NFL game summary for 10/08/1978:
The Browns' ball control offense, led by Cleo Miller (21 carries for 93 yards) and a rejuvenated Calvin Hill, helped snap a two-game losing streak. Hill, signed as a free agent two weeks earlier, contributed 29 yards on Cleveland's initial scoring drive which ended with Miller's short plunge. The Browns opened up a 14-0 second quarter lead before Archie Manning hit Rich Mauti with a scoring pass and Rich Szaro kicked a field goal to draw the Saints within five at halftime. A third period 14-yard touchdown pass from Brian Sipe to rookie Ozzie Newsome put the contest out of reach. Manning connected with running back Tony Galbreath six times in the Saints' 249-yard aerial attack.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.4 (15) | 154.0 (13) | 287.4 (17) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 127.2 (12) | 177.6 (23) | 304.8 (17) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 108.6 (26) | 210.0 (2) | 318.6 (8) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 174.4 (25) | 173.0 (21) | 347.4 (27) | 13 |
Line: Browns by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (4-2-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| New Orleans Saints (2-4-0) | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
( 7- 0) CLE Cleo Miller 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick) (14- 0) CLE Larry Collins 3 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick) (14- 6) NO Rich Mauti 16 yard pass from Archie Manning (kick failed) (14- 9) NO Rich Szaro 20 yard field goal (21- 9) CLE Ozzie Newsome 14 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick) (24- 9) CLE Don Cockroft 40 yard field goal (24-16) NO Archie Manning 1 yard rush (Rich Szaro kick)
CLE NO
First Downs: 20 21
Rushes-yards: 44-179 22-67
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-17-103-1 24-39-249-1
Sacked-yards: 1-11 2-18
Net pass yards: 92 231
Net yards/pass: 5.1 5.6
Total net yards: 271 298
Total plays: 62 (70% run) 63 (34% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 4.7
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 1-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 7-58 10-70
Attendance: 50,158
Passing:
CLE: Brian Sipe, 11 of 17 for 103 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 39 for 249 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Cleo Miller, 21 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 13 for 53 yards; Mike Pruitt, 4 for 10 yards; Larry Collins, 3 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 8 yards; Mark Miller, 1 for 8 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for -2 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 9 for 38 yards; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 11 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Calvin Hill, 4 for 36 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 4 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Dave Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 14 yards; Cleo Miller, 1 for 2 yards NO: Henry Childs, 7 for 86 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 23 yards; Wes Chandler, 4 for 59 yards; Ike Harris, 3 for 32 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Tinker Owens, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 2 for 42 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 1 yard NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 70 yards; Don Schwartz, 1 for 17 yards; Clarence Chapman, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 4 for 39 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Tony Peters, 1 for 7 yards NO: Pat Hughes, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 3 for 154 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 213 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 NO: Rich Szaro, 1/1
CLE: Brian Sipe, 11 of 17 for 103 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 39 for 249 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Cleo Miller, 21 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 13 for 53 yards; Mike Pruitt, 4 for 10 yards; Larry Collins, 3 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 8 yards; Mark Miller, 1 for 8 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for -2 yards NO: Mike Strachan, 9 for 38 yards; Tony Galbreath, 8 for 11 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 2 for 4 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Calvin Hill, 4 for 36 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 4 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Dave Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 14 yards; Cleo Miller, 1 for 2 yards NO: Henry Childs, 7 for 86 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 23 yards; Wes Chandler, 4 for 59 yards; Ike Harris, 3 for 32 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Tinker Owens, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 2 for 42 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 1 yard NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 70 yards; Don Schwartz, 1 for 17 yards; Clarence Chapman, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 4 for 39 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Tony Peters, 1 for 7 yards NO: Pat Hughes, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 3 for 154 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 213 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 NO: Rich Szaro, 1/1