NFL game summary for 10/08/1978:
The Packers, off to their best start since 1966, generated only 166 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown bomb from David Whitehurst to rookie James Lofton, but capitalized on three Chicago turnovers en route to a 17-0 advantage in the third period. Carl Barzilauskas' interception set up a short touchdown run by Terdell Middleton, and Steve Luke scored on a 63-yard interception return. Earlier, Luke recovered a fumble that led to a field goal by Chester Marcol. Bears' quarterback Bob Avellini hit James Scott with fourth quarter touchdown passes of 15 and 17 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 147.2 (12) | 120.2 (23) | 267.4 (23) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 149.2 (15) | 148.0 (12) | 297.2 (15) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 163.8 (7) | 114.8 (24) | 278.6 (21) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 149.4 (16) | 132.4 (8) | 281.8 (11) | 18 |
Line: Bears by 1½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (3-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Green Bay Packers (5-1-0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
( 0- 3) GB Chester Marcol 41 yard field goal ( 0-10) GB Terdell Middleton 2 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick) ( 0-17) GB Steve Luke 63 yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick) ( 7-17) CHI James Scott 15 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick) ( 7-24) GB James Lofton 58 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick) (14-24) CHI James Scott 17 yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI GB
First Downs: 21 8
Rushes-yards: 40-147 36-98
Yards/rush: 3.7 2.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 23-37-224-3 6-12-88-0
Sacked-yards: 2-14 2-20
Net pass yards: 210 68
Net yards/pass: 5.4 4.9
Total net yards: 357 166
Total plays: 79 (50% run) 50 (72% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 3.3
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 4-2
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 8-70 8-50
Attendance: 56,267
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 23 of 37 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 6 of 12 for 88 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 82 yards; Roland Harper, 18 for 68 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for -3 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 0 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 16 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 15 for 36 yards; Eric Torkelson, 2 for 7 yards; David Whitehurst, 2 for -1 yards; Aundra Thompson, 1 for -8 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 9 for 113 yards and 2 TDs; Golden Richards, 5 for 66 yards; Walter Payton, 5 for 39 yards; Roland Harper, 3 for 4 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 2 yards GB: James Lofton, 2 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Terdell Middleton, 2 for 18 yards; Aundra Thompson, 1 for 6 yards; Barty Smith, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 63 yards; Len Walterscheid, 2 for 39 yards GB: Steve Odom, 1 for 40 yards; Steve Wagner, 1 for 16 yards; Rich McGeorge, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 1 for 7 yards GB: Steve Odom, 4 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Steve Luke, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Mike McCoy, 1 for 23 yards; Carl Barzilauskas, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 245 yards GB: David Beverly, 9 for 336 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1
CHI: Bob Avellini, 23 of 37 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 6 of 12 for 88 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 82 yards; Roland Harper, 18 for 68 yards; Bob Avellini, 2 for -3 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 0 yards GB: Terdell Middleton, 16 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 15 for 36 yards; Eric Torkelson, 2 for 7 yards; David Whitehurst, 2 for -1 yards; Aundra Thompson, 1 for -8 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 9 for 113 yards and 2 TDs; Golden Richards, 5 for 66 yards; Walter Payton, 5 for 39 yards; Roland Harper, 3 for 4 yards; Greg Latta, 1 for 2 yards GB: James Lofton, 2 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Terdell Middleton, 2 for 18 yards; Aundra Thompson, 1 for 6 yards; Barty Smith, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 3 for 63 yards; Len Walterscheid, 2 for 39 yards GB: Steve Odom, 1 for 40 yards; Steve Wagner, 1 for 16 yards; Rich McGeorge, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 1 for 7 yards GB: Steve Odom, 4 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Steve Luke, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Mike McCoy, 1 for 23 yards; Carl Barzilauskas, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 245 yards GB: David Beverly, 9 for 336 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 GB: Chester Marcol, 1/1