NFL game summary for 09/18/1978:
The Colts scored 27 points in the final period. Running back Joe Washington accounted for two of the touchdowns, including 90-yard kickoff return with 1:18 left in the rain-soaked game. New England tied the game when Sam Cunningham scored on a one-yard run with 1:32 remaining, but Washington took the ensuing kickoff for the winning score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 97.5 (25) | 116.5 (20) | 214.0 (25) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 285.0 (28) | 226.5 (27) | 511.5 (28) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 215.0 (3) | 168.5 (14) | 383.5 (2) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 103.0 (6) | 155.5 (14) | 258.5 (8) | 5 |
Line: Patriots by 17½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (1-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 34 |
| New England Patriots (1-2-0) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 27 |
( 0- 6) NE Andy Johnson 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7- 6) BAL Don McCauley 3 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
( 7-13) NE Stanley Morgan 62 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(14-13) BAL Roger Carr 54 yard pass from Joe Washington (Toni Linhart kick)
(20-13) BAL Joe Washington 23 yard pass from Bill Troup (kick failed)
(27-13) BAL Roger Carr 67 yard pass from Bill Troup (Toni Linhart kick)
(27-20) NE Steve Grogan 4 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(27-27) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(34-27) BAL Joe Washington 90 yard kickoff return (Toni Linhart kick)
BAL NE
First Downs: 15 23
Rushes-yards: 36-96 48-206
Yards/rush: 2.7 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-16-275-1 11-33-229-3
Sacked-yards: 1-10 1-6
Net pass yards: 265 223
Net yards/pass: 15.6 6.6
Total net yards: 361 429
Total plays: 53 (67% run) 82 (58% run)
Yards/play: 6.8 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 4-1
Turnovers: 4 4
Penalties-yards: 4-37 5-55
Attendance: 57,284
Passing:
BAL: Bill Troup, 10 of 15 for 221 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Joe Washington, 1 of 1 for 54 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 33 for 229 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 16 for 53 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 8 for 27 yards; Don McCauley, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 3 for 4 yards; Bill Troup, 2 for -3 yards; Ron Lee, 1 for 2 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 27 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 8 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 6 for 19 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Roger Carr, 6 for 187 yards and 2 TDs; Joe Washington, 2 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 1 for 24 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 13 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 10 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Don Hasselbeck, 3 for 32 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 10 yards; Harold Jackson, 1 for 34 yards; Carlos Pennywell, 1 for 28 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 2 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Marshall Johnson, 2 for 38 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 118 yards; Don Westbrook, 3 for 44 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 1 for 0 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 22 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Lyle Blackwood, 1 for 23 yards; Ed Simonini, 1 for 3 yards; Doug Nettles, 1 for 0 yards NE: Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 4 for 162 yards NE: Jerrel Wilson, 5 for 159 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Bill Troup, 10 of 15 for 221 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Joe Washington, 1 of 1 for 54 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 33 for 229 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 16 for 53 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 8 for 27 yards; Don McCauley, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 3 for 4 yards; Bill Troup, 2 for -3 yards; Ron Lee, 1 for 2 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 27 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 8 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 6 for 19 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Roger Carr, 6 for 187 yards and 2 TDs; Joe Washington, 2 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 1 for 24 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 13 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 10 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Don Hasselbeck, 3 for 32 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 10 yards; Harold Jackson, 1 for 34 yards; Carlos Pennywell, 1 for 28 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 2 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Marshall Johnson, 2 for 38 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 118 yards; Don Westbrook, 3 for 44 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 1 for 0 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 22 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Lyle Blackwood, 1 for 23 yards; Ed Simonini, 1 for 3 yards; Doug Nettles, 1 for 0 yards NE: Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 4 for 162 yards NE: Jerrel Wilson, 5 for 159 yards
Field Goals: