NFL game summary for 09/23/1979:
Tampa Bay scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to defeat Los Angeles and extend their club-record winning streak to four games. Jim Youngblood gave Los Angeles a 6-0 lead with a 31-yard interception return in the first quarter. Tampa Bay took the lead 47 seconds into the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Doug Williams to Larry Mucker. Ricky Bell's five-yard touchdown run and Williams' 29-yard pass to Jimmy Giles accounted for the Buccaneers' final two scores. For the first time in Tampa Bay history, the Buccaneers' defense did not allow a point.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 147.0 (13) | 187.7 (10) | 334.7 (8) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 107.3 (4) | 112.0 (3) | 219.3 (3) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 166.5 (2) | 164.0 (18) | 330.5 (9) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 90.5 (5) | 149.5 (6) | 240.0 (5) | 7 |
Line: Rams by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (2-2-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-0-0) | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
( 6- 0) LA Jim Youngblood 31 yard interception return (kick failed)
( 6- 7) TB Larry Mucker 15 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
( 6-14) TB Ricky Bell 5 yard rush (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
( 6-21) TB Jimmie Giles 29 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
LA TB
First Downs: 11 15
Rushes-yards: 27-110 45-148
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-35-97-1 5-20-101-1
Sacked-yards: 2-21 0-0
Net pass yards: 76 101
Net yards/pass: 2.1 5.0
Total net yards: 186 249
Total plays: 64 (42% run) 65 (69% run)
Yards/play: 2.9 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 2-2
Turnovers: 4 3
Penalties-yards: 5-61 4-23
Attendance: 69,497
Passing:
LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 27 for 64 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 4 of 8 for 33 yards (1 int) TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 20 for 101 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 8 for 9 yards; Wendell Tyler, 7 for 43 yards; Elvis Peacock, 6 for 47 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 15 yards; Pat Haden, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for -10 yards TB: Jerry Eckwood, 22 for 59 yards; Ricky Bell, 18 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 3 for 16 yards; Doug Williams, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 5 for 9 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 20 yards; Charle Young, 2 for 28 yards; Preston Dennard, 2 for 20 yards; Elvis Peacock, 2 for 14 yards; Wendell Tyler, 1 for 7 yards; Eddie Hill, 1 for -1 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Morris Owens, 1 for 28 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for 25 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Drew Hill, 4 for 107 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 2 for 55 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Eddie Brown, 7 for 29 yards TB: Danny Reece, 5 for 39 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD TB: Jeris White, 1 for 39 yards
Punting:
LA: Ken Clark, 8 for 320 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 398 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 0/2 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/1
LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 27 for 64 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 4 of 8 for 33 yards (1 int) TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 20 for 101 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 8 for 9 yards; Wendell Tyler, 7 for 43 yards; Elvis Peacock, 6 for 47 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 15 yards; Pat Haden, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for -10 yards TB: Jerry Eckwood, 22 for 59 yards; Ricky Bell, 18 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Davis, 3 for 16 yards; Doug Williams, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 5 for 9 yards; Cullen Bryant, 4 for 20 yards; Charle Young, 2 for 28 yards; Preston Dennard, 2 for 20 yards; Elvis Peacock, 2 for 14 yards; Wendell Tyler, 1 for 7 yards; Eddie Hill, 1 for -1 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Morris Owens, 1 for 28 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for 25 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Drew Hill, 4 for 107 yards TB: George Ragsdale, 2 for 55 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Eddie Brown, 7 for 29 yards TB: Danny Reece, 5 for 39 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD TB: Jeris White, 1 for 39 yards
Punting:
LA: Ken Clark, 8 for 320 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 9 for 398 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 0/2 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 0/1