NFL game summary for 10/07/1979:
Running back Billy Taylor had his most productive NFL game as the Giants earned their first victory of 1979 over previously undefeated Tampa Bay. Taylor rushed for 148 yards on 33 carries, and scored touchdowns on one and two-yard runs. Free safety Odis McKinney's 25-yard interception return preceded Taylor's second score. A fourth-quarter interception by cornerback Terry Jackson set up Joe Danelo's game-clinching 47-yard field goal.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 173.8 (2) | 147.0 (22) | 320.8 (10) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 93.2 (2) | 131.8 (3) | 225.0 (1) | 14 | |
 | OFFENSE | 96.8 (25) | 129.8 (25) | 226.6 (28) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 167.6 (23) | 159.0 (12) | 326.6 (19) | 14 |
Line: Buccaneers by 4½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| New York Giants (1-5-0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
( 0- 7) NYG Billy Taylor 2 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
( 0-14) NYG Billy Taylor 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
( 7-14) TB Larry Mucker 14 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
( 7-17) NYG Joe Danelo 47 yard field goal
(14-17) TB Jimmie Giles 11 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
TB NYG
First Downs: 15 15
Rushes-yards: 27-91 54-202
Yards/rush: 3.4 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-38-182-3 6-12-37-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-19
Net pass yards: 182 18
Net yards/pass: 4.8 1.3
Total net yards: 273 220
Total plays: 65 (41% run) 68 (79% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 7-69 8-84
Attendance: 72,841
Passing:
TB: Doug Williams, 14 of 38 for 182 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) NYG: Phil Simms, 6 of 12 for 37 yards
Rushing:
TB: Ricky Bell, 12 for 35 yards; Johnny Davis, 7 for 40 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 7 for 7 yards; Rick Berns, 1 for 9 yards NYG: Billy Taylor, 33 for 148 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Johnson, 9 for 21 yards; Emery Moorehead, 4 for 13 yards; Doug Kotar, 4 for 10 yards; Phil Simms, 3 for 1 yard; Dave Jennings, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
TB: Jimmie Giles, 5 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Isaac Hagins, 3 for 77 yards; Larry Mucker, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Bell, 2 for 13 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for 11 yards; Rick Berns, 1 for 7 yards NYG: Gary Shirk, 2 for 15 yards; Ken Johnson, 2 for 11 yards; Johnny Perkins, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
TB: George Ragsdale, 1 for 12 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 5 yards NYG: Beasley Reece, 1 for 17 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 16 yards; Earnest Gray, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 6 for 43 yards NYG: Dwight Scales, 2 for 3 yards; Beasley Reece, 1 for 8 yards; Terry Jackson, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Odis McKinney, 1 for 25 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for 12 yards; Terry Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 323 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 8 for 391 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/2
TB: Doug Williams, 14 of 38 for 182 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) NYG: Phil Simms, 6 of 12 for 37 yards
Rushing:
TB: Ricky Bell, 12 for 35 yards; Johnny Davis, 7 for 40 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 7 for 7 yards; Rick Berns, 1 for 9 yards NYG: Billy Taylor, 33 for 148 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Johnson, 9 for 21 yards; Emery Moorehead, 4 for 13 yards; Doug Kotar, 4 for 10 yards; Phil Simms, 3 for 1 yard; Dave Jennings, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
TB: Jimmie Giles, 5 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Isaac Hagins, 3 for 77 yards; Larry Mucker, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Bell, 2 for 13 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 for 11 yards; Rick Berns, 1 for 7 yards NYG: Gary Shirk, 2 for 15 yards; Ken Johnson, 2 for 11 yards; Johnny Perkins, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
TB: George Ragsdale, 1 for 12 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 5 yards NYG: Beasley Reece, 1 for 17 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 16 yards; Earnest Gray, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 6 for 43 yards NYG: Dwight Scales, 2 for 3 yards; Beasley Reece, 1 for 8 yards; Terry Jackson, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Odis McKinney, 1 for 25 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for 12 yards; Terry Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
TB: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 323 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 8 for 391 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/2