NFL game summary for 09/24/1978:
Curtis Brown scored on a 102-yard kickoff return in the second quarter to break a 14-14 tie and lead the Bills to their first victory of the season. Joe Ferguson completed touchdown passes to Reuben Gant and Frank Lewis for a 14-0 first quarter edge, and Tom Dempsey closed out the first half with a field goal. Second half interceptions by Charles Romes, Tony Greene and Shane Nelson stopped Colts drives and helped preserve the victory for the Bills.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 97.0 (25) | 166.0 (15) | 263.0 (20) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 258.7 (28) | 225.3 (27) | 484.0 (28) | 9 | |
 | OFFENSE | 109.7 (22) | 199.3 (6) | 309.0 (14) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 181.3 (23) | 158.7 (15) | 340.0 (24) | 4 |
Line: Bills by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (1-3-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Buffalo Bills (1-3-0) | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
( 0- 7) BUF Reuben Gant 19 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 0-14) BUF Frank Lewis 28 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 7-14) BAL Roosevelt Leaks 17 yard pass from Bill Troup (Toni Linhart kick)
(14-14) BAL Reese McCall 5 yard return of blocked punt (Toni Linhart kick)
(14-21) BUF Curtis Brown 102 yard kickoff return (Tom Dempsey kick)
(14-24) BUF Tom Dempsey 21 yard field goal
(17-24) BAL Toni Linhart 21 yard field goal
BAL BUF
First Downs: 16 12
Rushes-yards: 35-182 41-129
Yards/rush: 5.2 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-27-134-3 9-14-154-0
Sacked-yards: 1-9 5-36
Net pass yards: 125 118
Net yards/pass: 4.5 6.2
Total net yards: 307 247
Total plays: 63 (55% run) 60 (68% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 6-60 5-51
Attendance: 55,270
Passing:
BAL: Bill Troup, 10 of 27 for 134 yards and 1 TD (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 9 of 14 for 154 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BAL: Ron Lee, 14 for 54 yards; Joe Washington, 12 for 80 yards; Bill Troup, 5 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 22 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 9 yards BUF: Terry Miller, 25 for 97 yards; Jim Braxton, 9 for 24 yards; Joe Ferguson, 6 for 11 yards; Dennis Johnson, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Mack Alston, 4 for 49 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Joe Washington, 2 for 25 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 20 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 12 yards BUF: Frank Lewis, 2 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Reuben Gant, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Leonard Willis, 1 for 23 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 19 yards; Dennis Johnson, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Miller, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 3 for 57 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards; Don Morrison, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Curtis Brown, 3 for 146 yards and 1 TD; Keith Moody, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 2 for 9 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 10 yards BUF: Lou Piccone, 2 for 16 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 29 yards; Shane Nelson, 1 for 13 yards; Charles Romes, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 7 for 246 yards BUF: Rusty Jackson, 7 for 279 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 BUF: Tom Dempsey, 1/2
BAL: Bill Troup, 10 of 27 for 134 yards and 1 TD (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 9 of 14 for 154 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BAL: Ron Lee, 14 for 54 yards; Joe Washington, 12 for 80 yards; Bill Troup, 5 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 22 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 9 yards BUF: Terry Miller, 25 for 97 yards; Jim Braxton, 9 for 24 yards; Joe Ferguson, 6 for 11 yards; Dennis Johnson, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Mack Alston, 4 for 49 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Joe Washington, 2 for 25 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 20 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 12 yards BUF: Frank Lewis, 2 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Reuben Gant, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Leonard Willis, 1 for 23 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 19 yards; Dennis Johnson, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Miller, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 3 for 57 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards; Don Morrison, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Curtis Brown, 3 for 146 yards and 1 TD; Keith Moody, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Marshall Johnson, 2 for 9 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 10 yards BUF: Lou Piccone, 2 for 16 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 29 yards; Shane Nelson, 1 for 13 yards; Charles Romes, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 7 for 246 yards BUF: Rusty Jackson, 7 for 279 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 BUF: Tom Dempsey, 1/2