NFL game summary for 09/16/1979:
Tampa Bay defeated the Packers for the first time in its four-year history behind the running of rookie Jerry Eckwood and Ricky Bell. Eckwood (99 yards on 23 attempts) had a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Bell, the NFL's number one draft choice of 1977, carried 15 times for 97 yards and one touchdown as the undefeated Buccaneers totaled 235 yards rushing. Green Bay quarterback David Whitehurst completed 24 of 34 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown. His 24 completions was the second-best single game total in Packers history.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 98.0 (7) | 196.0 (19) | 294.0 (11) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 92.0 (10) | 114.0 (3) | 206.0 (4) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 135.5 (16) | 93.5 (28) | 229.0 (27) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 184.0 (24) | 203.0 (20) | 387.0 (25) | 4 |
Line: Packers by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0-0) | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Green Bay Packers (1-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 0- 3) GB Chester Marcol 38 yard field goal
( 7- 3) TB Jerry Eckwood 40 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
(14- 3) TB Ricky Bell 11 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
(21- 3) TB Ricky Bell 19 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
(21-10) GB James Lofton 12 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick)
TB GB
First Downs: 19 18
Rushes-yards: 45-235 30-89
Yards/rush: 5.2 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-25-132-1 24-34-214-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-29
Net pass yards: 132 185
Net yards/pass: 5.3 5.0
Total net yards: 367 274
Total plays: 70 (64% run) 67 (44% run)
Yards/play: 5.2 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 6-3
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 5-50 8-70
Attendance: 55,498
Passing:
TB: Doug Williams, 12 of 24 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Jerry Eckwood, 0 of 1 for 0 yards GB: David Whitehurst, 24 of 34 for 214 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
TB: Jerry Eckwood, 23 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Bell, 15 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 3 for 14 yards; Rick Berns, 2 for 11 yards; Gordon Jones, 1 for 12 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 2 yards GB: Barty Smith, 10 for 35 yards; Terdell Middleton, 10 for 22 yards; David Whitehurst, 4 for 16 yards; Steve Atkins, 3 for 10 yards; Jim Culbreath, 3 for 6 yards
Receiving:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 54 yards; Morris Owens, 3 for 51 yards; Ricky Bell, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Gordon Jones, 1 for 15 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for -6 yards GB: James Lofton, 7 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 6 for 54 yards; Steve Atkins, 5 for 27 yards; Walter Tullis, 2 for 36 yards; Terdell Middleton, 2 for 12 yards; Paul Coffman, 2 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
TB: George Ragsdale, 2 for 47 yards GB: Steve Odom, 2 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 3 for 21 yards GB: Steve Odom, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Charles Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 179 yards GB: David Beverly, 6 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/3 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1
TB: Doug Williams, 12 of 24 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Jerry Eckwood, 0 of 1 for 0 yards GB: David Whitehurst, 24 of 34 for 214 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
TB: Jerry Eckwood, 23 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Bell, 15 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 3 for 14 yards; Rick Berns, 2 for 11 yards; Gordon Jones, 1 for 12 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 2 yards GB: Barty Smith, 10 for 35 yards; Terdell Middleton, 10 for 22 yards; David Whitehurst, 4 for 16 yards; Steve Atkins, 3 for 10 yards; Jim Culbreath, 3 for 6 yards
Receiving:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 54 yards; Morris Owens, 3 for 51 yards; Ricky Bell, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Gordon Jones, 1 for 15 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for -6 yards GB: James Lofton, 7 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 6 for 54 yards; Steve Atkins, 5 for 27 yards; Walter Tullis, 2 for 36 yards; Terdell Middleton, 2 for 12 yards; Paul Coffman, 2 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
TB: George Ragsdale, 2 for 47 yards GB: Steve Odom, 2 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 3 for 21 yards GB: Steve Odom, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Charles Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 179 yards GB: David Beverly, 6 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/3 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1