NFL game summary for 11/20/1977:
Walter Payton broke O. J. Simpson's single-game NFL rushing record by gaining 275 yards in 40 carries as the 5-5 Bears pulled within one game of the Vikings in the NFC Central Division. Payton gained 144 yards on 26 carries in the first half and added 131 yards in the second half. Payton also broke Gale Sayers' club record of 205 yards set in 1968 and equaled by Payton earlier in the 1977 season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 140.4 (11) | 178.1 (2) | 318.6 (8) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 148.8 (19) | 133.8 (9) | 282.6 (14) | 15 | |
 | OFFENSE | 201.0 (1) | 127.7 (21) | 328.7 (6) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 164.0 (24) | 180.2 (28) | 344.2 (26) | 18 |
Line: Bears by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (6-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Chicago Bears (5-5-0) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 7) CHI Walter Payton 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick) ( 0-10) CHI Bob Thomas 37 yard field goal ( 7-10) MIN Matt Blair 10 yard return of blocked punt (Fred Cox kick)
MIN CHI
First Downs: 11 18
Rushes-yards: 27-86 63-343
Yards/rush: 3.2 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-25-116-3 4-7-33-1
Sacked-yards: 2-14 1-10
Net pass yards: 102 23
Net yards/pass: 3.8 2.9
Total net yards: 188 366
Total plays: 54 (50% run) 71 (88% run)
Yards/play: 3.5 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-1
Turnovers: 4 2
Penalties-yards: 5-25 3-20
Attendance: 49,563
Passing:
MIN: Bob Lee, 12 of 24 for 116 yards (2 int); Tommy Kramer, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) CHI: Bob Avellini, 4 of 6 for 33 yards (1 int); Brian Baschnagel, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 54 yards; Brent McClanahan, 10 for 24 yards; Bob Lee, 2 for 0 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 8 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 40 for 275 yards and 1 TD; Robin Earl, 15 for 60 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 13 yards; Bob Avellini, 4 for -5 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Sammy White, 3 for 31 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 23 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 18 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 29 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 9 yards; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 5 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 1 yard CHI: James Scott, 2 for 22 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 6 yards; Robin Earl, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Manfred Moore, 1 for 13 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 21 yards; Vince Evans, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Manfred Moore, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 2 for 36 yards; Doug Plank, 1 for 21 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Tom Hicks, 1 for 9 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 4 yards; Virgil Livers, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 7 for 318 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 156 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1
MIN: Bob Lee, 12 of 24 for 116 yards (2 int); Tommy Kramer, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) CHI: Bob Avellini, 4 of 6 for 33 yards (1 int); Brian Baschnagel, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 54 yards; Brent McClanahan, 10 for 24 yards; Bob Lee, 2 for 0 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 8 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 40 for 275 yards and 1 TD; Robin Earl, 15 for 60 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 13 yards; Bob Avellini, 4 for -5 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Sammy White, 3 for 31 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 23 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 18 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 29 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 9 yards; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 5 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 1 yard CHI: James Scott, 2 for 22 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 6 yards; Robin Earl, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Manfred Moore, 1 for 13 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 21 yards; Vince Evans, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Manfred Moore, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Steve Schubert, 2 for 36 yards; Doug Plank, 1 for 21 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Tom Hicks, 1 for 9 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 4 yards; Virgil Livers, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 7 for 318 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 156 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1