NFL game summary for 10/02/1977:

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):

	Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
OFFENSE	96.0 (25)	107.5 (21)	203.5 (24)	3
DEFENSE	193.5 (26)	123.0 (11)	316.5 (22)	2
OFFENSE	180.5 (3)	112.0 (19)	292.5 (11)	2
DEFENSE	150.5 (21)	205.0 (27)	355.5 (26)	5

Line: Bears by 9

Team	1	2	3	4	F
New Orleans Saints (1-2-0)	7	14	7	14	42
Chicago Bears (1-2-0)	7	3	0	14	24

( 0- 7) CHI Walter Payton 33 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick) ( 7- 7) NO Archie Manning 8 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (14- 7) NO Archie Manning 2 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (21- 7) NO Chuck Muncie 35 yard pass from Archie Manning (Rich Szaro kick) (21-10) CHI Bob Thomas 21 yard field goal (28-10) NO Archie Manning 11 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick) (35-10) NO Bob Pollard 52 yard fumble return (Rich Szaro kick) (35-17) CHI Walter Payton 21 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick) (42-17) NO Jim Merlo 57 yard interception return (Rich Szaro kick) (42-24) CHI Walter Payton 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)

                     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

Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 8 of 17 for 168 yards and 1 TD CHI: Bob Avellini, 18 of 38 for 238 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 21 for 61 yards; Chuck Muncie, 19 for 44 yards; Archie Manning, 6 for 41 yards and 3 TDs CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 140 yards and 2 TDs; Roland Harper, 11 for 57 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Jim Thaxton, 3 for 63 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 42 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Don Herrmann, 1 for 16 yards; Tony Galbreath, 1 for 12 yards CHI: Bo Rather, 6 for 113 yards; Walter Payton, 4 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 4 for 17 yards; James Scott, 2 for 22 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 18 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 1 for 19 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 11 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 10 yards CHI: Vince Evans, 2 for 58 yards; Robin Earl, 2 for 38 yards; Art Best, 1 for 13 yards; Len Walterscheid, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 3 for 7 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 2 for 34 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Jim Merlo, 1 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Crist, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 188 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 0/1 CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1