NFL game summary for 09/03/1978:
Tom Moriarty recovered a blocked punt in the end zone and the Falcons' rugged defense recovered two fumbles to set up a pair of second half field goals by Fred Steinfort. June Jones, making his first NFL start, threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Bubba Bean to account for Atlanta's other score. Steinfort's field goals of 30 and 48 yards came after fumble recoveries by Robert Pennywell at the Oilers' 13 and Rolland Lawrence at the Houston 33. Rookie Earl Campbell, the NFL's number one draft choice in 1978, ran 73 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and rushed for 136 yards in his professional debut.
Line: Oilers by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Houston Oilers (0-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
 Atlanta Falcons (1-0-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
( 7- 0) HOU Earl Campbell 73 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick) ( 7- 7) ATL Bubba Bean 38 yard pass from June Jones (Fred Steinfort kick) ( 7-14) ATL Tom Moriarty 0 yard fumble return (Fred Steinfort kick) (14-14) HOU Rich Caster 8 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick) (14-17) ATL Fred Steinfort 30 yard field goal (14-20) ATL Fred Steinfort 48 yard field goal
HOU ATL
First Downs: 13 11
Rushes-yards: 21-156 35-100
Yards/rush: 7.4 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-36-136-2 10-23-104-0
Sacked-yards: 4-31 4-33
Net pass yards: 105 71
Net yards/pass: 2.6 2.6
Total net yards: 261 171
Total plays: 61 (34% run) 62 (56% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 2.8
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 3-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 7-52 8-75
Attendance: 57,328
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 19 of 36 for 136 yards and 1 TD (2 int) ATL: June Jones, 10 of 23 for 104 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 15 for 137 yards and 1 TD; Tim Wilson, 6 for 19 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 17 for 31 yards; Bubba Bean, 14 for 55 yards; Ricky Patton, 2 for 10 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 5 yards; June Jones, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 56 yards; Rich Caster, 5 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 45 yards; Earl Campbell, 2 for -8 yards; Mike Renfro, 1 for 3 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for -4 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 28 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 17 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 6 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Johnnie Dirden, 3 for 127 yards; Anthony Davis, 2 for 42 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 3 for 80 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 23 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 27 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 13 yards; Ray Easterling, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 9 for 334 yards ATL: John James, 9 for 384 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 2/3
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 19 of 36 for 136 yards and 1 TD (2 int) ATL: June Jones, 10 of 23 for 104 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 15 for 137 yards and 1 TD; Tim Wilson, 6 for 19 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 17 for 31 yards; Bubba Bean, 14 for 55 yards; Ricky Patton, 2 for 10 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 5 yards; June Jones, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 56 yards; Rich Caster, 5 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 45 yards; Earl Campbell, 2 for -8 yards; Mike Renfro, 1 for 3 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for -4 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Alfred Jenkins, 2 for 28 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 17 yards; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 6 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Johnnie Dirden, 3 for 127 yards; Anthony Davis, 2 for 42 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 3 for 80 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 23 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 27 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 13 yards; Ray Easterling, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 9 for 334 yards ATL: John James, 9 for 384 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 2/3