All NFL game summaries for 11/23/1978:
Scott Laidlaw rushed for 122 yards and scored twice, Larry Brinson romped 39 yards for a touchdown, and the Dallas defense held Washington to 201 total yards as the Cowboys assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Dallas' potent offense built a 20-0 halftime lead on the way to a 507-yard day.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 134.0 (19) | 161.0 (13) | 295.0 (16) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 150.9 (20) | 152.8 (10) | 303.8 (16) | 26 | |
 | OFFENSE | 171.6 (3) | 200.2 (1) | 371.8 (1) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 101.7 (1) | 155.3 (11) | 257.0 (3) | 23 |
Line: Cowboys by 11½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins (8-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Dallas Cowboys (9-4-0) | 13 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 37 |
( 0- 3) DAL Rafael Septien 33 yard field goal
( 0- 6) DAL Rafael Septien 21 yard field goal
( 0-13) DAL Scott Laidlaw 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 0-20) DAL Drew Pearson 53 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 3-20) WAS Mark Moseley 48 yard field goal
( 3-23) DAL Rafael Septien 44 yard field goal
( 3-30) DAL Scott Laidlaw 2 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
( 3-37) DAL Larry Brinson 39 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(10-37) WAS Jean Fugett 16 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)
WAS DAL
First Downs: 11 26
Rushes-yards: 29-81 54-289
Yards/rush: 2.8 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-24-150-0 9-19-218-1
Sacked-yards: 3-30 0-0
Net pass yards: 120 218
Net yards/pass: 4.4 11.5
Total net yards: 201 507
Total plays: 56 (51% run) 73 (73% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 6.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 11-100 8-81
Attendance: 64,905
Passing:
WAS: Joe Theismann, 10 of 24 for 150 yards and 1 TD DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 19 for 218 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 12 for 40 yards; Mike Thomas, 12 for 24 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 17 yards; Benny Malone, 2 for 0 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 21 for 72 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 16 for 122 yards and 2 TDs; Roger Staubach, 7 for 27 yards; Preston Pearson, 5 for 14 yards; Larry Brinson, 4 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Danny White, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Ricky Thompson, 3 for 64 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 28 yards; John Riggins, 2 for 24 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 18 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD DAL: Drew Pearson, 4 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 3 for 94 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 6 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 2 for 36 yards; Don Harris, 2 for 31 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 21 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 20 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 39 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 1 for -3 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Gerard Williams, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 9 for 354 yards DAL: Danny White, 2 for 84 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/2 DAL: Rafael Septien, 3/4
WAS: Joe Theismann, 10 of 24 for 150 yards and 1 TD DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 19 for 218 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 12 for 40 yards; Mike Thomas, 12 for 24 yards; Joe Theismann, 3 for 17 yards; Benny Malone, 2 for 0 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 21 for 72 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 16 for 122 yards and 2 TDs; Roger Staubach, 7 for 27 yards; Preston Pearson, 5 for 14 yards; Larry Brinson, 4 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Danny White, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Ricky Thompson, 3 for 64 yards; Mike Thomas, 2 for 28 yards; John Riggins, 2 for 24 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 18 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD DAL: Drew Pearson, 4 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 3 for 94 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 6 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 2 for 36 yards; Don Harris, 2 for 31 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 21 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 20 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 39 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Tony Green, 1 for -3 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Gerard Williams, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 9 for 354 yards DAL: Danny White, 2 for 84 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/2 DAL: Rafael Septien, 3/4
Horace King's one-yard touchdown run in the fourth period capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive and gave the Lions the interconference win. Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Rick Kane's two-yard touchdown plunge culminated a 90-yard Detroit drive. Craig Morton followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Riley Odoms for a 7-7 halftime deadlock. The Lions' defense sacked Morton six times to increase its NFL lead to 48 sacks. Jim Turner's 51-yard attempt at a tying field goal fell short as time expired.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 159.3 (5) | 144.2 (19) | 303.6 (13) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 127.0 (10) | 161.9 (16) | 288.9 (11) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 141.1 (15) | 131.3 (23) | 272.4 (22) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 139.2 (13) | 141.0 (6) | 280.2 (6) | 29 |
Line: Broncos by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (8-5-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Detroit Lions (5-8-0) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 7) DET Rick Kane 2 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7- 7) DEN Riley Odoms 10 yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick)
( 7-10) DET Benny Ricardo 19 yard field goal
(14-10) DEN Larry Canada 2 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(14-17) DET Horace King 1 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
DEN DET
First Downs: 16 15
Rushes-yards: 31-128 37-139
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-22-146-0 10-18-112-1
Sacked-yards: 6-41 1-7
Net pass yards: 105 105
Net yards/pass: 3.8 5.5
Total net yards: 233 244
Total plays: 59 (52% run) 56 (66% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-0
Turnovers: 1 1
Penalties-yards: 9-74 3-15
Attendance: 71,785
Passing:
DEN: Craig Morton, 11 of 22 for 146 yards and 1 TD DET: Gary Danielson, 10 of 18 for 112 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Rob Lytle, 10 for 39 yards; Otis Armstrong, 7 for 40 yards; Jon Keyworth, 5 for 17 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 4 for 21 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 4 yards; Larry Canada, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 1 for 4 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 16 for 56 yards; Horace King, 11 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Rick Kane, 5 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 20 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 17 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 26 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 24 yards; Vince Kinney, 1 for 23 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 8 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 5 yards DET: David Hill, 4 for 56 yards; Horace King, 3 for -2 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 44 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 3 for 49 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 20 yards DET: Rick Kane, 1 for 23 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 5 for 84 yards DET: James Hunter, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 237 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 252 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
DEN: Craig Morton, 11 of 22 for 146 yards and 1 TD DET: Gary Danielson, 10 of 18 for 112 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Rob Lytle, 10 for 39 yards; Otis Armstrong, 7 for 40 yards; Jon Keyworth, 5 for 17 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 4 for 21 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 4 yards; Larry Canada, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Craig Morton, 1 for 4 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 16 for 56 yards; Horace King, 11 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Rick Kane, 5 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 20 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 17 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 26 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 24 yards; Vince Kinney, 1 for 23 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 8 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 5 yards DET: David Hill, 4 for 56 yards; Horace King, 3 for -2 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 44 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 3 for 49 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 20 yards DET: Rick Kane, 1 for 23 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 5 for 84 yards DET: James Hunter, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 237 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 252 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1