NFL game summary for 09/10/1978:
David Whitehurst threw four touchdown passes -- three to James Lofton -- to give the Packers their second straight victory and best start since the 1969 season. The Whitehurst-to-Lofton combination connected on touchdown passes covering 42, 47 and 18 yards. The Packers' running game was equally effective, gaining 220 yards, including 114 by Terdell Middleton. Archie Manning and Tony Galbreath established Saints' single game records in a losing cause, Manning for most pass completions (33) and passes attempted (53), and Galbreath for most pass receptions (14).
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 138.0 (15) | 183.0 (8) | 321.0 (11) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 155.0 (20) | 269.0 (26) | 424.0 (26) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 181.0 (5) | 31.0 (26) | 212.0 (21) | 0 |
| DEFENSE | 82.0 (2) | 40.0 (3) | 122.0 (1) | 1 |
Line: Saints by 1½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (1-1-0) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Green Bay Packers (2-0-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
( 0- 7) GB James Lofton 42 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick) ( 3- 7) NO Rich Szaro 37 yard field goal (10- 7) NO Ike Harris 6 yard pass from Archie Manning (Rich Szaro kick) (10-14) GB James Lofton 47 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick) (10-21) GB James Lofton 18 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick) (10-28) GB Rich McGeorge 9 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick) (17-28) NO Mike Strachan 4 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick)
NO GB
First Downs: 25 20
Rushes-yards: 23-100 37-220
Yards/rush: 4.3 5.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 33-53-303-1 10-15-161-0
Sacked-yards: 1-8 1-5
Net pass yards: 295 156
Net yards/pass: 5.5 9.8
Total net yards: 395 376
Total plays: 77 (29% run) 53 (69% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 7.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-2
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 4-40 3-20
Attendance: 54,336
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 33 of 53 for 303 yards and 1 TD (1 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 10 of 15 for 161 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 48 yards; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 29 yards; Mike Strachan, 5 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 1 for 8 yards; Henry Childs, 1 for -3 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 19 for 114 yards; Barty Smith, 9 for 45 yards; Walter Landers, 4 for 28 yards; Nate Simpson, 3 for 8 yards; David Whitehurst, 2 for 25 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 14 for 122 yards; Tinker Owens, 8 for 71 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 44 yards; Ike Harris, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 15 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 15 yards; Larry Hardy, 1 for 5 yards; Jim Van Wagner, 1 for -1 yards GB: Barty Smith, 4 for 18 yards; James Lofton, 3 for 107 yards and 3 TDs; Aundra Thompson, 1 for 17 yards; Terdell Middleton, 1 for 10 yards; Rich McGeorge, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 78 yards; Clarence Chapman, 1 for 5 yards GB: Steve Odom, 2 for 55 yards; Estus Hood, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for -6 yards GB: Steve Odom, 4 for 19 yards; Howard Sampson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
GB: John Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 221 yards GB: David Beverly, 2 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2 GB: Chester Marcol, 0/1
NO: Archie Manning, 33 of 53 for 303 yards and 1 TD (1 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 10 of 15 for 161 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 48 yards; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 29 yards; Mike Strachan, 5 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 1 for 8 yards; Henry Childs, 1 for -3 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 19 for 114 yards; Barty Smith, 9 for 45 yards; Walter Landers, 4 for 28 yards; Nate Simpson, 3 for 8 yards; David Whitehurst, 2 for 25 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 14 for 122 yards; Tinker Owens, 8 for 71 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 44 yards; Ike Harris, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 15 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 15 yards; Larry Hardy, 1 for 5 yards; Jim Van Wagner, 1 for -1 yards GB: Barty Smith, 4 for 18 yards; James Lofton, 3 for 107 yards and 3 TDs; Aundra Thompson, 1 for 17 yards; Terdell Middleton, 1 for 10 yards; Rich McGeorge, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 78 yards; Clarence Chapman, 1 for 5 yards GB: Steve Odom, 2 for 55 yards; Estus Hood, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for -6 yards GB: Steve Odom, 4 for 19 yards; Howard Sampson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
GB: John Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 221 yards GB: David Beverly, 2 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 1/2 GB: Chester Marcol, 0/1