NFL game summary for 11/13/1977:
Atlanta's defense, which has been the best in pro football against scoring this year, did some scoring of its own to carry the Falcons past Detroit for the first time in their history. Rick Kane scored on an 11-yard run in the opening period, but the kick failed and Detroit led 6-0. The score remained intact until Fred Steinfort cut the lead in half with a 31-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter. With just 8:02 left, Ralph Ortega picked up a fumble and rambled to a score and just as suddenly, Robert Pennywell scored on a 20-yard interception return as the Falcons' defense turned the game around.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 143.2 (12) | 115.9 (24) | 259.1 (20) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 130.1 (11) | 127.1 (8) | 257.2 (8) | 15 | |
 | OFFENSE | 128.5 (17) | 112.4 (25) | 240.9 (24) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 121.9 (7) | 103.2 (5) | 225.1 (3) | 25 |
Line: Falcons by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (4-5-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Atlanta Falcons (5-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
( 6- 0) DET Rick Kane 11 yard rush (kick failed)
( 6- 3) ATL Fred Steinfort 31 yard field goal
( 6-10) ATL Ralph Ortega 14 yard fumble return (Fred Steinfort kick)
( 6-17) ATL Robert Pennywell 20 yard interception return (Fred Steinfort kick)
DET ATL
First Downs: 12 13
Rushes-yards: 42-112 38-110
Yards/rush: 2.7 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 5-14-59-2 6-16-81-3
Sacked-yards: 3-26 2-20
Net pass yards: 33 61
Net yards/pass: 1.9 3.4
Total net yards: 145 171
Total plays: 59 (71% run) 56 (67% run)
Yards/play: 2.5 3.1
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 0-0
Turnovers: 4 3
Penalties-yards: 6-50 6-52
Attendance: 47,461
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 5 of 14 for 59 yards (2 int) ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 6 of 16 for 81 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
DET: Rick Kane, 30 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 11 for 29 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Woody Thompson, 18 for 47 yards; Haskel Stanback, 17 for 59 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 5 yards; Billy Pritchett, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: J.D. Hill, 3 for 28 yards; David Hill, 1 for 17 yards; Eddie Payton, 1 for 14 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 3 for 27 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 30 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Eddie Payton, 2 for 36 yards; John Woodcock, 1 for 12 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 9 yards ATL: Karl Farmer, 2 for 43 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Eddie Payton, 3 for 4 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 4 for 34 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 2 for 13 yards; Reggie Pinkney, 1 for 13 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 36 yards; Robert Pennywell, 1 for 20 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
DET: Wilbur Summers, 6 for 222 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 191 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 0/1 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 1/2
DET: Greg Landry, 5 of 14 for 59 yards (2 int) ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 6 of 16 for 81 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
DET: Rick Kane, 30 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Horace King, 11 for 29 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Woody Thompson, 18 for 47 yards; Haskel Stanback, 17 for 59 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 5 yards; Billy Pritchett, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: J.D. Hill, 3 for 28 yards; David Hill, 1 for 17 yards; Eddie Payton, 1 for 14 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 3 for 27 yards; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 30 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Eddie Payton, 2 for 36 yards; John Woodcock, 1 for 12 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 9 yards ATL: Karl Farmer, 2 for 43 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Eddie Payton, 3 for 4 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 4 for 34 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 2 for 13 yards; Reggie Pinkney, 1 for 13 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 36 yards; Robert Pennywell, 1 for 20 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
DET: Wilbur Summers, 6 for 222 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 191 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 0/1 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 1/2