NFL game summary for 09/18/1977:
Walter Payton rolled up 160 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns and Steve Schubert ripped off a 70-yard punt return touchdown as the Bears opened their 1977 season with a win over NFC Central rival Detroit. After the Lions marched 80 yards following the opening kickoff to take an early 7-0 lead, Payton streaked 73 yards through the Detroit defense, setting up Johnny Musso's two-yard run to tie the game. Schubert's score put the Bears ahead to stay and Payton's two short TD bursts gave Chicago a 27-10 halftime lead. Dexter Bussey led the Lions' scoring with two touchdowns while Detroit quarterback Greg Landry moved Detroit through the air with a 17 of 25, 239-yard passing day.
Line: Bears by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Detroit Lions (0-1-0) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
 Chicago Bears (1-0-0) | 7 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
( 7- 0) DET Dexter Bussey 1 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) ( 7- 7) CHI Johnny Musso 2 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick) ( 7-14) CHI Steve Schubert 70 yard punt return (Bob Thomas kick) ( 7-20) CHI Walter Payton 3 yard rush (kick failed) ( 7-27) CHI Walter Payton 2 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick) (10-27) DET Steve Mike-Mayer 35 yard field goal (13-27) DET Steve Mike-Mayer 38 yard field goal (20-27) DET Dexter Bussey 5 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) (20-30) CHI Bob Thomas 35 yard field goal
DET CHI
First Downs: 20 10
Rushes-yards: 30-168 48-260
Yards/rush: 5.6 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-25-239-0 4-9-45-0
Sacked-yards: 6-44 1-5
Net pass yards: 195 40
Net yards/pass: 6.3 4.0
Total net yards: 363 300
Total plays: 61 (49% run) 58 (82% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 2-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 6-50 2-15
Attendance: 51,530
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 17 of 25 for 239 yards CHI: Bob Avellini, 4 of 9 for 45 yards
Rushing:
DET: Horace King, 18 for 90 yards; Dexter Bussey, 8 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Greg Landry, 4 for 33 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 23 for 160 yards and 2 TDs; Roland Harper, 18 for 91 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 3 for 2 yards
Receiving:
DET: David Hill, 5 for 62 yards; Ray Jarvis, 3 for 43 yards; Dexter Bussey, 2 for 47 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 32 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 27 yards; Horace King, 2 for 19 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 9 yards CHI: James Scott, 2 for 34 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 9 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Randy Rich, 4 for 64 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 18 yards; Lynn Boden, 1 for 14 yards CHI: Vince Evans, 4 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Randy Rich, 2 for 18 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Livers, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DET: Mitch Hoopes, 6 for 235 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 5 for 203 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 2/2 CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/2
DET: Greg Landry, 17 of 25 for 239 yards CHI: Bob Avellini, 4 of 9 for 45 yards
Rushing:
DET: Horace King, 18 for 90 yards; Dexter Bussey, 8 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Greg Landry, 4 for 33 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 23 for 160 yards and 2 TDs; Roland Harper, 18 for 91 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 3 for 2 yards
Receiving:
DET: David Hill, 5 for 62 yards; Ray Jarvis, 3 for 43 yards; Dexter Bussey, 2 for 47 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 32 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 27 yards; Horace King, 2 for 19 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 9 yards CHI: James Scott, 2 for 34 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 9 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Randy Rich, 4 for 64 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 18 yards; Lynn Boden, 1 for 14 yards CHI: Vince Evans, 4 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Randy Rich, 2 for 18 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Livers, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DET: Mitch Hoopes, 6 for 235 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 5 for 203 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 2/2 CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/2