NFL game summary for 10/02/1977:
Thomas Henderson's 79-yard interception return for a TD sparked a 17-point first quarter and the Cowboys shut out the Buccaneers' offense, yielding 163 yards. The win stretched Dallas' record to 3-0. Efren Herrera booted the first of three field goals midway through the opening period. Nine plays later, Henderson picked off a Gary Huff pass at the Dallas 21 and returned it for a touchdown. Robert Newhouse, who carried 16 times for 73 yards, scored the other Cowboys touchdown on a 17-yard run with five seconds left in the first period. Butch Johnson set up the touchdown with a 38-yard punt return. Richard Wood scored Tampa Bay's first touchdown of the season when he returned a Tony Dorsett fumble 37 yards 5:17 into the second quarter.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 98.0 (23) | 30.0 (28) | 128.0 (28) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 124.0 (14) | 174.0 (24) | 298.0 (19) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 158.0 (8) | 212.5 (1) | 370.5 (2) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 112.5 (9) | 115.0 (10) | 227.5 (9) | 10 |
Line: Cowboys by 23
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Dallas Cowboys (3-0-0) | 17 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
( 0- 3) DAL Efren Herrera 32 yard field goal
( 0-10) DAL Thomas Henderson 79 yard interception return (Efren Herrera kick)
( 0-17) DAL Robert Newhouse 17 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick)
( 7-17) TB Richard Wood 37 yard fumble return (Allan Leavitt kick)
( 7-20) DAL Efren Herrera 19 yard field goal
( 7-23) DAL Efren Herrera 20 yard field goal
TB DAL
First Downs: 10 23
Rushes-yards: 32-76 42-205
Yards/rush: 2.4 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-23-107-2 15-24-212-1
Sacked-yards: 2-20 1-2
Net pass yards: 87 210
Net yards/pass: 3.5 8.4
Total net yards: 163 415
Total plays: 57 (56% run) 67 (62% run)
Yards/play: 2.9 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 2-2
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 4-25 8-60
Attendance: 55,316
Passing:
TB: Gary Huff, 8 of 23 for 107 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 24 for 212 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
TB: Anthony Davis, 15 for 30 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 6 for 23 yards; Louis Carter, 6 for 16 yards; Ricky Bell, 3 for 7 yards; Gary Huff, 1 for 2 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 16 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 12 for 56 yards; Tony Dorsett, 10 for 72 yards; Roger Staubach, 3 for -7 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
TB: Morris Owens, 4 for 57 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 30 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 9 yards; John McKay, 1 for 7 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Preston Pearson, 5 for 65 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 47 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 39 yards; Jay Saldi, 2 for 17 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 20 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 16 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 5 for 118 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 19 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 39 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 2 for 1 yard; Danny Reece, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 6 for 88 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Richard Wood, 1 for 29 yards DAL: Thomas Henderson, 2 for 79 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 10 for 415 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Efren Herrera, 3/4
TB: Gary Huff, 8 of 23 for 107 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 24 for 212 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
TB: Anthony Davis, 15 for 30 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 6 for 23 yards; Louis Carter, 6 for 16 yards; Ricky Bell, 3 for 7 yards; Gary Huff, 1 for 2 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 16 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 12 for 56 yards; Tony Dorsett, 10 for 72 yards; Roger Staubach, 3 for -7 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
TB: Morris Owens, 4 for 57 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 30 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 9 yards; John McKay, 1 for 7 yards; Isaac Hagins, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Preston Pearson, 5 for 65 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 47 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 39 yards; Jay Saldi, 2 for 17 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 20 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 16 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 5 for 118 yards; Anthony Davis, 1 for 19 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 39 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Isaac Hagins, 2 for 1 yard; Danny Reece, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 6 for 88 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Richard Wood, 1 for 29 yards DAL: Thomas Henderson, 2 for 79 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 10 for 415 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Efren Herrera, 3/4