NFL game summary for 09/18/1977:
Willard Harrell's 75-yard punt return touchdown, his first in the NFL, sparked a 24-point Packers first half. Green Bay held on through a 20-point Saints' second half comeback to record their first opening day victory in four years. Archie Manning, making his first start for New Orleans since 1975, broke the Saints' career rushing record, picking up 34 yards ? for a 1,240-yard total ? in addition to passing for 225 yards on 18 of 30 attempts. Chuck Muncie led New Orleans rushers with 86 yards and two touchdowns, but the Packers' defense sacked Manning seven times for losses of 63 yards and came up with two turnovers to hold onto the victory.
Line: Saints by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Green Bay Packers (1-0-0) | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
 New Orleans Saints (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
( 7- 0) GB Barty Smith 2 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick) (14- 0) GB Willard Harrell 75 yard punt return (Chester Marcol kick) (21- 0) GB Ken Payne 15 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Chester Marcol kick) (24- 0) GB Chester Marcol 19 yard field goal (24- 7) NO Chuck Muncie 3 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (24-14) NO Chuck Muncie 3 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (24-20) NO Henry Childs 59 yard pass from Archie Manning (kick failed)
GB NO
First Downs: 11 19
Rushes-yards: 34-81 32-153
Yards/rush: 2.4 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-20-142-1 18-30-225-1
Sacked-yards: 2-19 7-63
Net pass yards: 123 162
Net yards/pass: 5.6 4.4
Total net yards: 204 315
Total plays: 56 (60% run) 69 (46% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 4-50 8-54
Attendance: 56,250
Passing:
GB: Lynn Dickey, 11 of 20 for 142 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 18 of 30 for 225 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
GB: Eric Torkelson, 12 for 27 yards; John Brockington, 11 for 25 yards; Barty Smith, 9 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Willard Harrell, 2 for 5 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 20 for 86 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 4 for 34 yards
Receiving:
GB: Ken Payne, 3 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Ollie Smith, 3 for 40 yards; Barty Smith, 2 for 31 yards; John Brockington, 2 for 1 yard; Willard Harrell, 1 for -1 yards NO: Henry Childs, 5 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 64 yards; Don Herrmann, 4 for 44 yards; Jim Thaxton, 3 for 20 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
GB: Steve Odom, 3 for 72 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 25 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 3 for 66 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 13 yards; Greg Boykin, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
GB: Willard Harrell, 4 for 101 yards and 1 TD NO: Rich Mauti, 6 for 56 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Steve Luke, 1 for 7 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
GB: David Beverly, 8 for 339 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1
GB: Lynn Dickey, 11 of 20 for 142 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 18 of 30 for 225 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
GB: Eric Torkelson, 12 for 27 yards; John Brockington, 11 for 25 yards; Barty Smith, 9 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Willard Harrell, 2 for 5 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 20 for 86 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 4 for 34 yards
Receiving:
GB: Ken Payne, 3 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Ollie Smith, 3 for 40 yards; Barty Smith, 2 for 31 yards; John Brockington, 2 for 1 yard; Willard Harrell, 1 for -1 yards NO: Henry Childs, 5 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 64 yards; Don Herrmann, 4 for 44 yards; Jim Thaxton, 3 for 20 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
GB: Steve Odom, 3 for 72 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 25 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 3 for 66 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 13 yards; Greg Boykin, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
GB: Willard Harrell, 4 for 101 yards and 1 TD NO: Rich Mauti, 6 for 56 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Steve Luke, 1 for 7 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
GB: David Beverly, 8 for 339 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1