NFL game summary for 10/23/1977:
The Falcons' defense forced five Bears' turnovers, three that were converted into scores, and limited Walter Payton to 69 yards on 24 carries. Two of the Chicago turnovers -- an interception and a fumble -- set up Nick Mike-Mayer's field goals of 32 and 21 yards. A third turnover, another fumble, set up the Falcons' only touchdown, a two-yard run by Haskell Stanback that gave Atlanta a 16-3 lead with less than a minute to play.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 128.2 (14) | 140.4 (17) | 268.6 (17) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 128.0 (10) | 91.6 (2) | 219.6 (3) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 185.6 (3) | 161.2 (7) | 346.8 (2) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 163.8 (25) | 203.6 (28) | 367.4 (27) | 11 |
Line: Bears by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (4-2-0) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Chicago Bears (2-4-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 0- 3) CHI Bob Thomas 40 yard field goal ( 3- 3) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 32 yard field goal ( 6- 3) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 44 yard field goal ( 9- 3) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 21 yard field goal (16- 3) ATL Haskel Stanback 2 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (16-10) CHI Brian Baschnagel 84 yard kickoff return (Bob Thomas kick)
ATL CHI
First Downs: 11 17
Rushes-yards: 44-127 33-118
Yards/rush: 2.9 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-22-90-0 11-28-165-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-34
Net pass yards: 90 131
Net yards/pass: 4.1 4.1
Total net yards: 217 249
Total plays: 66 (66% run) 65 (50% run)
Yards/play: 3.3 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 2-2
Turnovers: 0 5
Penalties-yards: 5-44 9-72
Attendance: 49,407
Passing:
ATL: Scott Hunter, 8 of 22 for 90 yards CHI: Bob Avellini, 11 of 28 for 165 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 27 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Monroe Eley, 9 for 26 yards; Scott Hunter, 6 for 12 yards; Mike Esposito, 2 for 1 yard CHI: Walter Payton, 24 for 69 yards; Roland Harper, 7 for 32 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for 17 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Jim Mitchell, 3 for 38 yards; Monroe Eley, 2 for 19 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 17 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 12 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 4 yards CHI: James Scott, 4 for 86 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for 40 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 28 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 8 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 3 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 2 for 44 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 5 for 162 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 5 for 41 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 24 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Easterling, 2 for 10 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 9 for 349 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 289 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 3/5 CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1
ATL: Scott Hunter, 8 of 22 for 90 yards CHI: Bob Avellini, 11 of 28 for 165 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 27 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Monroe Eley, 9 for 26 yards; Scott Hunter, 6 for 12 yards; Mike Esposito, 2 for 1 yard CHI: Walter Payton, 24 for 69 yards; Roland Harper, 7 for 32 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for 17 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Jim Mitchell, 3 for 38 yards; Monroe Eley, 2 for 19 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 1 for 17 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 12 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 4 yards CHI: James Scott, 4 for 86 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for 40 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 28 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 8 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 3 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Karl Farmer, 2 for 44 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 5 for 162 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 5 for 41 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 24 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Easterling, 2 for 10 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 9 for 349 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 289 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 3/5 CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1