NFL game summary for 09/24/1978:
Joe Theismann had the best day of his pro career (21 of 30 for 209 yards), and John Riggins became the 28th NFL player to rush for over 5,000 career yards (114 yards on 21 carries). New York took a 3-0 lead on Pat Leahy's 31 yard field goal, but Theismann countered by throwing second and third period touchdown passes to John McDaniel and Jean Fugett. Jets' quarterback Richard Todd suffered a broken collarbone in the second half.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.0 (13) | 199.7 (5) | 348.7 (8) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 136.0 (12) | 189.7 (22) | 325.7 (20) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 173.7 (6) | 140.3 (18) | 314.0 (13) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 140.3 (16) | 182.0 (21) | 322.3 (18) | 6 |
Line: Redskins by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (2-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Washington Redskins (4-0-0) | 0 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
( 3- 0) NYJ Pat Leahy 31 yard field goal ( 3- 7) WAS John McDaniel 33 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) ( 3-10) WAS Mark Moseley 39 yard field goal ( 3-13) WAS Mark Moseley 34 yard field goal ( 3-20) WAS Jean Fugett 20 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) ( 3-23) WAS Mark Moseley 44 yard field goal
NYJ WAS
First Downs: 11 26
Rushes-yards: 25-102 45-256
Yards/rush: 4.1 5.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-23-153-2 21-30-209-0
Sacked-yards: 6-40 3-38
Net pass yards: 113 171
Net yards/pass: 3.9 5.2
Total net yards: 215 427
Total plays: 54 (46% run) 78 (57% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 3-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 9-74 11-102
Attendance: 54,729
Passing:
NYJ: Richard Todd, 9 of 19 for 136 yards (1 int); Matt Robinson, 1 of 4 for 17 yards (1 int) WAS: Joe Theismann, 21 of 30 for 209 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Scott Dierking, 10 for 53 yards; Kevin Long, 10 for 36 yards; Richard Todd, 2 for 6 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 4 yards; Clark Gaines, 1 for 3 yards WAS: John Riggins, 21 for 114 yards; Mike Thomas, 17 for 57 yards; Clarence Harmon, 3 for 57 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 16 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Wesley Walker, 4 for 62 yards; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 60 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 23 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 8 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 29 yards; Ricky Thompson, 3 for 39 yards; Jean Fugett, 3 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Mike Thomas, 3 for 23 yards; John Riggins, 3 for 16 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 21 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Frank Grant, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 86 yards WAS: Ike Forte, 1 for 21 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 2 for 13 yards WAS: Tony Green, 4 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Jake Scott, 2 for 32 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 6 for 236 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 4 for 175 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2 WAS: Mark Moseley, 3/4
NYJ: Richard Todd, 9 of 19 for 136 yards (1 int); Matt Robinson, 1 of 4 for 17 yards (1 int) WAS: Joe Theismann, 21 of 30 for 209 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Scott Dierking, 10 for 53 yards; Kevin Long, 10 for 36 yards; Richard Todd, 2 for 6 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 4 yards; Clark Gaines, 1 for 3 yards WAS: John Riggins, 21 for 114 yards; Mike Thomas, 17 for 57 yards; Clarence Harmon, 3 for 57 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 16 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Wesley Walker, 4 for 62 yards; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 60 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 23 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 8 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 29 yards; Ricky Thompson, 3 for 39 yards; Jean Fugett, 3 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Mike Thomas, 3 for 23 yards; John Riggins, 3 for 16 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 21 yards; John McDaniel, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Frank Grant, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 86 yards WAS: Ike Forte, 1 for 21 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 2 for 13 yards WAS: Tony Green, 4 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Jake Scott, 2 for 32 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 6 for 236 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 4 for 175 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2 WAS: Mark Moseley, 3/4