NFL game summary for 10/30/1978:
Free agent kicker Tim Mazzetti, signed just three weeks earlier, tied a club record with five field goals to extend the Falcons' winning streak to three games, their longest since 1973. Mazzetti's 30-yarder, which boosted Atlanta into a 9-7 lead early in the final quarter, came after the Falcons stopped Cullen Bryant on fourth-and-one at midfield. Atlanta's defense also contributed a blocked punt, three interceptions and a fumble recovery to help erase a 7-6 Los Angeles advantage that was built on a 10-yard Pat Haden-to-Ron Jessie pass. The Falcons moved to within two games of the first-place Rams in the NFC West. Los Angeles lost its second consecutive contest after seven victories.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.9 (12) | 178.6 (8) | 329.5 (5) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 95.4 (1) | 110.5 (1) | 205.9 (1) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 113.8 (25) | 121.2 (24) | 235.0 (28) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 125.0 (8) | 133.2 (4) | 258.2 (3) | 21 |
Line: Rams by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (7-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Atlanta Falcons (5-4-0) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 15 |
( 7- 0) LA Ron Jessie 10 yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick)
( 7- 3) ATL Tim Mazzetti 21 yard field goal
( 7- 6) ATL Tim Mazzetti 37 yard field goal
( 7- 9) ATL Tim Mazzetti 30 yard field goal
( 7-12) ATL Tim Mazzetti 26 yard field goal
( 7-15) ATL Tim Mazzetti 37 yard field goal
LA ATL
First Downs: 14 9
Rushes-yards: 33-94 39-98
Yards/rush: 2.8 2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-27-180-3 8-17-103-1
Sacked-yards: 5-40 2-16
Net pass yards: 140 87
Net yards/pass: 4.4 4.6
Total net yards: 234 185
Total plays: 65 (50% run) 58 (67% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 4-1
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 2-10 5-42
Attendance: 57,250
Passing:
LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 23 for 130 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Vince Ferragamo, 2 of 4 for 50 yards ATL: June Jones, 7 of 11 for 87 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 of 6 for 16 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 12 for 50 yards; John Cappelletti, 10 for 6 yards; Cullen Bryant, 6 for 17 yards; Pat Haden, 2 for 7 yards; Rod Phillips, 2 for 2 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for 12 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 21 for 51 yards; Bubba Bean, 15 for 44 yards; June Jones, 2 for -4 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
LA: Ron Jessie, 4 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Billy Waddy, 3 for 50 yards; Willie Miller, 3 for 46 yards; Dwight Scales, 2 for 34 yards; Terry Nelson, 2 for 12 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for -6 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 2 for 40 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 19 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 16 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 16 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Jerry Latin, 4 for 70 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 23 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 14 yards ATL: Dennis Pearson, 1 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 19 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 24 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 2 for 19 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 156 yards ATL: John James, 7 for 282 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 0/2 ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 5/5
LA: Pat Haden, 13 of 23 for 130 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Vince Ferragamo, 2 of 4 for 50 yards ATL: June Jones, 7 of 11 for 87 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 of 6 for 16 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 12 for 50 yards; John Cappelletti, 10 for 6 yards; Cullen Bryant, 6 for 17 yards; Pat Haden, 2 for 7 yards; Rod Phillips, 2 for 2 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for 12 yards ATL: Haskel Stanback, 21 for 51 yards; Bubba Bean, 15 for 44 yards; June Jones, 2 for -4 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
LA: Ron Jessie, 4 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Billy Waddy, 3 for 50 yards; Willie Miller, 3 for 46 yards; Dwight Scales, 2 for 34 yards; Terry Nelson, 2 for 12 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for -6 yards ATL: Alfred Jackson, 2 for 40 yards; Bubba Bean, 2 for 19 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 16 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 16 yards; Wallace Francis, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Jerry Latin, 4 for 70 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 23 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 14 yards ATL: Dennis Pearson, 1 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 19 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Bill Simpson, 1 for 24 yards ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 2 for 19 yards; Rick Byas, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 4 for 156 yards ATL: John James, 7 for 282 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 0/2 ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 5/5