NFL game summary for 09/17/1978:
Brian Sipe ran two yards for a touchdown with 1:19 remaining to seal the outcome. With 8:47 remaining, Atlanta had an opportunity to tie the score at 17-17, but Fred Steinfort missed the extra point attempt after a two-yard touchdown run by Ray Strong. Sipe finished the game with 20 completions out of 35 attempts for 219 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 191.0 (6) | 183.0 (11) | 374.0 (4) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 123.0 (12) | 163.0 (19) | 286.0 (15) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 85.0 (27) | 37.0 (27) | 122.0 (28) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 149.0 (19) | 160.5 (17) | 309.5 (18) | 8 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (3-0-0) | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Atlanta Falcons (1-2-0) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
( 0- 3) ATL Fred Steinfort 24 yard field goal
( 3- 3) CLE Don Cockroft 43 yard field goal
(10- 3) CLE Ozzie Newsome 2 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-10) ATL Haskel Stanback 15 yard rush (Fred Steinfort kick)
(17-10) CLE Reggie Rucker 27 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
(17-16) ATL Ray Strong 2 yard rush (kick failed)
(24-16) CLE Brian Sipe 2 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
CLE ATL
First Downs: 17 17
Rushes-yards: 34-110 30-87
Yards/rush: 3.2 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-35-219-0 11-28-188-4
Sacked-yards: 3-21 6-41
Net pass yards: 198 147
Net yards/pass: 5.2 4.3
Total net yards: 308 234
Total plays: 72 (47% run) 64 (46% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 3-0
Turnovers: 3 4
Penalties-yards: 13-133 14-113
Attendance: 56,648
Passing:
CLE: Brian Sipe, 20 of 35 for 219 yards and 2 TDs ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 7 of 15 for 126 yards (2 int); June Jones, 4 of 13 for 62 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Mike Pruitt, 15 for 65 yards; Cleo Miller, 7 for 24 yards; Larry Collins, 5 for 7 yards; Tom Sullivan, 3 for 2 yards; Brian Sipe, 2 for -3 yards and 1 TD; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 9 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 6 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 10 for 14 yards; Haskel Stanback, 7 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 7 for 23 yards; Ray Strong, 5 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Dave Logan, 5 for 63 yards; Reggie Rucker, 4 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Feacher, 3 for 57 yards; Cleo Miller, 2 for 13 yards; Gary Parris, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 3 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 48 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 42 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 61 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 17 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 13 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Larry Collins, 4 for 92 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 2 for 44 yards; Tom Pridemore, 2 for 36 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 4 for 22 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 46 yards; Dick Ambrose, 1 for 7 yards; Gerald Irons, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 8 for 306 yards ATL: John James, 7 for 306 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 1/2
CLE: Brian Sipe, 20 of 35 for 219 yards and 2 TDs ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 7 of 15 for 126 yards (2 int); June Jones, 4 of 13 for 62 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Mike Pruitt, 15 for 65 yards; Cleo Miller, 7 for 24 yards; Larry Collins, 5 for 7 yards; Tom Sullivan, 3 for 2 yards; Brian Sipe, 2 for -3 yards and 1 TD; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 9 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 6 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 10 for 14 yards; Haskel Stanback, 7 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 7 for 23 yards; Ray Strong, 5 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Dave Logan, 5 for 63 yards; Reggie Rucker, 4 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Feacher, 3 for 57 yards; Cleo Miller, 2 for 13 yards; Gary Parris, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 3 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 48 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 42 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 61 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 17 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 13 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Larry Collins, 4 for 92 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 2 for 44 yards; Tom Pridemore, 2 for 36 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 4 for 22 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 46 yards; Dick Ambrose, 1 for 7 yards; Gerald Irons, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 8 for 306 yards ATL: John James, 7 for 306 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 1/2