NFL game summary for 11/19/1978:
Dallas capitalized on two Saints' errors to overcome a 7-0 deficit. Tony Dorsett, who became the third player ever to rush for over 1,000 yards in his first two NFL seasons (25 carries for 152 yards), scored from two yards after Thomas Henderson's fumble recovery. Larry Cole's interception led to a one-yard touchdown run by Roger Staubach. The victory moved Dallas into a first place tie with Washington in the NFC East.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 112.1 (26) | 186.4 (6) | 298.5 (15) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 155.1 (22) | 161.9 (19) | 317.0 (22) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 169.2 (3) | 208.8 (1) | 378.0 (1) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 105.3 (2) | 149.9 (9) | 255.2 (2) | 19 |
Line: Cowboys by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (5-7-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Dallas Cowboys (8-4-0) | 0 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
( 7- 0) NO Chuck Muncie 1 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 7- 7) DAL Tony Dorsett 2 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7-14) DAL Roger Staubach 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7-21) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 24 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7-24) DAL Rafael Septien 24 yard field goal
( 7-27) DAL Rafael Septien 26 yard field goal
NO DAL
First Downs: 15 17
Rushes-yards: 17-62 42-198
Yards/rush: 3.6 4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-39-235-3 9-15-141-0
Sacked-yards: 2-20 4-35
Net pass yards: 215 106
Net yards/pass: 5.2 5.6
Total net yards: 277 304
Total plays: 58 (29% run) 61 (68% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-0
Turnovers: 4 0
Penalties-yards: 6-50 6-65
Attendance: 57,920
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 38 for 235 yards (3 int); Ike Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 15 for 141 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 8 for 22 yards; Chuck Muncie, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 2 for 14 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 25 for 152 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 11 for 33 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 5 yards; Alois Blackwell, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Brinson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 7 for 66 yards; Ike Harris, 5 for 62 yards; Henry Childs, 4 for 42 yards; Chuck Muncie, 3 for 33 yards; Tinker Owens, 3 for 32 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 5 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for -5 yards DAL: Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 2 for 29 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 17 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 14 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 4 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 95 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 45 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 75 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 5 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 3 for 16 yards; Butch Johnson, 2 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Randy Hughes, 1 for 56 yards; Larry Cole, 1 for 13 yards; Benny Barnes, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 237 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 230 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/3
NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 38 for 235 yards (3 int); Ike Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 15 for 141 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 8 for 22 yards; Chuck Muncie, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 2 for 14 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 25 for 152 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 11 for 33 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 5 yards; Alois Blackwell, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Brinson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 7 for 66 yards; Ike Harris, 5 for 62 yards; Henry Childs, 4 for 42 yards; Chuck Muncie, 3 for 33 yards; Tinker Owens, 3 for 32 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 5 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for -5 yards DAL: Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 2 for 29 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 17 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 14 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 4 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 95 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 45 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 75 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 2 for 5 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 3 for 16 yards; Butch Johnson, 2 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Randy Hughes, 1 for 56 yards; Larry Cole, 1 for 13 yards; Benny Barnes, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 237 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 230 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/3