NFL game summary for 09/17/1978:
The Bears exploded for three scores within a span of four minutes in the third quarter to extend their regular season winning streak to nine games. Bob Thomas opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal at the 10:41 mark, followed by a safety when Greg Landry was tackled in the end zone by Tommy Hart, and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bob Avellini to James Scott.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 152.5 (9) | 75.0 (24) | 227.5 (22) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 147.0 (18) | 124.5 (8) | 271.5 (13) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 115.5 (20) | 43.5 (26) | 159.0 (27) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 160.5 (20) | 0.0 (1) | 160.5 (2) | 6 |
Line: Bears by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (3-0-0) | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 19 |
| Detroit Lions (1-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) CHI Walter Payton 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(10- 0) CHI Bob Thomas 28 yard field goal
(12- 0) CHI Safety, Greg Landry tackled in end zone by Tommy Hart
(19- 0) CHI James Scott 40 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI DET
First Downs: 15 15
Rushes-yards: 45-185 27-143
Yards/rush: 4.1 5.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-12-151-1 13-27-144-0
Sacked-yards: 1-10 6-50
Net pass yards: 141 94
Net yards/pass: 10.8 2.8
Total net yards: 326 237
Total plays: 58 (77% run) 60 (45% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 5-35 7-47
Attendance: 65,982
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 9 of 12 for 151 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DET: Greg Landry, 8 of 14 for 88 yards; Gary Danielson, 5 of 13 for 56 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 22 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 19 for 98 yards; Bob Avellini, 3 for 1 yard; Robin Earl, 1 for 9 yards DET: Horace King, 14 for 49 yards; Dexter Bussey, 11 for 85 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 19 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for -10 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Golden Richards, 2 for 58 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for -1 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 3 yards DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 48 yards; Dexter Bussey, 4 for 40 yards; Luther Blue, 3 for 33 yards; Jesse Thompson, 1 for 12 yards; Horace King, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 1 for 17 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 15 yards DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 49 yards; Jesse Thompson, 2 for 47 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 5 for 4 yards DET: Luther Blue, 1 for 7 yards; Jesse Thompson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 280 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 8 for 342 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 0/1
CHI: Bob Avellini, 9 of 12 for 151 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DET: Greg Landry, 8 of 14 for 88 yards; Gary Danielson, 5 of 13 for 56 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 22 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 19 for 98 yards; Bob Avellini, 3 for 1 yard; Robin Earl, 1 for 9 yards DET: Horace King, 14 for 49 yards; Dexter Bussey, 11 for 85 yards; Greg Landry, 1 for 19 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for -10 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Golden Richards, 2 for 58 yards; Roland Harper, 2 for -1 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 3 yards DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 48 yards; Dexter Bussey, 4 for 40 yards; Luther Blue, 3 for 33 yards; Jesse Thompson, 1 for 12 yards; Horace King, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 1 for 17 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 15 yards DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 49 yards; Jesse Thompson, 2 for 47 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 5 for 4 yards DET: Luther Blue, 1 for 7 yards; Jesse Thompson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DET: James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 280 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 8 for 342 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 1/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 0/1