NFL game summary for 10/15/1978:
Mike Strachan and Ike Harris provided first half touchdowns and the Saints' defense forced six 49ers turnovers on the way to their third win. Joe Campbell's sack of San Francisco quarterback Steve DeBerg caused a fumble that set up a two-yard run by Strachan in the opening quarter. Archie Manning, who had been averaging 33 passes a game, completed only two of four attempts, one a 15-yard touchdown to Harris. The 49ers had a chance to tie the score after DeBerg connected with Freddie Solomon on a 22-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter, but Elex Price's sack of DeBerg ended any hopes for overtime.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 101.7 (28) | 213.5 (2) | 315.2 (8) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 175.2 (24) | 159.5 (17) | 334.7 (24) | 16 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.7 (20) | 138.8 (19) | 261.5 (22) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 176.8 (25) | 163.7 (18) | 340.5 (26) | 21 |
Line: 49ers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (3-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| San Francisco 49ers (1-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
( 7- 0) NO Mike Strachan 2 yard rush (Tom Jurich kick)
(14- 0) NO Ike Harris 15 yard pass from Archie Manning (Tom Jurich kick)
(14- 7) SF Freddie Solomon 22 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Ray Wersching kick)
NO SF
First Downs: 12 12
Rushes-yards: 55-175 27-74
Yards/rush: 3.2 2.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 2-4-31-0 16-37-147-2
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-46
Net pass yards: 31 101
Net yards/pass: 7.8 2.5
Total net yards: 206 175
Total plays: 59 (93% run) 68 (39% run)
Yards/play: 3.5 2.6
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 5-4
Turnovers: 0 6
Penalties-yards: 6-73 4-25
Attendance: 37,671
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 2 of 4 for 31 yards and 1 TD SF: Steve DeBerg, 16 of 37 for 147 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 18 for 82 yards; Chuck Muncie, 18 for 50 yards; Mike Strachan, 15 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 3 for 10 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 0 yards SF: O.J. Simpson, 17 for 37 yards; Greg Boykin, 9 for 32 yards; Paul Hofer, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 1 for 16 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Greg Boykin, 4 for 27 yards; Elmo Boyd, 2 for 25 yards; Ken MacAfee, 2 for 11 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 6 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for 20 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 15 yards SF: Ernie Hughes, 2 for 33 yards; Fred Quillan, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Don Schwartz, 1 for 4 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 3 yards SF: Larry Jones, 4 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Mo Spencer, 1 for 25 yards; Joe Federspiel, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 296 yards SF: Mike Connell, 5 for 177 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Tom Jurich, 0/3
NO: Archie Manning, 2 of 4 for 31 yards and 1 TD SF: Steve DeBerg, 16 of 37 for 147 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 18 for 82 yards; Chuck Muncie, 18 for 50 yards; Mike Strachan, 15 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 3 for 10 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 0 yards SF: O.J. Simpson, 17 for 37 yards; Greg Boykin, 9 for 32 yards; Paul Hofer, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 1 for 16 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Greg Boykin, 4 for 27 yards; Elmo Boyd, 2 for 25 yards; Ken MacAfee, 2 for 11 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 6 yards; Paul Seal, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for 20 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 15 yards SF: Ernie Hughes, 2 for 33 yards; Fred Quillan, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Don Schwartz, 1 for 4 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 3 yards SF: Larry Jones, 4 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Mo Spencer, 1 for 25 yards; Joe Federspiel, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 296 yards SF: Mike Connell, 5 for 177 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Tom Jurich, 0/3