NFL game summary 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