Mike Tierney The Tampa Bay Buc defense had concocted a formula for containing OJ Simpson, It's not too complicated just a pinch of hustle and a dash of team pursuit. The Bills' venerable running back was rationed just 39 yards on 20 carries Sunday by the Buy Bucs. Buffalo was left no choice but to attack with the pass, the means by which it scored the only two touchdowns. "He (Simpson) got hit a couple of times pretty good, didn't he?" grinned Bay Buc tackle Dave Pear. "A combination of that and the heat that can make a guy want to quit." "Just a little hustle," explained linebacker Bert Cooper, the recipient of a Simpson fumble that nearly led to a winning Buc touchdown. Nothing else that we've been doing all along." The Bucs did follow a simple plan shutting off the ends, where Simpson normally gallops at will. More often than not. O. J. was surrounded by so many Bucs that they could have drawn straws to determine who would get credit for the tackle. "You have to do that with OJ said linebacker Richard Wood about the team effort. “He won’t always run the ball where the play is designated, but will go out on his own." "We knew we had to pressure him," added defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, "It opened up their passing game." Buffalo quarterback Joe Ferguson saw only 12 of his launches caught, but one was for a 58-yard touchdown to Bob Chandler that defensive back Mike Washington gently tipped into his mitts. The only consistent defensive lapse struck at an unfortunate moment — immediately after the Bucs went ahead 9-7. Buffalo strode confidently down the field for a second touchdown. For once, the defense realized it must split up the blame for the loss with the offense. "If they (Buffalo) hadn't scored at all, we'd have won nine-zip," figured Cooper. "I'm tired of hearing everybody complain about the offense." If relations between the offense and defense had been strained by the last two weeks, they were patched up somewhat Sunday. Between series, the offense's ball control allowed the defense to rest more than the recent three-downs-and-punt catnap the past two games. "Without the rest today," said defensive end Pat Toomay, referring to the 100-degree temperature at field level, "they would have had to carry us off." Beyond their two touchdowns, the Bills threatened only one more time, and Frank Oliver prevented points then by blocking a field goal try that Ken Stone returned 44 yards. That 44-yard figure is more than Simpson got all day. "That's fantastic," proclaimed defensive back Danny Reece, we can keep O. J. from doing that... just think.. “ '*We're coming on." said Selman, "Next week maybe that's the one.” He sat down to rest on his laurels, adding “I’d hate to see him get much better.