All NFL game summaries for 12/26/1977:

On a clear, 46-degree day, the Dallas offense was as crisp as the weather, and the Cowboys romped to a 37-7 divisional playoff victory. The Cowboys marched 79 yards in eight plays for a 7-0 lead on Doug Dennison's two-yard run 13:54 into the game. Dallas' defense was superb, limiting Chicago to nine scrimmage plays in the first period. Dallas expanded its lead to 17-0 at halftime on Roger Staubach's 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Joe DuPree on the fifth play of a 74-yard drive and Efren Herrera's 21-yard field goal, his first of three.

Linebacker D. D. Lewis' interception of a Bob Avellini pass on the first play of the second half gave Dallas the ball on the Chicago 19. After a four-yard loss, Tony Dorsett bolted 23 yards for the first of his two touchdowns. Dorsett also had a seven-yard scoring run among his 17 carries that produced 85 yards. Robert Newhouse added 80 yards on 16 attempts. Staubach completed eight of 13 passes for 134 yards as the Cowboys amassed a total of 375 yards, 279 of them in the first half. Dallas strong safety Charlie Waters had three interceptions to set a record for a divisional playoff game. Chicago avoided a shutout when Avellini completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Steve Schubert with 7:05 left.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 10

( 0- 7) DAL Doug Dennison 2 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick)
( 0-14) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 28 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Efren Herrera kick)
( 0-17) DAL Efren Herrera 21 yard field goal
( 0-24) DAL Tony Dorsett 23 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick)
( 0-27) DAL Efren Herrera 31 yard field goal
( 0-34) DAL Tony Dorsett 7 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick)
( 0-37) DAL Efren Herrera 27 yard field goal
( 7-37) CHI Steve Schubert 34 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)

                     CHI             DAL
First Downs:         15              20
Rushes-yards:        27-81           48-233
Yards/rush:          3.0             4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-25-177-4     8-13-134-1
Sacked-yards:        3-34            2-2
Net pass yards:      143             132
Net yards/pass:      5.1             8.8
Total net yards:     224             365
Total plays:         55 (49% run)    63 (76% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             5.8
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             2-2
Turnovers:           7               3
Penalties-yards:     4-43            3-35

Attendance: 62,920

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Chuck Foreman led the Minnesota Vikings into their fifth NFC Championship game with 31 carries for 101 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run, in a 14-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. It was the fourth straight time the Vikings had beaten the Rams in postseason play. Foreman scored the first touchdown, climaxing an 11-play, 70-yard first quarter drive after the Rams failed to make the yardage at fourth-and-two on the Vikings' 31. Sammy Johnson ran one yard for a Vikings touchdown early in the fourth quarter ending a 10-play, 40-yard march. The Rams scored with only 56 seconds to play on a one-yard pass from Pat Haden to Harold Jackson. A last-gasp try failed when Jeff Wright intercepted on the Vikings' 3.

Nate AlIen's end zone interception ended a Rams' threat in the first quarter, and Paul Krause also picked off a pass by Haden, who hit with 14 of 32 for 130 yards. Bob Lee, playing for the injured Fran Tarkenton, called over 20 straight running plays in the third and fourth quarters and completed five of 10 passes for 57 yards. Robert Miller played for Brent McClanahan, who underwent knee surgery the previous Thursday, and gained 52 yards on 12 carries. Lawrence McCutcheon rushed for 102 yards on 16 carries for the Rams. Tight end Terry Nelson caught five passes for 85 yards and Harold Jackson three for 21 and a TD on the muddy Coliseum field.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 9½

( 7- 0) MIN Chuck Foreman 5 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(14- 0) MIN Sammy Johnson 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(14- 7) LA  Harold Jackson 1 yard pass from Pat Haden (Rafael Septien kick)

                     MIN             LA
First Downs:         14              14
Rushes-yards:        49-144          29-149
Yards/rush:          2.9             5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     5-10-57-0       14-32-130-3
Sacked-yards:        1-12            1-12
Net pass yards:      45              118
Net yards/pass:      4.1             3.6
Total net yards:     189             267
Total plays:         60 (81% run)    62 (46% run)  
Yards/play:          3.1             4.3
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-0
Turnovers:           0               3
Penalties-yards:     7-50            2-15

Attendance: 62,538

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