Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 00 Cincinnati Bengals 21
With four defensive starters out with injuries, the Buccaneers spotted the Cincinnati Bengals a 14–0 first-quarter lead.
The defense came together for the last three quarters, with the only points coming from Tommy Casanova’s 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Ken Anderson, the AFC’s leading passer, was held to 98 yards passing.
Lacking healthy linebackers, the Buccaneers abandoned their 3–4 defense in favor of a 4–3.
The Buccaneers held a 191–174 yardage advantage over the AFC Central-leading Bengals in the final 45 minutes.
The Bengals declined to hand out game balls to any of their players after the win.
"It was just a ball game" shrugged coach Bill Johnson and John McKay's take on the game:" We get penalised every five seconds. I think we played better than we have been playing."
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Dick Jorgenson
- UMPIRE: Dave Hamilton
- LINE JUDGE: Royal Catheart
- HEAD LINESMAN: Dave Hank
- BACK JUDGE: Liganri Hagerty
- FIELD JUDGE: Dick Daniels
SCORING
- BENGALS: 05:58-1Q Trumpy 10 pass from Anderson (Bahr kick)
- BENGALS: 00:08-1Q Clark 3 run (Bahr kick)
- BENGALS: 02:15-3Q Casanova 25 fumble return (Bahr kick)
STARTERS OFFENSE
- WR: #89 J. McKay
- LT: #71 S. Young
- LG: #72 H. Feat
- C: #51 D. Ryeask
- RG: #67 T. Howard
- RT: #72 M. Current
- TE: #86 B. Moore
- WR: #85 M. Owens
- QB: #11 S. Spurrier
- RB: #22 E. Williams
- RB: #88 S. Davis
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LE: #78 C. Rudolph
- LT: #76 D. Pear
- RT: #61 D. Selmon
- RE: #66 P. Toomay
- LLB: #30 J. Gunn
- MLB: #52 S. Reese
- RLB: #54 R. Wood
- LCB: #40 M. Washington
- RCB: #46 D. Reece
- LS: #33 M. Cotney
- RS: #28 K. Stone
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 4 Green, 18 Dickinson, 19 Johnson, 22 McNeill, 25 Jordan, 27 Davis, 32 Carter, 35 DuBose, 44 Moore, 55 Hunt, 56 Cooper, 64 Robinson, 69 Jameson, 70 Young, 79 Wilson, 80 Novak, 82 Pagac, 83 McGriff, 88 Smith
DID NOT PLAY
- 53 Ball, 77 Little
INACTIVE
- 58 Peterson, 63 Selmon
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: C.Davis 16-39, Carter 7-35, McNeill 1-17, Williams 5-14, Johnson 2-7, Dickinson 1-4, DuBose 1-(-2).
- BENGALS: Elliott 12-60, T.Davis 9-55, Griffin 9-38, Clark 9-35.
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Spurrier 22-12-122-2-0, Dickinson 1-0-0-0-0.
- BENGALS: Anderson 15-10-98-0-1.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: Owens 4-62, Williams 3-16, McKay 2-23, Johnson 2-13, B.Moore 1-8.
- BENGALS: Brooks 3-37, Curtis 3-27, Trumpy 2-20, Davis 1-9, Myers 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: none.
- BENGALS: Casanova 1-21, Jackson 1-0.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Johnson 2-39, Carter 1-25, McNeil 1-21.
- BENGALS: Shelby 1-21.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: M.Moore 2-15, Reece 1-(-4).
- BENGALS: Cobb 2-7, Shelby 2-6, Parrish 1-1.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Pear 1-9, Rudolph 1-0.
- BENGALS: Williams 1-11, Pritchard 1-12, Bacon 1-8, Team 2-5.
