NFL game summary for 11/26/1978:
Steve Bartkowski's one-yard touchdown pass to Jim Mitchell with just five seconds remaining capped a 72-yard drive and provided the Falcons with a miracle comeback win over the Saints for the second time in three weeks. Tim Mazzetti's 28-yard field goal with 3:07 left cut New Orleans' margin to four points. Atlanta regained possession with just 53 seconds remaining and moved the ball to the Saints' 1-yard line to set up Bartkowski's short toss to Mitchell.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 107.9 (26) | 188.8 (3) | 296.7 (15) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 158.7 (23) | 157.2 (11) | 315.9 (21) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 107.8 (27) | 137.2 (22) | 244.9 (28) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 124.1 (9) | 125.8 (3) | 249.8 (2) | 31 |
Line: Falcons by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (5-8-0) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Atlanta Falcons (8-5-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
( 0- 7) ATL Haskel Stanback 3 yard rush (Tim Mazzetti kick) ( 7- 7) NO Larry Hardy 71 yard pass from Archie Manning (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) ( 7-10) ATL Tim Mazzetti 39 yard field goal (14-10) NO Chuck Muncie 28 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) (17-10) NO Steve Mike-Mayer 18 yard field goal (17-13) ATL Tim Mazzetti 28 yard field goal (17-20) ATL Jim Mitchell 1 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
NO ATL
First Downs: 13 25
Rushes-yards: 33-130 35-130
Yards/rush: 3.9 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-24-241-1 23-44-266-3
Sacked-yards: 4-36 2-11
Net pass yards: 205 255
Net yards/pass: 7.3 5.5
Total net yards: 335 385
Total plays: 61 (54% run) 81 (43% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 2-1
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 6-74 6-45
Attendance: 55,121
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 24 for 241 yards and 1 TD (1 int) ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 23 of 43 for 266 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Bubba Bean, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 17 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 13 for 46 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 22 yards; Tom Blanchard, 1 for 0 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for -1 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 19 for 93 yards; Haskel Stanback, 11 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 3 for 7 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 2 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 31 yards; Tinker Owens, 4 for 16 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 100 yards; Larry Hardy, 1 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 1 for 23 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 69 yards; Alfred Jackson, 4 for 55 yards; Wallace Francis, 4 for 53 yards; Jim Mitchell, 4 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 3 for 35 yards; Haskel Stanback, 3 for 18 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 3 for 60 yards; Wes Chandler, 2 for 24 yards ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 47 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 19 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 13 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Tom Myers, 2 for 16 yards; Pat Hughes, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Wilson Faumuina, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 247 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2 ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3
NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 24 for 241 yards and 1 TD (1 int) ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 23 of 43 for 266 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Bubba Bean, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 17 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 13 for 46 yards; Ike Harris, 1 for 22 yards; Tom Blanchard, 1 for 0 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for -1 yards ATL: Bubba Bean, 19 for 93 yards; Haskel Stanback, 11 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Ricky Patton, 3 for 7 yards; Steve Bartkowski, 1 for 2 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Wes Chandler, 4 for 31 yards; Tinker Owens, 4 for 16 yards; Henry Childs, 3 for 100 yards; Larry Hardy, 1 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 1 for 23 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 4 for 69 yards; Alfred Jackson, 4 for 55 yards; Wallace Francis, 4 for 53 yards; Jim Mitchell, 4 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bubba Bean, 3 for 35 yards; Haskel Stanback, 3 for 18 yards; Dennis Pearson, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 3 for 60 yards; Wes Chandler, 2 for 24 yards ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 47 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 19 yards; Ray Strong, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 3 for 13 yards ATL: Billy Ryckman, 3 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Tom Myers, 2 for 16 yards; Pat Hughes, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Wilson Faumuina, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 247 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2 ATL: Tim Mazzetti, 2/3