The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had lost a record 26 straight
games since coming into the NFL in 1976 as they faced the New Orleans Saints on
December 11, 1977. Head Coach John McKay’s team suffered through a miserable
0-14 inaugural year and, at 0-12, seemed destined to go winless for a second
season. There was reason for hope, as the defense was showing signs of coming
together and contained up-and-coming players like DE Lee Roy Selmon and his
brother, LB Dewey Selmon. The offense was another story, however, as FB Ricky
Bell, the team’s first draft choice out of USC, was struggling behind a poor
line and the quarterbacks, led by Gary Huff, sustained many sacks and
interceptions. The team had scored just 53 points in the twelve games and had
been shut out in four of its previous five contests.
The Saints were also struggling. The perennially losing club
could not be turned around by second-year Head Coach Hank Stram, a proven
winner previously with the Chiefs, and had a 3-9 record. QB Archie Manning had plenty
of ability and there was a good backfield tandem in HB Chuck Muncie and FB Tony
Galbreath. But the offensive line was mediocre and the defense was worse than
that. Manning also antagonized the Bucs in the days before the game by stating
that it would be disgraceful to lose to them – words that would come back to
haunt him.
There were 40,124 fans in attendance at the Louisiana
Superdome for the contest between the two cellar dwellars. On the third play
from scrimmage, Archie Manning fumbled while scrambling and Lee Roy Selmon
recovered for the Bucs at the New Orleans 36. However, the break went for
naught when Tampa Bay drove 20 yards and Dave Green missed a 33-yard field goal
attempt.
The Saints punted following their next series and DB
Danny Reece returned it 20 yards to the New Orleans 28. Ricky Bell carried five
times as the Buccaneers advanced a total of seven yards, but this time they
didn’t come up empty when Green kicked a 40-yard field goal.
The teams exchanged punts, but on the last play of the
first quarter, Manning threw a long pass intended for TE Jim Thaxton that went
through the receiver’s arms and was intercepted by CB Mike Washington (pictured at top). Tampa Bay
started off the second quarter at the New Orleans 33 and drove 25 yards in ten
plays. Bell and FB Jimmy DuBose ran effectively and Green finished the series
off with another field goal, this time from 25 yards.
The Saints remained stymied on offense and, after two
punts were nullified by penalties that backed them up to their five yard line,
the third was returned for 29 yards to the New Orleans 24 by WR Isaac Hagins.
However, a holding penalty and seven-yard sack of Gary Huff backed the Bucs up
and they were forced to punt.
After the Saints punted again, Tampa Bay put together a
71-yard drive in six plays. Huff connected with WR Morris Owens for a 39-yard
gain along the way and found Owens again alone in the corner of the end zone
for a five-yard touchdown. Green added the extra point and the Bucs took a 13-0
lead into halftime.
Tampa Bay had the first possession of the third quarter
and had to punt, but Bobby Scott, now in at quarterback for the Saints, threw a
pass that Washington intercepted and returned 45 yards for a TD. With Green’s
extra point, the Bucs were ahead by 20-0.
Now in a deep hole, the Saints responded by driving to
the Tampa Bay 30. However, Scott’s arm was hit while he was throwing and it
resulted in another interception, this time by LB Richard Wood (pictured below), who ran it back
30 yards to the Tampa Bay 47. With DuBose and HB Louis Carter carrying the
load, the Bucs reached the New Orleans 30, but on fourth-and-one Huff was
stopped for no gain on a quarterback sneak and the Saints regained possession.
A Scott pass to WR Don Herrmann and a roughing-the-passer
penalty on the Buccaneers helped New Orleans move to the Tampa Bay 29, but from
there Scott tossed four straight incomplete passes to give the ball back to the
visitors.
The Bucs punted on the last play of the period, and then
once more came through with a big interception on the second play of the fourth
quarter. With the Saints backed up to their four, Scott was again picked off by
Wood, who needed to return it only 10 yards for a touchdown. The extra point
try was shanked but it didn’t matter – Tampa Bay had a commanding 26-0 lead.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Manning returned at
quarterback for the Saints and they finally scored as he ran two yards for a
touchdown. The next time New Orleans had the ball, Manning faded back to pass
from his end zone, the ball was deflected, and DE Greg Johnson caught it for
another Tampa Bay TD. In the final seconds, Manning threw to WR John Gilliam
for an 11-yard touchdown, but it did nothing more than salvage some pride for
the home team. With a dominating defensive performance, Tampa Bay finally had a
win to its credit, and by a score of 33-14.
In a sloppy game in which neither offense distinguished
itself, the Saints outgained Tampa Bay (250 yards to 238) and had more first
downs (17 to 14). However, New Orleans gave up seven turnovers, to one suffered
by the Bucs, and three of them resulted in interception returns for touchdowns
(tying a NFL record that was broken in 1984). Tampa Bay also recorded five
sacks, to one for the Saints. The Buccaneers were hurt by 11 penalties, at a
cost of 100 yards, to seven flags thrown on New Orleans.
Gary Huff (pictured at left) didn’t pass often, completing 7 of 9 throws for
96 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Jimmy DuBose ran for 59 yards
on 17 carries and also caught a team-leading three passes for another 24 yards.
Ricky Bell added 34 yards on 14 rushing attempts and Morris Owens gained 44
yards on his two catches that included a TD. But the biggest contributors for
Tampa Bay were on defense, where Mike Washington and Richard Wood each
intercepted two passes, and returned one apiece for touchdowns. Greg Johnson
had one interception in the end zone for a third TD.
For the Saints, Archie Manning was successful on 13 of 21
passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but also tossed three interceptions.
Bobby Scott went four-for-12 and 36 yards with another three interceptions. FB
Tony Galbreath ran for 35 yards on 9 carries and Manning was right behind with
33 yards and a TD on 6 attempts. Don Herrmann was the top receiver with four
catches for 92 yards.
“Archie (Manning) must have been looking at our offense,”
said Coach McKay afterward, referring to the New Orleans quarterback’s comment
about it being a disgrace to lose to the Bucs. “Our defense has never been
disgraceful.”
“I said it, and it was true,” said Manning. “And now I’m
embarrassed.”
The Buccaneers won again against the Cardinals in their
season finale and, while it lifted them to only 2-12 for another last place
finish in the NFC Central, the victories allowed Tampa Bay to finish off the
year on a high note and were a harbinger of improvement to come. New Orleans
was blown out by the Falcons to end up at 3-11 and at the bottom of the NFC
West, costing Coach Stram his job.
