NFL game summary for 09/17/1978:
Joe Theismann threw two touchdown passes and Tony Greene returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown as the Redskins defeated the Cardinals for the fifth straight time. Greene's touchdown return was his second in as many weeks and gave the Redskins a 21-3 halftime lead. John Riggins paced the Redskins' ground attack with 108 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.0 (14) | 187.0 (9) | 320.0 (12) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 144.5 (17) | 175.0 (21) | 319.5 (20) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 78.0 (28) | 136.5 (18) | 214.5 (23) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 231.5 (27) | 110.5 (7) | 342.0 (24) | 4 |
Line: Redskins by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins (3-0-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (0-3-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 0- 3) STL Jim Bakken 20 yard field goal
( 7- 3) WAS Tony Green 99 yard kickoff return (Mark Moseley kick)
(14- 3) WAS Jean Fugett 14 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)
(21- 3) WAS Mike Thomas 9 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(28- 3) WAS Clarence Harmon 9 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)
(28-10) STL Mel Gray 27 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
WAS STL
First Downs: 16 19
Rushes-yards: 46-255 26-132
Yards/rush: 5.5 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-14-61-0 17-41-217-1
Sacked-yards: 1-14 2-21
Net pass yards: 47 196
Net yards/pass: 3.1 4.6
Total net yards: 302 328
Total plays: 61 (75% run) 69 (37% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 0 1
Penalties-yards: 9-56 3-40
Attendance: 49,282
Passing:
WAS: Joe Theismann, 5 of 12 for 59 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Kilmer, 1 of 2 for 2 yards STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 40 for 174 yards (1 int); Dave Stief, 1 of 1 for 43 yards
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 16 for 108 yards; Mike Thomas, 16 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Harmon, 9 for 49 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 6 yards; Reggie Haynes, 1 for 13 yards; Billy Kilmer, 1 for 1 yard STL: Wayne Morris, 12 for 48 yards; Steve Jones, 7 for 26 yards; Jim Otis, 6 for 31 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 27 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
WAS: Clarence Harmon, 2 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 1 for 13 yards; Frank Grant, 1 for 7 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 2 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 7 for 123 yards; Jim Otis, 3 for 25 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 44 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 9 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 2 yards; Jim Thaxton, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 1 for 99 yards and 1 TD STL: Willie Shelby, 4 for 94 yards; Wayne Morris, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: J.T. Smith, 4 for 33 yards; Tony Green, 1 for 27 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 4 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 3 for 10 yards; Willie Shelby, 2 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Brad Dusek, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 8 for 316 yards STL: Steve Little, 9 for 367 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1
WAS: Joe Theismann, 5 of 12 for 59 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Kilmer, 1 of 2 for 2 yards STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 40 for 174 yards (1 int); Dave Stief, 1 of 1 for 43 yards
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 16 for 108 yards; Mike Thomas, 16 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Harmon, 9 for 49 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 6 yards; Reggie Haynes, 1 for 13 yards; Billy Kilmer, 1 for 1 yard STL: Wayne Morris, 12 for 48 yards; Steve Jones, 7 for 26 yards; Jim Otis, 6 for 31 yards; Mel Gray, 1 for 27 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
WAS: Clarence Harmon, 2 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 1 for 13 yards; Frank Grant, 1 for 7 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 2 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 7 for 123 yards; Jim Otis, 3 for 25 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 44 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 9 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 2 yards; Jim Thaxton, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 1 for 99 yards and 1 TD STL: Willie Shelby, 4 for 94 yards; Wayne Morris, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: J.T. Smith, 4 for 33 yards; Tony Green, 1 for 27 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 4 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 3 for 10 yards; Willie Shelby, 2 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Brad Dusek, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 8 for 316 yards STL: Steve Little, 9 for 367 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1