NFL game summary for 10/22/1978:
Tim Mazzetti's 29-yard field goal with five seconds left in the game gave Atlanta a comeback victory. With Atlanta trailing 17-7 with less than eight minutes left, Steve Bartkowski hit Alfred Jenkins with a 71-yard pass that set up a 21-yard Mazzetti field goal. Four minutes later the Falcons tied the score on a 59-yard pass from Bartkowski to Billy Ryckman. A 23-yard pass from Bartkowski to Jim Mitchell was the key play in the decisive drive.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 113.7 (25) | 107.7 (27) | 221.4 (28) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 113.1 (5) | 144.7 (9) | 257.9 (4) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 115.7 (24) | 133.4 (19) | 249.1 (25) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 176.6 (25) | 144.7 (9) | 321.3 (21) | 21 |
Line: Falcons by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (4-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
| San Francisco 49ers (1-7-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
( 0- 7) SF O.J. Simpson 13 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) ( 7- 7) ATL Rick Byas 2 yard return of blocked punt (Tim Mazzetti kick) ( 7-14) SF Scott Bull 15 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) ( 7-17) SF Ray Wersching 35 yard field goal (10-17) ATL Tim Mazzetti 21 yard field goal (17-17) ATL Billy Ryckman 59 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick) (20-17) ATL Tim Mazzetti 29 yard field goal
ATL SF
First Downs: 16 21
Rushes-yards: 34-114 44-208
Yards/rush: 3.4 4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-20-256-0 8-22-79-0
Sacked-yards: 5-40 3-26
Net pass yards: 216 53
Net yards/pass: 8.6 2.1
Total net yards: 330 261
Total plays: 59 (57% run) 69 (63% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 3-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 8-79 5-40
Attendance: 34,133
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 15 of 20 for 256 yards and 1 TD SF: Steve DeBerg, 8 of 22 for 79 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 14 for 65 yards; Bubba Bean, 12 for 35 yards; Ricky Patton, 4 for 4 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 5 yards; Ray Strong, 2 for 5 yards SF: O.J. Simpson, 18 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Bob Ferrell, 18 for 90 yards; Steve DeBerg, 3 for 7 yards; Greg Boykin, 3 for 0 yards; Scott Bull, 2 for 15 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jackson, 4 for 113 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 37 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 24 yards; Billy Ryckman, 2 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 2 for 15 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 1 yard SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 46 yards; Elmo Boyd, 2 for 25 yards; Ken MacAfee, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 3 for 72 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 23 yards SF: Dave Williams, 4 for 82 yards; Mark Nichols, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 10 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 12 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 3 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 7 for 271 yards SF: Mike Connell, 6 for 220 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3 SF: Ray Wersching, 1/2
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 15 of 20 for 256 yards and 1 TD SF: Steve DeBerg, 8 of 22 for 79 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 14 for 65 yards; Bubba Bean, 12 for 35 yards; Ricky Patton, 4 for 4 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 2 for 5 yards; Ray Strong, 2 for 5 yards SF: O.J. Simpson, 18 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Bob Ferrell, 18 for 90 yards; Steve DeBerg, 3 for 7 yards; Greg Boykin, 3 for 0 yards; Scott Bull, 2 for 15 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jackson, 4 for 113 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 37 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 24 yards; Billy Ryckman, 2 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 2 for 15 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 1 yard SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 46 yards; Elmo Boyd, 2 for 25 yards; Ken MacAfee, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 3 for 72 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 23 yards SF: Dave Williams, 4 for 82 yards; Mark Nichols, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 10 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 12 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 3 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 7 for 271 yards SF: Mike Connell, 6 for 220 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3 SF: Ray Wersching, 1/2