NFL game summary for 12/03/1978:
Los Angeles took advantage of three New York miscues to beat the Giants and win a record sixth straight division title. Pat Thomas gave the Rams a 17-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter by returning an interception 33 yards for a touchdown. The margin was increased moments later when Dave Elmendorf returned a fumble 39 yards to set up Frank Corral's 35 yard field goal. The Giants scored with 23 seconds left on Willie Spencer's one-yard run.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 145.8 (9) | 183.1 (7) | 328.9 (4) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 109.5 (2) | 117.5 (1) | 227.1 (1) | 32 | |
 | OFFENSE | 141.5 (14) | 138.3 (22) | 279.8 (22) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 167.5 (26) | 156.2 (12) | 323.7 (22) | 32 |
Line: Rams by 7½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (11-3-0) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| New York Giants (5-9-0) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
( 3- 0) LA Frank Corral 27 yard field goal
(10- 0) LA Cullen Bryant 6 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
(10- 7) NYG Gary Shirk 4 yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Joe Danelo kick)
(10-10) NYG Joe Danelo 27 yard field goal
(17-10) LA Pat Thomas 33 yard interception return (Frank Corral kick)
(20-10) LA Frank Corral 35 yard field goal
(20-17) NYG Willie Spencer 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
LA NYG First Downs: 13 18 Rushes-yards: 36-98 38-185 Yards/rush: 2.7 4.9 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-25-102-0 12-34-155-4 Sacked-yards: 1-8 1-7 Net pass yards: 94 148 Net yards/pass: 3.6 4.2 Total net yards: 192 333 Total plays: 62 (58% run) 73 (52% run) Yards/play: 3.1 4.6 Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-1 Turnovers: 0 5 Penalties-yards: 8-50 6-40 Attendance: 62,629
Passing:
LA: Pat Haden, 12 of 25 for 102 yards NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 8 of 20 for 117 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Randy Dean, 4 of 14 for 38 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 20 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Jim Jodat, 8 for 22 yards; Rod Phillips, 4 for 9 yards; Pat Haden, 3 for 0 yards; Charle Young, 1 for 1 yard NYG: Doug Kotar, 15 for 50 yards; Dan Doornink, 10 for 58 yards; Randy Dean, 6 for 63 yards; Willie Spencer, 4 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Larry Csonka, 2 for 2 yards; Joe Pisarcik, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
LA: Charle Young, 3 for 48 yards; Ron Jessie, 3 for 31 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 7 yards; Preston Dennard, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 8 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 2 yards; Willie Miller, 1 for -9 yards NYG: Dan Doornink, 5 for 39 yards; Jim Robinson, 4 for 66 yards; Johnny Perkins, 2 for 46 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Jim Jodat, 2 for 50 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 24 yards NYG: Emery Moorehead, 1 for 29 yards; John Skorupan, 1 for 17 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 14 yards; Ernest Pough, 1 for 13 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 66 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 2 for 3 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 36 yards; Pat Thomas, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Bill Simpson, 1 for 15 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 8 for 264 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 202 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 2/3 NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1
LA: Pat Haden, 12 of 25 for 102 yards NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 8 of 20 for 117 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Randy Dean, 4 of 14 for 38 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 20 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Jim Jodat, 8 for 22 yards; Rod Phillips, 4 for 9 yards; Pat Haden, 3 for 0 yards; Charle Young, 1 for 1 yard NYG: Doug Kotar, 15 for 50 yards; Dan Doornink, 10 for 58 yards; Randy Dean, 6 for 63 yards; Willie Spencer, 4 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Larry Csonka, 2 for 2 yards; Joe Pisarcik, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
LA: Charle Young, 3 for 48 yards; Ron Jessie, 3 for 31 yards; Cullen Bryant, 2 for 7 yards; Preston Dennard, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 8 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 2 yards; Willie Miller, 1 for -9 yards NYG: Dan Doornink, 5 for 39 yards; Jim Robinson, 4 for 66 yards; Johnny Perkins, 2 for 46 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Jim Jodat, 2 for 50 yards; Rod Phillips, 1 for 24 yards NYG: Emery Moorehead, 1 for 29 yards; John Skorupan, 1 for 17 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 14 yards; Ernest Pough, 1 for 13 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 66 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 2 for 3 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 36 yards; Pat Thomas, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Bill Simpson, 1 for 15 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
LA: Glen Walker, 8 for 264 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 202 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 2/3 NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1