NFL game summary for 12/21/1975:
The Bears erupted for their highest point total of the season as rookie quarterback Bob Avellini threw three touchdown passes to tight end Greg Latta and rookie runner Walter Payton rushed for 134 yards, including a 54-yard scoring dash.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 112.2 (23) | 121.2 (24) | 233.4 (25) | 37 |
| DEFENSE | 154.0 (17) | 182.8 (21) | 336.8 (19) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 121.1 (21) | 108.9 (26) | 230.0 (26) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 133.5 (11) | 163.4 (13) | 296.8 (11) | 36 |
Line: Saints by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (4-10-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| New Orleans Saints (2-12-0) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 7- 0) CHI Bob Avellini 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
( 7- 7) NO Rod McNeill 6 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick)
(14- 7) CHI Greg Latta 13 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
(14-10) NO Rich Szaro 19 yard field goal
(21-10) CHI Greg Latta 5 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
(28-10) CHI Virgil Livers 40 yard interception return (Bob Thomas kick)
(35-10) CHI Greg Latta 20 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
(42-10) CHI Walter Payton 54 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(42-17) NO Andrew Jones 1 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick)
CHI NO
First Downs: 19 17
Rushes-yards: 42-195 29-68
Yards/rush: 4.6 2.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-23-268-2 10-30-143-3
Sacked-yards: 1-5 3-14
Net pass yards: 263 129
Net yards/pass: 11.0 3.9
Total net yards: 458 197
Total plays: 66 (63% run) 62 (46% run)
Yards/play: 6.9 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-2
Turnovers: 3 5
Penalties-yards: 11-90 1-14
Attendance: 33,371
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 15 of 23 for 268 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) NO: Larry Cipa, 10 of 30 for 143 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 25 for 134 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 7 for 23 yards; Johnny Musso, 6 for 33 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 0 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 4 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD NO: Andrew Jones, 14 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Rod McNeill, 7 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Steve Rogers, 4 for 28 yards; Larry Cipa, 4 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Greg Latta, 5 for 67 yards and 3 TDs; Walter Payton, 5 for 62 yards; Bob Grim, 2 for 72 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for 13 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 54 yards NO: Henry Childs, 4 for 67 yards; Larry Burton, 2 for 23 yards; Don Herrmann, 1 for 28 yards; Andrew Jones, 1 for 12 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 11 yards; Steve Rogers, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Walter Payton, 2 for 104 yards; Earl Douthitt, 1 for 30 yards; Virgil Livers, 1 for 21 yards NO: Rod McNeill, 5 for 163 yards; Steve Rogers, 2 for 36 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 19 yards; Doug Plank, 2 for 18 yards NO: Tom Myers, 3 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Craig Clemons, 1 for 33 yards; Larry Ely, 1 for 2 yards NO: Greg Westbrooks, 1 for 21 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 159 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 338 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2
CHI: Bob Avellini, 15 of 23 for 268 yards and 3 TDs (2 int) NO: Larry Cipa, 10 of 30 for 143 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 25 for 134 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 7 for 23 yards; Johnny Musso, 6 for 33 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 0 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 4 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD NO: Andrew Jones, 14 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Rod McNeill, 7 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Steve Rogers, 4 for 28 yards; Larry Cipa, 4 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Greg Latta, 5 for 67 yards and 3 TDs; Walter Payton, 5 for 62 yards; Bob Grim, 2 for 72 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for 13 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 54 yards NO: Henry Childs, 4 for 67 yards; Larry Burton, 2 for 23 yards; Don Herrmann, 1 for 28 yards; Andrew Jones, 1 for 12 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 11 yards; Steve Rogers, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Walter Payton, 2 for 104 yards; Earl Douthitt, 1 for 30 yards; Virgil Livers, 1 for 21 yards NO: Rod McNeill, 5 for 163 yards; Steve Rogers, 2 for 36 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 19 yards; Doug Plank, 2 for 18 yards NO: Tom Myers, 3 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Craig Clemons, 1 for 33 yards; Larry Ely, 1 for 2 yards NO: Greg Westbrooks, 1 for 21 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 159 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 338 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2