NFL game summary for 10/08/1978:
The Patriots rolled to their third consecutive victory with a balanced offensive performance and a club record three fumble recoveries by Steve Nelson. Sam Cunningham's 25 carries for 76 yards paced a 205-yard ground attack against the NFC's top rushing defense. Steve Grogan passed for 189 yards and one touchdown. Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael extended his pass-catching streak to 86 games. The Eagles were held under 300 yards for the first time in five games.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 186.0 (4) | 132.6 (20) | 318.6 (8) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 95.8 (1) | 148.4 (13) | 244.2 (4) | 12 | |
 | OFFENSE | 188.8 (2) | 191.0 (6) | 379.8 (2) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 109.0 (5) | 178.2 (24) | 287.2 (14) | 15 |
Line: Patriots by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles (3-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| New England Patriots (4-2-0) | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
( 0- 7) NE Don Calhoun 4 yard rush (David Posey kick)
( 0-10) NE David Posey 42 yard field goal
( 0-17) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (David Posey kick)
( 7-17) PHI Harold Carmichael 28 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
( 7-24) NE Stanley Morgan 58 yard pass from Steve Grogan (David Posey kick)
(14-24) PHI John Sciarra 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
PHI NE
First Downs: 17 22
Rushes-yards: 24-107 50-205
Yards/rush: 4.5 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-39-189-0 12-24-189-1
Sacked-yards: 1-3 0-0
Net pass yards: 186 189
Net yards/pass: 4.7 7.9
Total net yards: 293 394
Total plays: 64 (37% run) 74 (67% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-4 3-3
Turnovers: 4 4
Penalties-yards: 7-42 7-54
Attendance: 61,016
Passing:
PHI: Ron Jaworski, 18 of 39 for 189 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 23 for 189 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
PHI: Wilbert Montgomery, 13 for 70 yards; Mike Hogan, 6 for 21 yards; Ron Jaworski, 2 for 7 yards; Frank LeMaster, 1 for 6 yards; Cleveland Franklin, 1 for 2 yards; John Sciarra, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 11 for 51 yards; Horace Ivory, 7 for 42 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 28 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
PHI: Mike Hogan, 7 for 47 yards; Keith Krepfle, 5 for 57 yards; Harold Carmichael, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Wilbert Montgomery, 2 for 17 yards; Ken Payne, 1 for 14 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 5 for 58 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Russ Francis, 2 for 11 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 10 yards; Horace Ivory, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
PHI: Billy Campfield, 3 for 69 yards; James Betterson, 2 for 58 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 2 for 46 yards; James McAlister, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
PHI: John Sciarra, 2 for 16 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
PHI: Herman Edwards, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PHI: Rick Engles, 5 for 194 yards NE: Jerrel Wilson, 3 for 90 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/2
PHI: Ron Jaworski, 18 of 39 for 189 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 23 for 189 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
PHI: Wilbert Montgomery, 13 for 70 yards; Mike Hogan, 6 for 21 yards; Ron Jaworski, 2 for 7 yards; Frank LeMaster, 1 for 6 yards; Cleveland Franklin, 1 for 2 yards; John Sciarra, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 11 for 51 yards; Horace Ivory, 7 for 42 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 28 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
PHI: Mike Hogan, 7 for 47 yards; Keith Krepfle, 5 for 57 yards; Harold Carmichael, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Wilbert Montgomery, 2 for 17 yards; Ken Payne, 1 for 14 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 5 for 58 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Russ Francis, 2 for 11 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 10 yards; Horace Ivory, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
PHI: Billy Campfield, 3 for 69 yards; James Betterson, 2 for 58 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 2 for 46 yards; James McAlister, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
PHI: John Sciarra, 2 for 16 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
PHI: Herman Edwards, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PHI: Rick Engles, 5 for 194 yards NE: Jerrel Wilson, 3 for 90 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/2