Sunday, December 4, 1977 - Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fan Gameday Report for BuccaneersFan

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 00 Chicago Bears 10

Chicago Bears’ running back Walter Payton entered the game with hopes of surpassing O.J. Simpson's 2,003-yard 1973 season, but was held to 101 yards on 33 carries.

Buccaneers Ricky Bell set new franchise rushing records with 94 yards on 24 carries. Payton scored the game's only touchdown, a three-yard run that was set up by a 32-yard pass to Steve Schubert from punter Bob Parsons.

Lee Roy Selmon sacked quarterback Bob Avellini twice, blocked one of his passes, and hurried him several times. The Buccaneers’ only serious offensive threat ended with a missed field goal in the first quarter.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights

GAMEDAY BRIEF

WEATHER: Cloudy - 72°F. - Humidity 58% - Wind S.S.W. 5 mph Wind Chill 70°F.

OFFICALS

REFEREE: Dick Jorgens
UMPIRE: Gerry Heart
LINE JUDGE: Royal Cathcart
HEAD LINESMAN: Dave Hawk
BACK JUDGE: Ligouri Hagerty
FIELD JUDGE: Dick Dolack

SCORING

BEARS: 11:07-4Q Thomas FG32
BEARS: 03:18-4Q Payton 3 run (Thomas kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

WR: #89 J. McKay
LT: #75 D. Reavis
LG: #62 J. Winans
C: #79 S. Wilson
RG: #68 D. Medlin
RT: #70 D. Carlton
TE: #83 S. Nafziger
WR: #85 M. Owens
QB: #14 R. Hedberg
RB: #43 E. Williams
RB: #42 R. Bell

STARTERS DEFENSE

LE: #78 C. Rudolph
DT: #76 D. Pear
RE: #63 L. Selmon
OLB: #57 D. Lewis
ILB: #61 D. Selmon
ILB: #54 R. Wood
OLB: #56 C. Johnson
LC: #45 J. White
RC: #40 M. Washington
SS: #33 M. Cotney
FS: #34 C. Brown

SUBSTITUTIONS

4 Green, 23 Ragsdale, 32 L Carter, 35 DuBose, 46 Reece, 51 Ryczek, 52 Harris, 53 Bonness, 59 Lemon, 64 Robinson, 65 R Johnson, 72 G Johnson, 77 Kollar, 80 Novak, 81 Hagins, 87 Mucker.

DID NOT PLAY

5 Swider, 19 Huff, 25 Jordan, 66 B Carter, 82 Waddell.

INACTIVE

17 Blount, 28 Davis.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

BUCCANEERS: Bell 25-94, Williams 8-18, DuBose 2-8, Hagins 1-2, Ragsdale 1-(-2), Carter 5-(-6).
BEARS: Payton 33-101, Harper 9-27, Scott 1-10, Musso 1-3.

PASSING

BUCCANEERS: Hedberg 15-4-36-2-0.
BEARS: Avellini 25-11-130-1-0, Parsons 1-1-32-0-0, Harper 1-0-0-0-0.

RECIEVING

BUCCANEERS: Hagins 1-10, McKay 1-9, Novak 1-9, Carter 1-8.
BEARS: Scott 7-79, Schubert 3-60, Latta 1-15, Harper 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS

BUCCANEERS: White 1-0.
BEARS: Livers 1-29, Fencik 1-10.

KICK RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: Hagins 1-24.
BEARS: Musso 1-15.

PUNT RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: Reece 2-3, Hagins 2-(-3).
BEARS: Schubert 7-22.

SACKS

BUCCANEERS: L. Selmon 2-19, Pear 1-10.
BEARS: Osborne 1-11, Newsome 1-4.