NFL game summary for 09/17/1978:
Rod Perry intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards for a score with less than four minutes remaining to clinch the victory for the Rams. It was the Rams' third straight win and snapped the Cowboys' nine-game winning streak. Early in the fourth quarter, Pat Haden hit Willie Miller with a 43-yard touchdown pass to give the Rams a 20-14 lead. Tony Dorsett, who had averaged over 100 yards rushing in his first two games, was held to 38 by a rugged Rams' defense that also intercepted four Roger Staubach passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 233.5 (2) | 258.5 (1) | 492.0 (1) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 99.5 (4) | 162.5 (18) | 262.0 (9) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.5 (18) | 166.5 (14) | 289.0 (17) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 99.0 (3) | 41.5 (2) | 140.5 (1) | 5 |
Line: Cowboys by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (2-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Los Angeles Rams (3-0-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
( 0- 7) LA John Cappelletti 1 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
( 7- 7) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 14 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7-14) LA Ron Jessie 21 yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick)
(14-14) DAL Tony Hill 18 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(14-20) LA Willie Miller 43 yard pass from Pat Haden (kick failed)
(14-27) LA Rod Perry 43 yard interception return (Frank Corral kick)
DAL LA
First Downs: 21 16
Rushes-yards: 29-96 36-98
Yards/rush: 3.3 2.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 22-46-246-4 14-25-227-2
Sacked-yards: 3-23 1-8
Net pass yards: 223 219
Net yards/pass: 4.6 8.4
Total net yards: 319 317
Total plays: 78 (37% run) 62 (58% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 0-0
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 6-34 9-84
Attendance: 65,749
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 22 of 46 for 246 yards and 2 TDs (4 int) LA: Pat Haden, 14 of 25 for 227 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 19 for 38 yards; Robert Newhouse, 7 for 34 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 25 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for -1 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 20 for 61 yards; John Cappelletti, 15 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 6 for 32 yards; Preston Pearson, 5 for 72 yards; Butch Johnson, 3 for 54 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 28 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Jay Saldi, 1 for 5 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 0 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 7 for 144 yards and 1 TD; Willie Miller, 5 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Dwight Scales, 1 for 12 yards; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 74 yards; Doug Dennison, 1 for 19 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 0 yards LA: Jerry Latin, 1 for 41 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 24 yards LA: Jackie Wallace, 3 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 1 yard; Benny Barnes, 1 for 0 yards LA: Rod Perry, 2 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Bill Simpson, 1 for 28 yards; Pat Thomas, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 6 for 252 yards LA: Glen Walker, 7 for 255 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 0/1 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1
DAL: Roger Staubach, 22 of 46 for 246 yards and 2 TDs (4 int) LA: Pat Haden, 14 of 25 for 227 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 19 for 38 yards; Robert Newhouse, 7 for 34 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 25 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for -1 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 20 for 61 yards; John Cappelletti, 15 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 6 for 32 yards; Preston Pearson, 5 for 72 yards; Butch Johnson, 3 for 54 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 28 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Jay Saldi, 1 for 5 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 0 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 7 for 144 yards and 1 TD; Willie Miller, 5 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Dwight Scales, 1 for 12 yards; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 74 yards; Doug Dennison, 1 for 19 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 0 yards LA: Jerry Latin, 1 for 41 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 24 yards LA: Jackie Wallace, 3 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 1 yard; Benny Barnes, 1 for 0 yards LA: Rod Perry, 2 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Bill Simpson, 1 for 28 yards; Pat Thomas, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 6 for 252 yards LA: Glen Walker, 7 for 255 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 0/1 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1