NFL game summary for 10/08/1978:
Terry Bradshaw directed the NFL's highest scoring offense on drives of 85, 80, 61, 80 and 71 yards and Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense recorded five sacks for the third straight week as the Steelers remained undefeated. Bradshaw, the league's leading passer, completed 13 of 18 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown and also scored on a six-yard keeper. Franco Harris (20 carries for 104 yards) and Rocky Bleier (two touchdowns) helped power a 181-yard rushing attack. Atlanta avoided a shutout with a fourth quarter scoring pass from Steve Bartkowski to Wallace Francis.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 111.4 (25) | 97.6 (25) | 209.0 (27) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 117.8 (10) | 132.0 (7) | 249.8 (5) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 156.4 (10) | 205.2 (4) | 361.6 (3) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 100.2 (2) | 137.0 (10) | 237.2 (2) | 9 |
Line: Steelers by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (2-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0-0) | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
( 0- 3) PIT Roy Gerela 21 yard field goal ( 0-10) PIT Rocky Bleier 8 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-17) PIT Terry Bradshaw 6 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-24) PIT Rocky Bleier 2 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-31) PIT John Stallworth 11 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) ( 7-31) ATL Wallace Francis 11 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Fred Steinfort kick)
ATL PIT
First Downs: 20 28
Rushes-yards: 34-113 44-181
Yards/rush: 3.3 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-33-188-2 13-18-231-0
Sacked-yards: 5-44 2-25
Net pass yards: 144 206
Net yards/pass: 3.8 10.3
Total net yards: 257 387
Total plays: 72 (47% run) 64 (68% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 4-3
Turnovers: 4 3
Penalties-yards: 4-38 8-74
Attendance: 48,202
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 17 of 33 for 188 yards and 1 TD (2 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 13 of 18 for 231 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
ATL: Bubba Bean, 17 for 48 yards; Haskel Stanback, 12 for 38 yards; Ricky Patton, 3 for 20 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 7 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 20 for 104 yards; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 46 yards and 2 TDs; Sidney Thornton, 8 for 30 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 5 for 88 yards; Wallace Francis, 4 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 3 for 11 yards; Mike Esposito, 2 for 7 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 7 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 5 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 6 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Lynn Swann, 3 for 64 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 28 yards; Randy Grossman, 1 for 16 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 3 for 78 yards; George Franklin, 3 for 75 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 1 for 24 yards PIT: Randy Reutershan, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Loren Toews, 1 for 12 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 3 for 102 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 71 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/1
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 17 of 33 for 188 yards and 1 TD (2 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 13 of 18 for 231 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
ATL: Bubba Bean, 17 for 48 yards; Haskel Stanback, 12 for 38 yards; Ricky Patton, 3 for 20 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 7 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 20 for 104 yards; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 46 yards and 2 TDs; Sidney Thornton, 8 for 30 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 5 for 88 yards; Wallace Francis, 4 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 3 for 11 yards; Mike Esposito, 2 for 7 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 7 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for 5 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 6 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Lynn Swann, 3 for 64 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 28 yards; Randy Grossman, 1 for 16 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 3 for 78 yards; George Franklin, 3 for 75 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 1 for 24 yards PIT: Randy Reutershan, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Loren Toews, 1 for 12 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 3 for 102 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 71 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Fred Steinfort, 0/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/1