NFL game summary for 11/20/1978:
Earl Campbell ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns to become the NFL's ninth rookie 1,000-yard rusher, and Houston moved within two games of the Steelers in the AFC Central. Miami took a 23-21 lead early in the final period when A. J. Duhe sacked Dan Pastorini in the end zone. Campbell scored twice in the final seven minutes, the second time on a run of 81 yards. Miami's Bob Griese completed 23 of 33 passes for 349 yards for the Dolphins, who remained one game behind New England in the AFC East.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 160.8 (4) | 137.8 (21) | 298.6 (14) | 19 |
| DEFENSE | 147.8 (16) | 175.0 (24) | 322.8 (24) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.7 (6) | 154.0 (15) | 311.7 (7) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 129.2 (11) | 157.9 (13) | 287.1 (11) | 26 |
Line: Oilers by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (8-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 30 |
| Houston Oilers (8-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
( 7- 0) MIA Nat Moore 10 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Earl Campbell 1 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7-14) HOU Mike Barber 15 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
(14-14) MIA Delvin Williams 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(14-21) HOU Earl Campbell 6 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(21-21) MIA Leroy Harris 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(23-21) MIA Safety, Dan Pastorini tackled in end zone by A.J. Duhe
(23-28) HOU Earl Campbell 12 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(23-35) HOU Earl Campbell 81 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(30-35) MIA Jimmy Cefalo 11 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
MIA HOU
First Downs: 27 23
Rushes-yards: 32-127 42-265
Yards/rush: 4.0 6.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 23-33-349-1 10-15-156-1
Sacked-yards: 3-22 2-15
Net pass yards: 327 141
Net yards/pass: 9.1 8.3
Total net yards: 454 406
Total plays: 68 (47% run) 59 (71% run)
Yards/play: 6.7 6.9
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 9-96 8-58
Attendance: 50,290
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 23 of 33 for 349 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 10 of 15 for 156 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Delvin Williams, 18 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Harris, 12 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Nat Moore, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 28 for 199 yards and 4 TDs; Tim Wilson, 10 for 35 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 9 yards; Mike Barber, 1 for 13 yards; Mike Renfro, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Leroy Harris, 5 for 25 yards; Duriel Harris, 4 for 79 yards; Nat Moore, 3 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 3 for 45 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 37 yards; Delvin Williams, 2 for 20 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 39 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 1 for 9 yards HOU: Mike Barber, 3 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 2 for 37 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 31 yards; Mike Renfro, 2 for 24 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 5 for 108 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 27 yards HOU: Larry Poole, 2 for 56 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jimmy Cefalo, 3 for 33 yards; Charlie Babb, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Guido Merkens, 3 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Steve Kiner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 232 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 171 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Bob Griese, 23 of 33 for 349 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 10 of 15 for 156 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Delvin Williams, 18 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Harris, 12 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Nat Moore, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 28 for 199 yards and 4 TDs; Tim Wilson, 10 for 35 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 9 yards; Mike Barber, 1 for 13 yards; Mike Renfro, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Leroy Harris, 5 for 25 yards; Duriel Harris, 4 for 79 yards; Nat Moore, 3 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 3 for 45 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 37 yards; Delvin Williams, 2 for 20 yards; Bo Rather, 1 for 39 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 1 for 9 yards HOU: Mike Barber, 3 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 2 for 37 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 31 yards; Mike Renfro, 2 for 24 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 5 for 108 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 27 yards HOU: Larry Poole, 2 for 56 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jimmy Cefalo, 3 for 33 yards; Charlie Babb, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Guido Merkens, 3 for 26 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Steve Kiner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 232 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 171 yards
Field Goals: