NFL game summary for 11/06/1977:
The Oilers, ranked last in the AFC in total offense, erupted in the win against Chicago and evened their record at 4-4. Ken Burrough scored on two long touchdown passes and Billy Johnson reached paydirt on runs of 75 and 61 yards to pace the Oilers' offense. The Houston defense contributed to the scoring with a Gregg Bingham TD on an interception return and a safety by James Young. Don Hardeman scored on a one-yard run and Toni Fritsch added a field goal to complete the Houston scoring.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 203.0 (1) | 140.1 (16) | 343.1 (4) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 149.6 (20) | 172.0 (23) | 321.6 (23) | 12 | |
 | OFFENSE | 102.0 (27) | 108.1 (26) | 210.1 (27) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 130.7 (11) | 159.0 (18) | 289.7 (16) | 29 |
Line: Bears by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (3-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Houston Oilers (4-4-0) | 3 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 47 |
( 0- 3) HOU Toni Fritsch 29 yard field goal
( 0-10) HOU Ken Burrough 85 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-17) HOU Billy Johnson 61 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-24) HOU Don Hardeman 1 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-31) HOU Ken Burrough 43 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-38) HOU Gregg Bingham 34 yard fumble return (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-40) HOU Safety, Mike Phipps tackled in end zone by Jim Young
( 0-47) HOU Billy Johnson 75 yard kickoff return (Toni Fritsch kick)
CHI HOU
First Downs: 10 19
Rushes-yards: 39-141 39-255
Yards/rush: 3.6 6.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-17-36-0 11-19-246-0
Sacked-yards: 6-52 1-12
Net pass yards: -16 234
Net yards/pass: -0.7 11.7
Total net yards: 125 489
Total plays: 62 (62% run) 59 (66% run)
Yards/play: 2.0 8.3
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 3-3
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 8-79 10-90
Attendance: 47,226
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 5 of 12 for 21 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 of 4 for 5 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 10 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 11 of 18 for 246 yards and 2 TDs; Ronnie Coleman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 18 for 79 yards; Robin Earl, 10 for 29 yards; Johnny Musso, 6 for 23 yards; Art Best, 3 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for 2 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 18 for 69 yards; Rob Carpenter, 11 for 75 yards; Don Hardeman, 7 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Billy Johnson, 2 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Robin Earl, 3 for 5 yards; Walter Payton, 2 for 15 yards; James Scott, 1 for 12 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 10 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 2 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for -8 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 180 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Johnson, 2 for 18 yards; Eddie Foster, 1 for 29 yards; Jimmie Giles, 1 for 12 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 8 for 185 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 10 for 431 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 181 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
CHI: Bob Avellini, 5 of 12 for 21 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 of 4 for 5 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 10 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 11 of 18 for 246 yards and 2 TDs; Ronnie Coleman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 18 for 79 yards; Robin Earl, 10 for 29 yards; Johnny Musso, 6 for 23 yards; Art Best, 3 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for 2 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 18 for 69 yards; Rob Carpenter, 11 for 75 yards; Don Hardeman, 7 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Billy Johnson, 2 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Robin Earl, 3 for 5 yards; Walter Payton, 2 for 15 yards; James Scott, 1 for 12 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 10 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 2 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for -8 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 180 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Johnson, 2 for 18 yards; Eddie Foster, 1 for 29 yards; Jimmie Giles, 1 for 12 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 8 for 185 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 10 for 431 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 181 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1