NFL game summary for 09/04/1978:
Super Bowl XII champion Dallas exhibited an awesome display of offensive and defensive power, rolling over the 1977 AFC Eastern Division champion Colts. The Cowboys compiled the second highest offensive yardage total in the club's history (587 yards) and the "Doomsday Defense" limited Baltimore to 181 yards. The Colts were without the services of quarterback Bert Jones, who was injured during the preseason. The Cowboys were led by quarterback Roger Staubach, who threw four touchdown passes, and Tony Dorsett, who rushed for 147 yards and caught three passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Line: Cowboys by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baltimore Colts (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Dallas Cowboys (1-0-0) | 0 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
( 0- 7) DAL Doug Dennison 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-14) DAL Tony Dorsett 91 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-21) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 8 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-28) DAL Drew Pearson 38 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-35) DAL Jay Saldi 1 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-38) DAL Rafael Septien 48 yard field goal
BAL DAL
First Downs: 9 25
Rushes-yards: 27-99 45-278
Yards/rush: 3.7 6.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-20-116-2 19-27-305-2
Sacked-yards: 5-34 0-0
Net pass yards: 82 305
Net yards/pass: 3.3 11.3
Total net yards: 181 583
Total plays: 52 (51% run) 72 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.5 8.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-1
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 6-35 4-35
Attendance: 55,037
Passing:
BAL: Mike Kirkland, 9 of 20 for 116 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 16 of 22 for 280 yards and 4 TDs (2 int); Danny White, 3 of 4 for 25 yards; Tony Hill, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Don McCauley, 12 for 40 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 9 for 34 yards; Ron Lee, 3 for 4 yards; Mike Kirkland, 2 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 15 for 147 yards; Doug Dennison, 11 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 10 for 46 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 7 for 13 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 5 yards; Danny White, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Reese McCall, 3 for 53 yards; Ron Lee, 2 for 14 yards; Marshall Johnson, 1 for 22 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 9 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Preston Pearson, 4 for 49 yards; Tony Dorsett, 3 for 107 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 55 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 6 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 2 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 5 for 169 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 26 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 24 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 5 for 54 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 2 for 15 yards DAL: Aaron Kyle, 1 for 3 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 7 for 259 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 0/1 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/3
BAL: Mike Kirkland, 9 of 20 for 116 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 16 of 22 for 280 yards and 4 TDs (2 int); Danny White, 3 of 4 for 25 yards; Tony Hill, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Don McCauley, 12 for 40 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 9 for 34 yards; Ron Lee, 3 for 4 yards; Mike Kirkland, 2 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 15 for 147 yards; Doug Dennison, 11 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 10 for 46 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 7 for 13 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 5 yards; Danny White, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Reese McCall, 3 for 53 yards; Ron Lee, 2 for 14 yards; Marshall Johnson, 1 for 22 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 9 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Preston Pearson, 4 for 49 yards; Tony Dorsett, 3 for 107 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 55 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 6 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 2 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 5 for 169 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 26 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 24 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 5 for 54 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 2 for 15 yards DAL: Aaron Kyle, 1 for 3 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 7 for 259 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 0/1 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/3