NFL game summary for 10/01/1978:
Atlanta's fumble of the opening kickoff set up the Giants' first score, and George Martin and Brian Kelly combined to return a blocked field goal 83 yards for a touchdown, giving New York a 14-0 lead. Steve Bartkowski threw for one touchdown and ran for another to put the Falcons ahead 16-14. New York came back with two Joe Danelo field goals before Haskel Stanback's nine-yard touchdown run with 1:52 left gave Atlanta the victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.0 (10) | 174.5 (11) | 325.5 (6) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 168.2 (22) | 133.8 (8) | 302.0 (17) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 101.2 (26) | 72.5 (27) | 173.8 (27) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 125.5 (11) | 150.2 (14) | 275.8 (9) | 12 |
Line: Giants by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (3-2-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
| Atlanta Falcons (2-3-0) | 0 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
( 7- 0) NYG Larry Csonka 6 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
(14- 0) NYG George Martin 83 yard return of blocked field goal (Joe Danelo kick)
(14- 7) ATL Wallace Francis 54 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Fred Steinfort kick)
(14- 9) ATL Safety, Joe Pisarcik tackled in end zone by Dewey McClain
(14-16) ATL Steve Bartkowski 1 yard rush (Fred Steinfort kick)
(17-16) NYG Joe Danelo 23 yard field goal
(20-16) NYG Joe Danelo 45 yard field goal
(20-23) ATL Haskel Stanback 9 yard rush (Fred Steinfort kick)
NYG ATL
First Downs: 8 22
Rushes-yards: 25-87 51-152
Yards/rush: 3.5 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-21-86-0 14-26-226-0
Sacked-yards: 3-27 3-28
Net pass yards: 59 198
Net yards/pass: 2.5 6.8
Total net yards: 146 350
Total plays: 49 (51% run) 80 (63% run)
Yards/play: 3.0 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-3
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 10-63 8-68
Attendance: 47,765
Passing:
NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 7 of 21 for 86 yards ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 14 of 26 for 226 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYG: Dan Doornink, 8 for 55 yards; Billy Taylor, 7 for 2 yards; Bobby Hammond, 4 for 22 yards; Larry Csonka, 4 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Willie Spencer, 2 for -9 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 19 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 11 for 50 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 8 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 7 for 29 yards; Mike Esposito, 5 for 16 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Al Dixon, 2 for 45 yards; Johnny Perkins, 2 for 19 yards; Dan Doornink, 1 for 8 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 8 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 6 yards ATL: Wallace Francis, 7 for 153 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 54 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 1 yard; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 15 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Beasley Reece, 2 for 40 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 24 yards ATL: Tom Pridemore, 2 for 35 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 29 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: James Thompson, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 63 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 213 yards ATL: John James, 3 for 94 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 2/4 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2
NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 7 of 21 for 86 yards ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 14 of 26 for 226 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYG: Dan Doornink, 8 for 55 yards; Billy Taylor, 7 for 2 yards; Bobby Hammond, 4 for 22 yards; Larry Csonka, 4 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Willie Spencer, 2 for -9 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 19 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 11 for 50 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 8 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 7 for 29 yards; Mike Esposito, 5 for 16 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Al Dixon, 2 for 45 yards; Johnny Perkins, 2 for 19 yards; Dan Doornink, 1 for 8 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 8 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 6 yards ATL: Wallace Francis, 7 for 153 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 54 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 1 yard; Billy Ryckman, 1 for 15 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Beasley Reece, 2 for 40 yards; Billy Taylor, 1 for 24 yards ATL: Tom Pridemore, 2 for 35 yards; Alfred Jackson, 2 for 29 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: James Thompson, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 63 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 213 yards ATL: John James, 3 for 94 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 2/4 ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2