Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Buffalo Bills 23Sunday 19 December 1982 at Tampa StadiumNBC COMMENTARY CREWCharlie Jones and Lynn Dawson
Leading by a single point inside the final minute, Lee Roy Selmon forced Roosevelt Leaks to fumble at the Tampa 17-yard line and Cedric Brown recovered to prevent the Bills attempting a game-winning fieldgoal. The Bucs had moved to a 24-16 lead early in the fourth quarter when rookie RB Mel Carver scored on a 13-yard run. The Bills closed to within a point when Joe Ferguson scrambled for a touchdown with just over four minutes left and having forced a Tampa Bay punt, were driving for a winning fieldgoal attempt when Selmon came up with the crucial play of the season. Undrafted rookie Mel Carver replaced the injured James Owens as the starting tailback and had his best day as a Buccaneer in the process.
VIDEO CLIPSMel Carver opens the scoring for the Bucs on a clever passing playGordon Jones catches a two-yard scoring pass from Doug WilliamsLee Roy Selmon forces the fumble that secures the win in the final minute
GAME SCORINGBUF12:52-1Q Leaks 8 run (kick failed)TB4:36-1Q Carver 2 pass from Williams (Capece kick)BUF1:00-2Q Herrera FG49TB0:00-2Q Capece FG27BUF9:57-3Q Leaks 3 run (Herrera kick)TB4:16-3Q Jones 2 pass from Williams (Capece kick)TB14:00-4Q Carver 13 run (Capece kick)BUF4:05-4Q Ferguson 10 run (Herrera kick)