They’re Zeroing In on Record

The specter of the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers is stirring.

Those Buccaneers were 0-14 and remain the only team since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to complete a full season without a victory, but after the foibles of the NFL’s four remaining winless teams, the 30th anniversary of that milestone for futility might produce some company.

The Tennessee Titans (0-5), Detroit Lions (0-5), Buccaneers (0-4) and Oakland Raiders (0-4) could all smell victory Sunday, but each team watched it waft away.

The Titans had a 13-7 lead over Indianapolis (5-0) before Peyton Manning threw a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 5 minutes 10 seconds left for a 14-13 Colts victory.

Tampa Bay led New Orleans, 21-17, when Reggie Bush returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown with 4:17 left, giving the Saints (4-1) a 24-21 victory.

Detroit was up, 17-3, beginning the fourth quarter against Minnesota (3-2), only to watch the Vikings score 23 fourth-quarter points, including 10 in the final three minutes, for a 26-17 victory.

The Raiders weren’t quite as close, but did have a 13-7 halftime lead over San Francisco (2-3) before a second-half meltdown in a 34-20 loss.

Players and coaches from each of the four teams use terms such as “disappointed” and “frustrated” to describe the winless feeling, especially when they had come so close.

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” said Dan Campbell, a tight end for the Lions. “It’s pretty gut-wrenching, irritating and a number of things. When you have the game in hand like we did and give it away ... we’re finding a way to lose is what we’re doing.”

The Raiders have the NFL’s longest losing streak at 10 games, dating to last season. Tennessee is next at eight, followed by Detroit at six.

None of those teams won more than five games last season and weren’t expected to be much better this year, but Tampa Bay was 11-5 last year and won the NFC South Division.

“I’m very, very sad and distraught for our football players,” Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden said. “It’s not good. People will continue to take their shots at us, and that’s well understood.”

In Oakland the motto has long been, “Just win, baby,” but with all the complaining about its longest losing streak since Al Davis took over the club in 1963, the “win” should be changed to “whine.”

“I don’t see any improvement with what we’re doing,” defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. “We don’t make a play. We don’t make an adjustment to get momentum back on our side.”

Added safety Stuart Schweigert, who had nine tackles Sunday: “There’s too many missed tackles. The running back is going down the field, and I have to make the tackle eight yards downfield. You can’t have that.... You can’t have your free safety leading the team in tackles.”

Unless, of course, you are trying to catch the 1976 Buccaneers.

Bears Getting Offensive

After a 40-7 victory over Buffalo on Sunday, the Chicago Bears lead the NFL in scoring average at 31.2 points a game.

Those words seem to defy logic.

Aren’t these supposed to be the Monsters of the Midway? Isn’t this a team known for hard-nosed linebackers such as Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher?

Well, the defense is still as stingy as ever, giving up a league-low 7.2 points a game.

It’s no wonder the Bears are 5-0 for the first time since 1986 and have become a trendy Super Bowl pick.

“They are probably one of the best teams in football, if not the best team in football,” said Bills cornerback Terrence McGee.

Quarterback Rex Grossman deserves much of the credit. The 2001 Heisman Trophy runner-up from Florida has been plagued by injuries in his first three seasons, but this season he’s among the NFL’s top five in passer rating, passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Homecoming King

Jets receiver Laveranues Coles is from Jacksonville, so he bought 25 extra tickets for friends and family to Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

He started the game, but sat out the second quarter, some of the third quarter and the majority of the fourth quarter.

“I don’t know why,” said Coles, who had three catches for 19 yards in a 41-0 loss. “That’s something you have to ask the coaches.”

Coles had been listed as questionable for the game because of a wrist injury. But he said his wrist was fine.

“It didn’t bother me at all. I wasn’t hurt,” he said. “I don’t have all the answers as to what happened today. If I did I would be coaching. I’m a player. I do what I’m told to do. I’m just a pawn in a chess game.”

Suspension Up in the Air

NFL spokesman Paul Casey said Sunday that Green Bay receiver Koren Robinson “has not been suspended” but would not comment on whether the receiver is in the middle of the appeals process.

Fox Sports reported Sunday that Robinson has been told he has been suspended one year by the NFL but is appealing the punishment.

A court in Kirkland, Wash., gave Robinson a 90-day jail sentence Wednesday for violating the probation issued to him after he pleaded guilty to a drunk-driving offense last year.

Robinson also is scheduled to face drunk-driving charges for a separate incident in Minnesota this month. The Minnesota Vikings released Robinson after the incident in August, and he signed a two-year deal with the Packers in September.

Robinson caught four passes for 42 yards and returned two kickoffs for 40 yards in the Packers’ 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

MAC Attack

The Mid-American Conference might not be well-known, but it has produced its share of NFL quarterbacks.

When Bruce Gradkowski made his first start Sunday for Tampa Bay, it brought to five the number of starting quarterbacks in the NFL who played in the MAC.

Gradkowski played at Toledo, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger played at Miami of Ohio, Cleveland’s Charlie Frye played at Akron and Jacksonville’s Byron Leftwich and the Jets’ Chad Pennington both played at Marshall, which has since joined Conference USA.

Streak Picked Off

Brett Favre did not have a pass intercepted Sunday at Lambeau Field, but the Packers lost to the Rams, 23-20, marking the first time in 44 games that Green Bay has lost a home game in which Favre had no interceptions.

A Warm Reception

Marvin Harrison caught a pass for the 159th consecutive game, an NFL record to start a career. Harrison broke the previous mark of 158 established by former Colts and St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk.

Injury Report

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was injured on a face-mask tackle at the end of a 78-yard pass play late in Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. He lay motionless for a moment, but left the field under his own power and planned to have an MRI exam today. Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald left in the first half because of a right hamstring injury and Coach Dennis Green said the injury “looked fairly serious.” Fitzgerald planned to get an MRI exam today.... The Lions lost receiver Roy Williams (upper back), running back Kevin Jones (concussion), defensive lineman Shaun Cody (dislocated toe) and linebacker Paris Lenon (neck). Coach Rod Marinelli said all would be evaluated Monday.... Green Bay offensive lineman Jason Spitz was taken to the hospital for tests after he was kicked in the stomach. His tests came back normal, a Packers spokesman said. Packers running back Ahman Green sat out his second straight game because of a sore hamstring.... Jacksonville linebacker Mike Peterson strained a chest muscle early in the 41-0 victory against the New York Jets and did not return.... Indianapolis wide receiver Brandon Stokley left in the second half because of a sprained left knee.... New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey left the game late because of an undisclosed foot injury.... Miami quarterback Daunte Culpepper sat out Sunday with a bruised throwing shoulder.... Eagles receiver Donte’ Stallworth sat out Sunday’s game because of a sore hamstring.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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peter.yoon@latimes.com

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Century club

Randy Moss joined the list of players with 100 touchdowns receiving in Oakland’s loss to San Francisco on Sunday (* -- active):

* Jerry Rice...197

* Cris Carter...130

* Marvin Harrison*...111

* Terrell Owens*...102

* Tim Brown...100

* Steve Largent...100

* Randy Moss*...100