All NFL game summaries for 10/02/1977:

The Falcons' defense intercepted two passes and sacked Giants quarterbacks nine times for 81 yards as the Falcons raised their record to 2-1. Rolland Lawrence set up the first Atlanta touchdown with a 30-yard punt return to the Giants' 34. Monroe Eley burst over from the 1 six plays later at 1:52 of the second period. Following Joe Danelo's 47-yard field goal that brought New York within seven points early in the fourth quarter, Kim McQuilken drove Atlanta 80 yards in a 15-play, eight minute drive. The score came on an eight-yard pass to Alfred Jenkins.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Falcons by 4

                     NYG             ATL
First Downs:         10              18
Rushes-yards:        29-105          48-151
Yards/rush:          3.6             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     7-23-153-2      16-24-164-0
Sacked-yards:        9-81            2-20
Net pass yards:      72              144
Net yards/pass:      2.2             5.5
Total net yards:     177             295
Total plays:         61 (47% run)    74 (64% run)  
Yards/play:          2.9             4.0
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             4-3
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     9-69            5-30

Attendance: 46,174

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Bert Jones capped a 10-play drive following a midfield fumble recovery with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Don McCauley for the winning points in Baltimore's fourth straight win over the Bills. Joe Ferguson, who completed 19 of 38 passes for 234 yards, hit Bob Chandler with a 15-yard pass 12:56 into the second period for the Buffalo offense's first score of the season. Toni Linhart gave the Colts a 10-7 halftime lead on a 45-yard field goal with four seconds left in the half.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Colts by 14

                     BUF             BAL
First Downs:         18              22
Rushes-yards:        23-77           41-155
Yards/rush:          3.3             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     19-39-234-2     20-30-175-0
Sacked-yards:        2-9             2-21
Net pass yards:      225             154
Net yards/pass:      5.5             4.8
Total net yards:     302             309
Total plays:         64 (35% run)    73 (56% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        4-3             4-1
Turnovers:           5               1
Penalties-yards:     5-40            7-55

Attendance: 47,717

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Archie Manning accounted for three Saints' touchdowns, all coming on third down plays. Defenders Bob Pollard and Jim Merlo converted Bears turnovers into scores and New Orleans logged its first victory. After Walter Payton, who had 140 yards and three TDs, put Chicago ahead 7-0 with a 33-yard TD reception, Manning led a 21-point scoring blitz by running for touchdowns of eight and two yards, and hitting Chuck Muncie with a 35-yard scoring pass. Manning's third touchdown run put the Saints up 28-10 at the end of the third period. Pollard picked up a fourth quarter fumble and returned it 52 yards for his first NFL touchdown. Five minutes later, Merlo got the Saints' second interception of the day and returned it 57 yards for his third career score.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bears by 9

                     NO              CHI
First Downs:         18              19
Rushes-yards:        46-146          31-197
Yards/rush:          3.2             6.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-17-168-0      18-38-238-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-20
Net pass yards:      168             218
Net yards/pass:      9.9             5.6
Total net yards:     314             415
Total plays:         63 (73% run)    70 (44% run)  
Yards/play:          5.0             5.9
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             1-1
Turnovers:           0               3
Penalties-yards:     6-60            11-111

Attendance: 51,488

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Terry Bradshaw passed for three touchdowns and ran for another to drop the Browns from the undefeated ranks. Bradshaw combined with Lynn Swann (seven catches for 71 yards) on the first of two scoring passes for a 7-0 lead at 8:45 of the first quarter. Cleveland tied the game on the following series and took a 14-7 lead early in the second period on Cleo Miller's one-yard TD run. Bradshaw tied the game following the Cleveland kickoff with a 65-yard pass to Frank Lewis. It wasn't until 4:30 of the third quarter that the Steelers' quarterback struck for the winning points on his second scoring pass to Swann. Bradshaw (10 of 17 for 143 yards) went over from the 1 early in the fourth period after marching 41 yards following Jim Allen's fumble recovery.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Steelers by 4

                     PIT             CLE
First Downs:         21              16
Rushes-yards:        56-218          29-80
Yards/rush:          3.9             2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-17-143-2     10-24-85-3
Sacked-yards:        0-0             0-0
Net pass yards:      143             85
Net yards/pass:      8.4             3.5
Total net yards:     361             165
Total plays:         73 (76% run)    53 (54% run)  
Yards/play:          4.9             3.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             2-2
Turnovers:           2               5
Penalties-yards:     12-104          9-82

Attendance: 79,021

---

Thomas Henderson's 79-yard interception return for a TD sparked a 17-point first quarter and the Cowboys shut out the Buccaneers' offense, yielding 163 yards. The win stretched Dallas' record to 3-0. Efren Herrera booted the first of three field goals midway through the opening period. Nine plays later, Henderson picked off a Gary Huff pass at the Dallas 21 and returned it for a touchdown. Robert Newhouse, who carried 16 times for 73 yards, scored the other Cowboys touchdown on a 17-yard run with five seconds left in the first period. Butch Johnson set up the touchdown with a 38-yard punt return. Richard Wood scored Tampa Bay's first touchdown of the season when he returned a Tony Dorsett fumble 37 yards 5:17 into the second quarter.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 23

                     TB              DAL
First Downs:         10              23
Rushes-yards:        32-76           42-205
Yards/rush:          2.4             4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-23-107-2      15-24-212-1
Sacked-yards:        2-20            1-2
Net pass yards:      87              210
Net yards/pass:      3.5             8.4
Total net yards:     163             415
Total plays:         57 (56% run)    67 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          2.9             6.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             2-2
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     4-25            8-60

Attendance: 55,316

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Dexter Bussey scored twice, the Detroit defense forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks, and the Lions broke a three-game losing streak to the Eagles. Bussey's first touchdown came 11:40 into the first quarter on a 14-yard run, one play after Levi Johnson intercepted a Philadelphia pass at the Eagles' 46 and returned it 32 yards. Ron Jaworski tied the game in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass to Keith Krepfle and put Philadelphia ahead 13-10 midway through the third period on a 16-yard pass to Harold Carmichael. Greg Landry led a 12 play, 68-yard drive following the Eagles' kickoff, giving the Lions their winning points on a three-yard scoring toss to Bussey.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Lions by 7

                     PHI             DET
First Downs:         19              18
Rushes-yards:        35-137          45-140
Yards/rush:          3.9             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-26-207-1     13-18-125-0
Sacked-yards:        3-14            4-30
Net pass yards:      193             95
Net yards/pass:      6.7             4.3
Total net yards:     330             235
Total plays:         64 (54% run)    67 (67% run)  
Yards/play:          5.2             3.5
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             1-1
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     7-55            7-62

Attendance: 56,877

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Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti rushed for two touchdowns apiece while the Rams' defense came up with three sacks, two interceptions, and held the 49ers to 48 yards rushing in leading L.A. to its second win in a row. After San Francisco had taken a 7-3 first-quarter lead, McCutcheon scored on a six-yard run 4:22 into the second period and Cappelletti followed with a one-yard plunge on the ensuing series. After being shut out in the third quarter, the Rams scored on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. Bob Brudzinski intercepted a 49ers' pass one play after a Rafael Septien field goal to set up Cappelletti's second score. Rod Perry's interception and lateral to Bill Simpson led to McCutcheon's final TD with 4:02 left in the game.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 13

                     SF              LA
First Downs:         12              17
Rushes-yards:        25-48           49-150
Yards/rush:          1.9             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-25-205-2     7-14-126-0
Sacked-yards:        3-22            3-31
Net pass yards:      183             95
Net yards/pass:      6.5             5.6
Total net yards:     231             245
Total plays:         53 (47% run)    66 (74% run)  
Yards/play:          4.4             3.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-0
Turnovers:           2               0
Penalties-yards:     11-101          9-108

Attendance: 55,466

---

The Dolphins rolled up 21 first-quarter points, tying a club record on the way to their third win. Norm Bulaich got the first Miami TD as the Dolphins drove 80 yards with the opening kickoff. On the following series Bob Griese hit Duriel Harris (five catches for 87 yards) with a 16-yard scoring pass. Bennie Malone had a third opening period score on a three-yard run that capped an eight-play, 82-yard drive. Vern Roberson's fourth quarter interception set up Miami's final score, Leroy Harris' two-yard plunge.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Dolphins by 5

                     HOU             MIA
First Downs:         13              29
Rushes-yards:        27-68           51-217
Yards/rush:          2.5             4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-31-137-2     13-20-194-1
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-14
Net pass yards:      137             180
Net yards/pass:      4.4             8.6
Total net yards:     205             397
Total plays:         58 (46% run)    72 (70% run)  
Yards/play:          3.5             5.5
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             2-2
Turnovers:           3               3
Penalties-yards:     6-47            1-2

Attendance: 46,619

---

Fran Tarkenton engineered scoring drives of 80, 72 and 64 yards for the Vikings' fifth straight win over the Packers and coach Bud Grant's 100th regular season victory. Lynn Dickey opened the scoring on the third play of the game with a 95-yard scoring pass to Steve Odom. The play was one yard shy of the Packers' longest pass on record. Tarkenton countered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Sammy White on the ensuing series to tie the score and Chuck Foreman scored the winning points 2:33 into the second period on a three-yard run. Sammy Johnson added an insurance touchdown for the Vikings midway through the final period, carrying the ball 17 yards on the last three downs of a 12-play drive.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Vikings by 12

                     GB              MIN
First Downs:         8               24
Rushes-yards:        21-81           49-194
Yards/rush:          3.9             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-20-143-0      19-27-184-0
Sacked-yards:        2-16            4-53
Net pass yards:      127             131
Net yards/pass:      5.8             4.2
Total net yards:     208             325
Total plays:         43 (48% run)    80 (61% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             4.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             2-0
Turnovers:           0               0
Penalties-yards:     4-40            6-65

Attendance: 47,143

---

Pat Leahy's 32-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the game broke a 27-27 tie, giving the Jets their initial win and rookie coach Walt Michaels his first NFL victory. Trailing 20-14 after three quarters, the Jets scored 13 points in the first 4:30 of the fourth period on Greg Buttle's 44-yard interception return and a 25-yard pass from Richard Todd to Wesley Walker. Steve Grogan's 22-yard pass to Daryl Stingley concluded a 75-yard drive by the Patriots that tied the score 27-27. Raymond Clayborn set a Patriots' record with a 100-yard kickoff return.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Patriots by 14

                     NE              NYJ
First Downs:         20              10
Rushes-yards:        38-125          37-107
Yards/rush:          3.3             2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-34-231-3     12-21-154-3
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-10
Net pass yards:      231             144
Net yards/pass:      6.8             6.5
Total net yards:     356             251
Total plays:         72 (52% run)    59 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          4.9             4.3
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             0-0
Turnovers:           5               3
Penalties-yards:     10-100          3-25

Attendance: 38,277

---

Charlie Joiner caught two James Harris touchdown passes and the Chargers' defense turned in its second straight outstanding performance in San Diego's second straight win. Harris drove the Chargers 80 yards following the opening kickoff and hit Joiner with a 30-yard pass. The pair combined again on San Diego's final possession of the first half for a 14-3 lead. Harris got the final Charger TD on a one-yard run at the end of a 17-play, 83-yard third-quarter drive. San Diego's defensive tackles Gary Johnson and Louis Kelcher each accounted for two sacks while their secondary mates picked off three Ken Anderson passes.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bengals by 7

                     CIN             SD
First Downs:         15              25
Rushes-yards:        22-92           43-165
Yards/rush:          4.2             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-33-165-3     17-24-238-1
Sacked-yards:        5-38            2-18
Net pass yards:      127             220
Net yards/pass:      3.3             8.5
Total net yards:     219             385
Total plays:         60 (36% run)    69 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             5.6
Fumbles-lost:        4-1             1-1
Turnovers:           4               2
Penalties-yards:     4-44            10-83

Attendance: 40,352

---

Craig Morton passed for one touchdown and ran for another to help the Broncos establish a club record with their fifth straight win. Denver earned its first score four plays after defensive end Paul Smith returned a fumble 18 yards to the Seahawks' 2. Lonnie Perrin scored on a one-yard run. Steve Myer, starting his first NFL game for the Seahawks, tied the game on the next series with a seven-yard pass to Ron Howard. Morton put the Broncos ahead 17-7 with a 47-yard pass to rookie Rob Lytle on the first series of the second half. The 13-year veteran quarterback also scored from the 1 to finish a 10-play, 72-yard drive with 2 seconds left in the third quarter.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Broncos by 15

                     DEN             SEA
First Downs:         19              19
Rushes-yards:        39-153          32-81
Yards/rush:          3.9             2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-21-181-1     21-31-208-1
Sacked-yards:        1-4             2-17
Net pass yards:      177             191
Net yards/pass:      8.0             5.8
Total net yards:     330             272
Total plays:         61 (63% run)    65 (49% run)  
Yards/play:          5.4             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             3-2
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     9-92            7-40

Attendance: 53,108

---

Billy Kilmer's three touchdown passes and a stiff Redskin defense that corralled the Cardinals inside their own 50 during the first half led Washington to its third straight win over St. Louis. Kilmer drove the Redskins 48 yards on their first possession, hitting Frank Grant with a 12-yard scoring pass 6:57 into the first quarter. The Cardinals held Washington until midway through the third period when Kilmer opened a 14-0 lead on a 27-yard TD strike to Jean Fugett. Jim Hart pulled St. Louis within seven points early in the fourth quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass to J.V. Cain. Joe Lavender's interception and Diron Talbert's block of a field goal attempt led to a 10-point Redskins surge in a 3:31 span late in the period.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cardinals by 2

                     STL             WAS
First Downs:         19              16
Rushes-yards:        32-106          41-163
Yards/rush:          3.3             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     17-31-238-2     12-21-206-0
Sacked-yards:        2-15            1-8
Net pass yards:      223             198
Net yards/pass:      6.8             9.0
Total net yards:     329             361
Total plays:         65 (49% run)    63 (65% run)  
Yards/play:          5.1             5.7
Fumbles-lost:        4-1             1-1
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     7-55            6-49

Attendance: 55,031

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