This Time, the Buccaneers' Offense Is Catching : Interconference: Erickson passes for 313 yards as Tampa Bay's receivers make the big plays in 24-10 victory. Faulk is again impressive for the Colts.

This Time, the Buccaneers’ Offense Is Catching : Interconference: Erickson passes for 313 yards as Tampa Bay’s receivers make the big plays in 24-10 victory. Faulk is again impressive for the Colts.

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 12, 1994 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Craig Erickson’s receivers caught passes that counted and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now count themselves in the victory column.

After watching his teammates drop four passes in last week’s loss to Chicago, Erickson threw three touchdown passes and the Buccaneers beat the Indianapolis Colts, 24-10, Sunday.

“We dropped a pass, fine, but not a lot and not crucial passes this week,” Coach Sam Wyche said. “That’s the mark of a good team. We’ll find out how good in time.”

Erickson passed for 313 yards, including touchdowns pass plays of 50 yards to Charles Wilson and 48 yards to Jackie Harris, as the Buccaneers (1-1) withstood another 100-yard plus day by Colt rookie Marshall Faulk.

The smallest crowd for a home opener in Tampa Bay history (36,631) watched Erickson record the second-highest passing total of his career with 19 completions in 24 attempts. He put the game away with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Hawkins in the fourth quarter.

For the second consecutive week, the Buccaneers had no turnovers.

The difference, however, was receivers held passes instead of bobbling away scoring chances in a 21-9 loss to the Bears.

Faulk, who had 143 yards in the Colts’ 45-21 victory over Houston last week, had 104 yards in 18 carries and seven catches for 82 yards against the Buccaneers. He sprained his left wrist on the first play of the game and missed the series, but played the rest of the game.

“The guy’s good, probably one of the top running backs in the league,” Tampa Bay linebacker Hardy Nickerson said. “He’s able to turn routine plays into big ones.”

The Buccaneers, led by Nickerson’s 18 tackles, kept Faulk out of the end zone, though.

The Colts (1-1) gained 364 yards--only three less than the Buccaneers--but were held to Dean Biasucci’s 26-yard field goal and an eight-yard touchdown run by Roosevelt Potts.

“Our defense played as well as their defense, but their offense made the big plays,” Faulk said. “Offensively, we just didn’t explode like we did last week.”