NFL game summary for 11/12/1978:
Steve Bartkowski connected with Alfred Jackson on a desperation 57-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to give the Falcons their fourth straight win. The victory boosted Atlanta's record to 7-4 and kept their playoff hopes alive. The Falcons, trailing 17-6 late in the fourth quarter, cut the deficit to 17-13 on Haskel Stanback's one-yard run with one minute left in the game. New Orleans recovered the ensuing onside kick but turned the ball over on downs at the Atlanta 43 with 19 seconds remaining. Bartkowski and Jackson teamed up for the game-winner on the first play.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 107.0 (27) | 124.1 (24) | 231.1 (28) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 121.2 (7) | 125.6 (3) | 246.8 (2) | 29 | |
 | OFFENSE | 106.7 (28) | 186.9 (6) | 293.6 (16) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 163.2 (24) | 157.1 (14) | 320.3 (22) | 33 |
Line: Saints by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (7-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| New Orleans Saints (5-6-0) | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
( 0- 3) NO Steve Mike-Mayer 21 yard field goal
( 3- 3) ATL Tim Mazzetti 22 yard field goal
( 3-10) NO Tony Galbreath 1 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 3-17) NO Henry Childs 14 yard pass from Archie Manning (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 6-17) ATL Tim Mazzetti 32 yard field goal
(13-17) ATL Haskel Stanback 1 yard rush (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(20-17) ATL Alfred Jackson 57 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
ATL NO
First Downs: 16 22
Rushes-yards: 22-74 49-166
Yards/rush: 3.4 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-33-218-1 17-31-205-0
Sacked-yards: 1-8 3-24
Net pass yards: 210 181
Net yards/pass: 6.2 5.3
Total net yards: 284 347
Total plays: 56 (39% run) 83 (59% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 4-2
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 6-44 7-72
Attendance: 70,323
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 16 of 33 for 218 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 25 for 169 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Scott, 3 of 5 for 36 yards; Chuck Muncie, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 13 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 8 for 45 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 0 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 18 for 63 yards; Tony Galbreath, 17 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Mike Strachan, 8 for 28 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 16 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 1 yard; Bobby Scott, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Blanchard, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 68 yards; Bubba Bean, 3 for 6 yards; Ray Strong, 2 for 28 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 24 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 23 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 57 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 1 for 8 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 4 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 7 for 117 yards; Ike Harris, 4 for 46 yards; Henry Childs, 2 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 2 for 6 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 5 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 49 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 14 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 2 for 39 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 9 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 16 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Joe Federspiel, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 218 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 4 for 173 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/2 NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/1
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 16 of 33 for 218 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 14 of 25 for 169 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Scott, 3 of 5 for 36 yards; Chuck Muncie, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 13 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 8 for 45 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 0 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 18 for 63 yards; Tony Galbreath, 17 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Mike Strachan, 8 for 28 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 16 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 1 yard; Bobby Scott, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Blanchard, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 68 yards; Bubba Bean, 3 for 6 yards; Ray Strong, 2 for 28 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 24 yards; Wallace Francis, 2 for 23 yards; Alfred Jackson, 1 for 57 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 1 for 8 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 4 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 7 for 117 yards; Ike Harris, 4 for 46 yards; Henry Childs, 2 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 2 for 6 yards; Chuck Muncie, 1 for 5 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 49 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 25 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 14 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 2 for 39 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 9 yards NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 16 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Joe Federspiel, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 218 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 4 for 173 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/2 NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/1