NFL game summary for 10/15/1978:
Sam Cunningham scored from three yards out with 6:56 remaining in the game to break a 3-3 tie and lift New England to the victory. Cincinnati matched the Patriots for three periods on the strength of Chris Bahr's 52-yard field goal. The Bengals' Ken Anderson completed 24 of 42 passes for 223 yards but had three interceptions, two in the final minutes. Steve Grogan marched the Patriots 66 yards in 17 plays and his nine-yard run on third down set up Cunningham's winning touchdown.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 191.5 (2) | 190.7 (5) | 382.2 (2) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 108.7 (3) | 179.5 (22) | 288.2 (12) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 101.8 (27) | 150.3 (13) | 252.2 (25) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 169.7 (23) | 156.7 (16) | 326.3 (23) | 14 |
Line: Patriots by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (5-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (0-7-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
( 3- 0) NE David Posey 19 yard field goal
( 3- 3) CIN Chris Bahr 52 yard field goal
(10- 3) NE Sam Cunningham 3 yard rush (David Posey kick)
NE CIN
First Downs: 19 17
Rushes-yards: 35-136 25-73
Yards/rush: 3.9 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-27-184-2 24-42-223-3
Sacked-yards: 2-22 2-17
Net pass yards: 162 206
Net yards/pass: 5.6 4.7
Total net yards: 298 279
Total plays: 64 (54% run) 69 (36% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 14-125 11-84
Attendance: 48,699
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 26 for 184 yards (2 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 24 of 42 for 223 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 11 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 9 for 45 yards; Steve Grogan, 7 for 48 yards; Horace Ivory, 5 for 14 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 10 yards CIN: Archie Griffin, 8 for 8 yards; Boobie Clark, 7 for 39 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 7 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 17 yards; Pete Johnson, 1 for 3 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Dennis Law, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 66 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 42 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 44 yards; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 13 yards; Horace Ivory, 1 for 13 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 6 yards CIN: Rick Walker, 6 for 56 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 6 for 41 yards; Billy Brooks, 5 for 46 yards; Isaac Curtis, 4 for 58 yards; Archie Griffin, 2 for 16 yards; Pete Johnson, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 17 yards CIN: Ray Griffin, 3 for 74 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 41 yards CIN: Dennis Law, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
NE: Tim Fox, 2 for 10 yards; Steve Zabel, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Louis Breeden, 1 for 18 yards; Scott Perry, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
NE: Jerrel Wilson, 6 for 222 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 4 for 190 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/1 CIN: Chris Bahr, 1/4
NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 26 for 184 yards (2 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 24 of 42 for 223 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 11 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 9 for 45 yards; Steve Grogan, 7 for 48 yards; Horace Ivory, 5 for 14 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 10 yards CIN: Archie Griffin, 8 for 8 yards; Boobie Clark, 7 for 39 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 4 for 7 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 17 yards; Pete Johnson, 1 for 3 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Dennis Law, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 66 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 42 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 44 yards; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 13 yards; Horace Ivory, 1 for 13 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 6 yards CIN: Rick Walker, 6 for 56 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 6 for 41 yards; Billy Brooks, 5 for 46 yards; Isaac Curtis, 4 for 58 yards; Archie Griffin, 2 for 16 yards; Pete Johnson, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 17 yards CIN: Ray Griffin, 3 for 74 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 41 yards CIN: Dennis Law, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
NE: Tim Fox, 2 for 10 yards; Steve Zabel, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Louis Breeden, 1 for 18 yards; Scott Perry, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
NE: Jerrel Wilson, 6 for 222 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 4 for 190 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/1 CIN: Chris Bahr, 1/4