All NFL game summaries for 11/24/1977:
Bob Avellini threw two touchdown passes including one for 75 yards to Walter Payton that broke open the game in the third quarter. Payton, who was held to 20 yards on the ground in the first half, came back strong in the second half and finished the game with 137 yards. He also caught four passes for 107 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 215.2 (1) | 117.2 (22) | 332.4 (4) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 156.2 (21) | 172.4 (27) | 328.6 (24) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 140.5 (13) | 102.9 (24) | 243.4 (23) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 122.7 (5) | 114.9 (5) | 237.6 (5) | 23 |
Line: Bears by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (6-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 31 |
| Detroit Lions (5-6-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) DET David Hill 16 yard pass from Greg Landry (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 7- 7) CHI Bo Rather 42 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
(14- 7) CHI Walter Payton 75 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
(17- 7) CHI Bob Thomas 29 yard field goal
(24- 7) CHI Bob Avellini 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(24-14) DET Ed O'Neil 52 yard fumble return (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
(31-14) CHI Walter Payton 8 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI DET
First Downs: 18 15
Rushes-yards: 37-172 31-68
Yards/rush: 4.6 2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-21-260-2 20-39-184-1
Sacked-yards: 1-7 5-34
Net pass yards: 253 150
Net yards/pass: 11.5 3.4
Total net yards: 425 218
Total plays: 59 (62% run) 75 (41% run)
Yards/play: 7.2 2.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 2-2
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 2-14 7-46
Attendance: 71,373
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 14 of 21 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 16 of 26 for 145 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Gary Danielson, 4 of 13 for 39 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 20 for 137 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 8 for 16 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 10 yards; Robin Earl, 4 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD DET: Horace King, 12 for 18 yards; Rick Kane, 11 for 25 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 9 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 6 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 8 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 8 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Walter Payton, 4 for 107 yards and 1 TD; James Scott, 4 for 48 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Greg Latta, 2 for 20 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 21 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 8 yards DET: David Hill, 6 for 64 yards and 1 TD; J.D. Hill, 5 for 45 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 17 yards; Ray Jarvis, 2 for 22 yards; Horace King, 2 for 13 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 12 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Vince Evans, 2 for 27 yards DET: Eddie Payton, 4 for 110 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 21 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 17 yards DET: Eddie Payton, 4 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Doug Plank, 1 for 0 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 1 for 28 yards; Lem Barney, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 206 yards DET: Wilbur Summers, 8 for 306 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/3 DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 0/1
CHI: Bob Avellini, 14 of 21 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 16 of 26 for 145 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Gary Danielson, 4 of 13 for 39 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 20 for 137 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 8 for 16 yards; Johnny Musso, 4 for 10 yards; Robin Earl, 4 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD DET: Horace King, 12 for 18 yards; Rick Kane, 11 for 25 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 9 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 6 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 8 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 8 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Walter Payton, 4 for 107 yards and 1 TD; James Scott, 4 for 48 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Greg Latta, 2 for 20 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 21 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 8 yards DET: David Hill, 6 for 64 yards and 1 TD; J.D. Hill, 5 for 45 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 17 yards; Ray Jarvis, 2 for 22 yards; Horace King, 2 for 13 yards; Luther Blue, 1 for 12 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Vince Evans, 2 for 27 yards DET: Eddie Payton, 4 for 110 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 21 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 17 yards DET: Eddie Payton, 4 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Doug Plank, 1 for 0 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 1 for 28 yards; Lem Barney, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 4 for 206 yards DET: Wilbur Summers, 8 for 306 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/3 DET: Steve Mike-Mayer, 0/1
Veteran Bob Griese threw a team-record six touchdown passes -- three to Nat Moore -- to lead the Dolphins to a 55-14 rout of the Cardinals. Griese's six TD tosses represent the top single-game effort in the NFL since Joe Namath threw the same number against Baltimore in 1972. He also came within one touchdown pass of equaling the NFL single-game mark. Miami's 55 points established a new team record and also was the most ever allowed by the Cardinals in their 58-year history.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 160.1 (7) | 117.5 (21) | 277.6 (15) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 129.3 (10) | 145.1 (16) | 274.4 (12) | 21 | |
 | OFFENSE | 158.7 (9) | 188.7 (1) | 347.4 (1) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 144.7 (17) | 168.9 (25) | 313.6 (23) | 27 |
Line: Cardinals by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (8-3-0) | 14 | 14 | 20 | 7 | 55 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (7-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) MIA Nat Moore 4 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(14- 0) MIA Duriel Harris 7 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(14- 7) STL Terry Metcalf 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(21- 7) MIA Nat Moore 9 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(28- 7) MIA Nat Moore 28 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(34- 7) MIA Gary Davis 17 yard pass from Bob Griese (kick failed)
(41- 7) MIA Andre Tillman 37 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(48- 7) MIA Leroy Harris 4 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(48-14) STL Ike Harris 19 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(55-14) MIA Benny Malone 4 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
MIA STL
First Downs: 34 13
Rushes-yards: 55-295 22-54
Yards/rush: 5.4 2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-25-219-1 16-29-170-1
Sacked-yards: 1-11 2-14
Net pass yards: 208 156
Net yards/pass: 8.0 5.0
Total net yards: 503 210
Total plays: 81 (67% run) 53 (41% run)
Yards/play: 6.2 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 4-2
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 7-52 8-65
Attendance: 50,269
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 15 of 23 for 207 yards and 6 TDs (1 int); Don Strock, 2 of 2 for 12 yards STL: Jim Hart, 15 of 28 for 167 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bill Donckers, 1 of 1 for 3 yards
Rushing:
MIA: Gary Davis, 20 for 104 yards; Leroy Harris, 18 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Benny Malone, 8 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 6 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 13 yards; Terry Anderson, 1 for 11 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 6 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 9 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 4 for 14 yards; Jim Otis, 4 for 11 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 1 yard; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 7 for 68 yards and 3 TDs; Gary Davis, 3 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Duriel Harris, 2 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mandich, 1 for 15 yards; Loaird McCreary, 1 for 9 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 5 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 3 yards STL: Ike Harris, 4 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 4 for 39 yards; Steve Jones, 3 for 25 yards; J.V. Cain, 2 for 43 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 9 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Gary Davis, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Anderson, 1 for 21 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 17 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 83 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 39 yards; Bill Bradley, 1 for 23 yards; Kurt Allerman, 1 for 22 yards; Wayne Morris, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 5 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 11 yards STL: Bill Bradley, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Bob Matheson, 1 for 7 yards STL: Ken Reaves, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
MIA: Mike Michel, 2 for 74 yards STL: Duane Carrell, 5 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/1
MIA: Bob Griese, 15 of 23 for 207 yards and 6 TDs (1 int); Don Strock, 2 of 2 for 12 yards STL: Jim Hart, 15 of 28 for 167 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bill Donckers, 1 of 1 for 3 yards
Rushing:
MIA: Gary Davis, 20 for 104 yards; Leroy Harris, 18 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Benny Malone, 8 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 6 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 13 yards; Terry Anderson, 1 for 11 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 6 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 9 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 4 for 14 yards; Jim Otis, 4 for 11 yards; Wayne Morris, 4 for 1 yard; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 7 for 68 yards and 3 TDs; Gary Davis, 3 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Duriel Harris, 2 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mandich, 1 for 15 yards; Loaird McCreary, 1 for 9 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 5 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 3 yards STL: Ike Harris, 4 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 4 for 39 yards; Steve Jones, 3 for 25 yards; J.V. Cain, 2 for 43 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 9 yards; Terry Metcalf, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Gary Davis, 1 for 25 yards; Terry Anderson, 1 for 21 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 17 yards STL: Terry Metcalf, 3 for 83 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 39 yards; Bill Bradley, 1 for 23 yards; Kurt Allerman, 1 for 22 yards; Wayne Morris, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Otis, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 5 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 11 yards STL: Bill Bradley, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Bob Matheson, 1 for 7 yards STL: Ken Reaves, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
MIA: Mike Michel, 2 for 74 yards STL: Duane Carrell, 5 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/1