9-67            3-30

Attendance: 43,504

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Substitute quarterback Vince Evans threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to James Scott and Walter Payton rushed for 182 yards on 23 carries and scored twice as the Bears improved their record to 2-0. Minnesota opened the scoring in the second quarter on a two-yard run by quarterback Tommy Kramer. Chicago countered with Bob Thomas' 34-yard field goal and Evans' scoring pass to Scott to take a 10-7 halftime lead. Minnesota's Ted Brown fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half out of the end zone for a safety and Payton ran 43 yards for a touchdown following the ensuing punt to give Chicago a 19-7 lead. Payton, who ran for 141 yards in the second half, added a 26-yard fourth quarter touchdown to complete the scoring.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bears by 5

                     MIN             CHI
First Downs:         13              15
Rushes-yards:        29-88           39-236
Yards/rush:          3.0             6.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-19-117-1     9-19-123-1
Sacked-yards:        5-46            3-30
Net pass yards:      71              93
Net yards/pass:      3.0             4.2
Total net yards:     159             329
Total plays:         53 (54% run)    61 (63% run)  
Yards/play:          3.0             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-1
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     5-38            7-40

Attendance: 53,231

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Mark Moseley kicked a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds left to give the Redskins a 27-24 victory. Moseley had missed on a 46-yarder moments before his winning kick, but the Lions were penalized for having 12 men on the field. Detroit trailed 24-3 in the fourth quarter but tied the game at 24 on a two-yard touchdown run by rookie Bo Robinson, a 12-yard run by Rick Kane, and a 24-yard touchdown pass from rookie Jeff Komlo to Freddie Scott. Komlo, making his initial NFL start, directed a 374-yard offensive attack, completing 11 of 22 passes for 162 yards. Washington jumped to a 24-3 lead on Joe Theismann's touchdown passes to Ricky Thompson and Jean Fugett and Benny Malone's short run. A 10-play, 53-yard drive set up Moseley's game-winning field goal.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Even

                     WAS             DET
First Downs:         23              20
Rushes-yards:        44-182          39-217
Yards/rush:          4.1             5.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-20-146-0     11-22-162-3
Sacked-yards:        2-7             1-5
Net pass yards:      139             157
Net yards/pass:      6.3             6.8
Total net yards:     321             374
Total plays:         66 (66% run)    62 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          4.9             6.0
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             4-3
Turnovers:           2               6
Penalties-yards:     4-35            6-37

Attendance: 54,991

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Rookie Steve Atkins rushed for 110 yards on 12 carries, scored once, and set up another touchdown on a 60-yard run as the Packers posted a come-from-behind win. The Packers, who were trailing 12-0 at halftime, used an onside kick to start the second half and spark their rally. Barty Smith's one-yard run capped a 51-yard drive following the onside kick recovery. Short touchdown runs by quarterback David Whitehurst and Atkins gave the Packers a 21-12 third-quarter lead. The Saints narrowed the deficit to 21-19 early in the fourth quarter when Mike Strachan capped a 76-yard drive with a one-yard run. Atkins ran 60 yards down the sideline on the Packers' next offensive play to set up a three-yard score by Eric Torkelson. Green Bay's initial win of the season overshadowed Archie Manning's 291-yard passing performance (28 of 45) for the Saints, who amassed 474 yards in total offense.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Packers by 2½

                     NO              GB
First Downs:         29              21
Rushes-yards:        36-185          30-194
Yards/rush:          5.1             6.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     28-45-291-2     9-15-139-1
Sacked-yards:        1-2             3-24
Net pass yards:      289             115
Net yards/pass:      6.3             6.4
Total net yards:     474             309
Total plays:         82 (43% run)    48 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          5.8             6.4
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             1-1
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     9-51            3-35

Attendance: 53,184

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Brian Sipe's third touchdown pass of the game, a 21-yarder to Reggie Rucker with 52 seconds remaining, led the Browns to their second victory. Cleveland built a 20-0 third quarter lead on two field goals by Don Cockroft and Sipe's touchdown passes of 17 yards to Rucker and 20 yards to Ozzie Newsome. Kansas City rookie quarterback Steve Fuller led a rally that put the Chiefs ahead 24-20 in the fourth quarter. Fuller (14 of 25 for 148 yards) completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to J. T. Smith and directed an 85-yard drive that was capped by Tony Reed's nine-yard run. Moments after Reed's touchdown, the Chiefs' Gary Barbaro recovered a Browns fumble to set up a one-yard touchdown by Ted McKnight. Jan Stenerud added a 30-yard field goal before Sipe engineered the winning touchdown drive.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Browns by 1

                     CLE             KC
First Downs:         23              19
Rushes-yards:        37-164          32-101
Yards/rush:          4.4             3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     19-35-243-1     16-35-174-1
Sacked-yards:        1-5             3-27
Net pass yards:      238             147
Net yards/pass:      6.6             3.9
Total net yards:     402             248
Total plays:         73 (50% run)    70 (45% run)  
Yards/play:          5.5             3.5
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             2-0
Turnovers:           2               1
Penalties-yards:     11-105          7-89

Attendance: 42,181

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Norm Bulaich, who came out of retirement just prior to the season opener, caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Bob Griese with 9:08 left in the game to seal the Dolphins' win. Miami converted interceptions by Earnest Rhone, Bob Matheson, and Gerald Small into 12 points on two Uwe von Schamann field goals and Nat Moore's three-yard touchdown reception. The Seahawks built a 10-9 third-period lead on Efren Herrera's 32-yard field goal and a Jim Zorn-to-Steve Raible touchdown pass. Bulaich's winning score was set up by a 51-yard pass from Griese to Duriel Harris, who finished with five receptions for 117 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Dolphins by 7

                     SEA             MIA
First Downs:         19              15
Rushes-yards:        28-119          30-117
Yards/rush:          4.2             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     21-46-247-3     15-27-208-0
Sacked-yards:        2-21            1-10
Net pass yards:      226             198
Net yards/pass:      4.7             7.1
Total net yards:     345             315
Total plays:         76 (36% run)    58 (51% run)  
Yards/play:          4.5             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             3-2
Turnovers:           4               2
Penalties-yards:     9-80            5-44

Attendance: 56,233

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The Patriots rolled up 597 yards and set club records for most points, most net yards, and widest margin of victory as they posted their initial win of the season. Quarterback Steve Grogan led the onslaught, completing 13 of 18 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns in limited action. Jets' mistakes (three turnovers and a blocked punt) helped the Patriots build a 35-3 halftime lead as Grogan threw touchdown passes of 44 and 49 yards to Harold Jackson and 37 and 50 yards to Stanley Morgan. Grogan left the game after connecting with Jackson on a 28-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. Jackson and Morgan had three catches each for 121 and 102 yards respectively. The Patriots' defense ensured Ron Erhardt's first pro win by holding New York to 134 yards total offense, sacking Jets' quarterbacks nine times, and collecting six turnovers.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Patriots by 6½

                     NYJ             NE
First Downs:         12              30
Rushes-yards:        23-89           45-232
Yards/rush:          3.9             5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-24-131-3     18-25-375-1
Sacked-yards:        9-86            2-10
Net pass yards:      45              365
Net yards/pass:      1.4             13.5
Total net yards:     134             597
Total plays:         56 (41% run)    72 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          2.4             8.3
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             3-2
Turnovers:           6               3
Penalties-yards:     5-45            6-60

Attendance: 53,113

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Wayne Morris' third quarter touchdown broke a 14-14 tie to spark the Cardinals' comeback win. Touchdowns by Doug Kotar (one-yard run) and safety Ernie Jones (31-yard interception return) 1:35 apart gave the Giants a 14-0 first-quarter lead. St. Louis' Theotis Brown tallied on a one-yard plunge with 1:52 remaining in the half and linebacker Mark Arneson returned Joe Pisarcik's fumble for a touchdown 24 seconds later to even the score. St. Louis' Ottis Anderson rushed 31 times for 109 yards to become the fourth rookie in NFL history to rush for 100 yards in his first two games (Alan Ameche, Earl Campbell and Zollie Toth are the others). Jim Hart completed the Cardinals' scoring with a 28-yard pass to Al Chandler. The St. Louis defense held New York to 128 yards total offense.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cardinals by 1½

                     STL             NYG
First Downs:         23              10
Rushes-yards:        53-189          18-40
Yards/rush:          3.6             2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-24-162-2     14-36-140-2
Sacked-yards:        1-3             7-52
Net pass yards:      159             88
Net yards/pass:      6.4             2.0
Total net yards:     348             128
Total plays:         78 (67% run)    61 (29% run)  
Yards/play:          4.5             2.1
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             2-1
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     9-52            11-90

Attendance: 71,370

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Terry Bradshaw threw two touchdown passes, Sidney Thornton scored twice, and the Steelers' defense scored or set up 24 points as Pittsburgh rolled over Houston. Pittsburgh built a 24-0 third-quarter lead on Bradshaw's touchdown passes to Thornton (16 yards) and Jim Smith (18 yards) and scoring runs of one and eight yards by Thornton and Greg Hawthorne. The "Steel Curtain" defense, led by Mike Wagner's two interceptions and Tom Beasley's 11 unassisted tackles (most in Steeler history), allowed the Oilers just 124 net yards and held Earl Campbell to a career-low 38 yards rushing. Houston avoided a shutout when Gifford Nielsen, who entered the game in the third period for the injured Dan Pastorini, threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Guido Merkens with eight seconds left.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Steelers by 6½

                     HOU             PIT
First Downs:         12              17
Rushes-yards:        39-102          29-82
Yards/rush:          2.6             2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-27-57-5       12-29-198-2
Sacked-yards:        5-35            3-24
Net pass yards:      22              174
Net yards/pass:      0.7             5.4
Total net yards:     124             256
Total plays:         71 (54% run)    61 (47% run)  
Yards/play:          1.7             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        4-1             5-0
Turnovers:           6               2
Penalties-yards:     10-64           8-74

Attendance: 49,792

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Dan Fouts threw two touchdown passes in a span of eight minutes in the first quarter and Woodrow Lowe returned an interception 32 yards for a second quarter touchdown to lead the Chargers' victory. Fouts capped San Diego's first possession, a 65-yard drive, with a 24-yard pass to John Jefferson. He later threw a 54-yard scoring bomb to Bob Klein. Gregg McCrary blocked a Ray Guy punt out of the end zone for a safety with 2:19 remaining in the third period and rookie Kellen Winslow rounded out the scoring with his first NFL touchdown, a five-yard pass from Fouts.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Chargers by 3½

                     OAK             SD
First Downs:         16              20
Rushes-yards:        26-97           38-140
Yards/rush:          3.7             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     20-41-202-2     15-30-216-0
Sacked-yards:        2-16            1-7
Net pass yards:      186             209
Net yards/pass:      4.3             6.7
Total net yards:     283             349
Total plays:         69 (37% run)    69 (55% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             5.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             3-3
Turnovers:           3               3
Penalties-yards:     6-50            6-45

Attendance: 50,255

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Roger Staubach threw two touchdown passes in the second half to give the Cowboys a come-from-behind victory. Staubach completed 20 passes for the second straight week and Tony Dorsett, back after a six-week absence, rushed for 54 yards to lead the Cowboys.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 11

                     DAL             SF
First Downs:         19              16
Rushes-yards:        36-98           24-63
Yards/rush:          2.7             2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     20-34-259-0     19-33-239-1
Sacked-yards:        1-10            1-8
Net pass yards:      249             231
Net yards/pass:      7.1             6.8
Total net yards:     347             294
Total plays:         71 (50% run)    58 (41% run)  
Yards/play:          4.9             5.1
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             1-1
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     14-125          8-64

Attendance: 56,728

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