NFL game summary for 12/18/1977:
Bob Thomas' 28-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining in sudden death overtime lifted the Bears into the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1963. Bob Avellini, working against the clock and a driving, freezing rain, completed passes of 19 yards to Greg Latta and 14 to Walter Payton, setting the stage for the Thomas' winning kick. Payton, who came into the game needing 199 yards to break O. J. Simpson's single-season NFL rushing record of 2,003 yards, was burdened by the Giants defense and the slippery field conditions and finished with 47 yards on 15 carries. Payton set a NFL record with 339 carries and his 1,852 yard-total was third-best in NFL history.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 207.6 (1) | 128.6 (21) | 336.2 (3) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 146.5 (19) | 154.6 (19) | 301.2 (22) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.5 (22) | 97.7 (26) | 224.2 (25) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 127.8 (9) | 148.1 (17) | 275.8 (11) | 30 |
Line: Bears by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (9-5-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| New York Giants (5-9-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
( 3- 0) CHI Bob Thomas 32 yard field goal ( 3- 3) NYG Joe Danelo 38 yard field goal ( 3- 6) NYG Joe Danelo 19 yard field goal ( 9- 6) CHI Robin Earl 4 yard rush (kick failed) ( 9- 9) NYG Joe Danelo 27 yard field goal (12- 9) CHI Bob Thomas 28 yard field goal
CHI NYG
First Downs: 13 20
Rushes-yards: 37-112 53-253
Yards/rush: 3.0 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-26-186-1 12-33-121-2
Sacked-yards: 3-14 1-4
Net pass yards: 172 117
Net yards/pass: 5.9 3.4
Total net yards: 284 370
Total plays: 66 (56% run) 87 (60% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 8-1 3-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 3-15 4-31
Attendance: 50,152
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 17 of 26 for 186 yards (1 int) NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 12 of 33 for 121 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 47 yards; Roland Harper, 13 for 37 yards; Robin Earl, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 3 for 5 yards NYG: Larry Csonka, 23 for 100 yards; Doug Kotar, 14 for 95 yards; Willie Spencer, 8 for 25 yards; Bobby Hammond, 6 for 25 yards; Joe Pisarcik, 2 for 8 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Walter Payton, 6 for 23 yards; James Scott, 5 for 83 yards; Greg Latta, 2 for 19 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 35 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 17 yards; Steve Rivera, 1 for 7 yards; Robin Earl, 1 for 2 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 3 for 31 yards; Ed Marshall, 2 for 28 yards; Emery Moorehead, 2 for 24 yards; Bobby Hammond, 2 for 17 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 12 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Johnny Musso, 2 for 56 yards; Len Walterscheid, 1 for 37 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 9 yards NYG: Willie Spencer, 2 for 28 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 24 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 3 for 27 yards; Virgil Livers, 3 for 16 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 1 for 18 yards; Jim Stienke, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Doug Plank, 1 for 12 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 0 yards NYG: Ernie Jones, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 312 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 9 for 340 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 2/4 NYG: Joe Danelo, 3/4
CHI: Bob Avellini, 17 of 26 for 186 yards (1 int) NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 12 of 33 for 121 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 47 yards; Roland Harper, 13 for 37 yards; Robin Earl, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 3 for 5 yards NYG: Larry Csonka, 23 for 100 yards; Doug Kotar, 14 for 95 yards; Willie Spencer, 8 for 25 yards; Bobby Hammond, 6 for 25 yards; Joe Pisarcik, 2 for 8 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Walter Payton, 6 for 23 yards; James Scott, 5 for 83 yards; Greg Latta, 2 for 19 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 35 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 17 yards; Steve Rivera, 1 for 7 yards; Robin Earl, 1 for 2 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 3 for 31 yards; Ed Marshall, 2 for 28 yards; Emery Moorehead, 2 for 24 yards; Bobby Hammond, 2 for 17 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 12 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Johnny Musso, 2 for 56 yards; Len Walterscheid, 1 for 37 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 9 yards NYG: Willie Spencer, 2 for 28 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 24 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 3 for 27 yards; Virgil Livers, 3 for 16 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 1 for 18 yards; Jim Stienke, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Doug Plank, 1 for 12 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 0 yards NYG: Ernie Jones, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 312 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 9 for 340 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 2/4 NYG: Joe Danelo, 3/4