All NFL game summaries for 12/09/1978:
Detroit registered its highest point total in 11 years as Gary Danielson threw an NFL season high and club record five touchdown passes. Danielson, who completed 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards, hit Leonard Thompson five times for 93 yards and three touchdowns. Horace King caught six passes, two for touchdowns. Luther Bradley's 76-yard interception return closed out the Lions' scoring. Fran Tarkenton broke Sonny Jurgensen's all-time record for pass attempts in a season (508). The Vikings' quarterback completed 18 of 34 passes for 231 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 101.7 (28) | 195.1 (3) | 296.8 (15) | 41 |
| DEFENSE | 127.9 (8) | 156.9 (14) | 284.9 (8) | 39 | |
 | OFFENSE | 138.4 (16) | 128.6 (24) | 266.9 (24) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 137.9 (12) | 139.1 (6) | 277.1 (6) | 31 |
Line: Vikings by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Detroit Lions (6-9-0) | 14 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 45 |
( 0- 7) DET Horace King 34 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 0-14) DET Leonard Thompson 5 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-14) MIN Robert Miller 1 yard rush (Rick Danmeier kick)
( 7-21) DET Leonard Thompson 17 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-28) DET Leonard Thompson 45 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
(14-28) MIN Kevin Miller 34 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick)
(14-31) DET Benny Ricardo 30 yard field goal
(14-38) DET Horace King 5 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick)
(14-45) DET Luther Bradley 76 yard interception return (Benny Ricardo kick)
MIN DET
First Downs: 16 22
Rushes-yards: 18-22 30-157
Yards/rush: 1.2 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-36-241-2 26-33-352-1
Sacked-yards: 2-28 1-2
Net pass yards: 213 350
Net yards/pass: 5.6 10.3
Total net yards: 235 507
Total plays: 56 (32% run) 64 (46% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 7.9
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 5-28 8-75
Attendance: 78,685
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 34 for 231 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Bob Lee, 2 of 2 for 10 yards DET: Gary Danielson, 26 of 33 for 352 yards and 5 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 7 for 13 yards; Rickey Young, 7 for 7 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 0 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for -1 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 13 for 77 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 6 for 29 yards; Horace King, 5 for 17 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 11 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 15 yards; Tony Daykin, 1 for 8 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Bob Tucker, 5 for 73 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 36 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 1 yard; Sammy White, 2 for 43 yards; Chuck Foreman, 2 for 20 yards; Kevin Miller, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 4 yards DET: Luther Blue, 6 for 77 yards; Horace King, 6 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Leonard Thompson, 5 for 93 yards and 3 TDs; Freddie Scott, 3 for 50 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 40 yards; David Hill, 3 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 6 for 122 yards; Harry Washington, 1 for 14 yards DET: Rick Kane, 2 for 47 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 1 yard DET: Tony Leonard, 4 for 59 yards; Walt Williams, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards DET: Luther Bradley, 1 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 6 for 240 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 2 for 87 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 34 for 231 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Bob Lee, 2 of 2 for 10 yards DET: Gary Danielson, 26 of 33 for 352 yards and 5 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 7 for 13 yards; Rickey Young, 7 for 7 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 0 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for -1 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 13 for 77 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 6 for 29 yards; Horace King, 5 for 17 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 11 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 15 yards; Tony Daykin, 1 for 8 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Bob Tucker, 5 for 73 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 36 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 3 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 1 yard; Sammy White, 2 for 43 yards; Chuck Foreman, 2 for 20 yards; Kevin Miller, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 4 yards DET: Luther Blue, 6 for 77 yards; Horace King, 6 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Leonard Thompson, 5 for 93 yards and 3 TDs; Freddie Scott, 3 for 50 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 40 yards; David Hill, 3 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 6 for 122 yards; Harry Washington, 1 for 14 yards DET: Rick Kane, 2 for 47 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 1 yard DET: Tony Leonard, 4 for 59 yards; Walt Williams, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards DET: Luther Bradley, 1 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 6 for 240 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 2 for 87 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
Pittsburgh, the AFC Central Division champion, built a 21-7 halftime advantage behind the running of Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw's accurate passing. Harris scored on touchdown runs of three and two yards and Bradshaw (11 of 18 for 240 yards and three touchdowns) hit John Stallworth with a 31-yard scoring pass. The Colts cut the lead to 21-13 early in the third period when Derrel Luce returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown. Larry Anderson ran the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to set up Bradshaw's second scoring pass, a 12-yarder to Randy Grossman.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 129.9 (21) | 141.9 (20) | 271.9 (23) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 191.3 (27) | 186.7 (26) | 378.0 (28) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 145.9 (11) | 165.8 (11) | 311.6 (7) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 115.3 (4) | 151.8 (11) | 267.1 (5) | 41 |
Line: Steelers by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (5-10-0) | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (13-2-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
( 0- 7) PIT John Stallworth 31 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
( 0-14) PIT Franco Harris 3 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
( 0-21) PIT Franco Harris 2 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
( 7-21) BAL Roger Carr 5 yard pass from Bill Troup (Toni Linhart kick)
(13-21) BAL Derrel Luce 44 yard fumble return (kick failed)
(13-28) PIT Randy Grossman 12 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(13-35) PIT Jim Smith 29 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
BAL PIT
First Downs: 12 20
Rushes-yards: 27-86 48-139
Yards/rush: 3.2 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-19-62-2 12-21-247-2
Sacked-yards: 2-19 2-13
Net pass yards: 43 234
Net yards/pass: 2.0 10.2
Total net yards: 129 373
Total plays: 48 (56% run) 71 (67% run)
Yards/play: 2.7 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 1-1
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 6-50 6-35
Attendance: 41,957
Passing:
BAL: Bill Troup, 8 of 18 for 62 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kirkland, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 11 of 18 for 240 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Mike Kruczek, 1 of 3 for 7 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 48 yards; Don Hardeman, 8 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 52 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 48 yards; Rick Moser, 8 for 15 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 6 for 9 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Don Hardeman, 3 for 19 yards; Reese McCall, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 5 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 87 yards; Jim Smith, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Theo Bell, 2 for 20 yards; Randy Grossman, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 32 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Don McCauley, 3 for 58 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 71 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 81 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 19 yards PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 6 for 224 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 4 for 131 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Bill Troup, 8 of 18 for 62 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kirkland, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 11 of 18 for 240 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Mike Kruczek, 1 of 3 for 7 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 48 yards; Don Hardeman, 8 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 52 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 48 yards; Rick Moser, 8 for 15 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 6 for 9 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Don Hardeman, 3 for 19 yards; Reese McCall, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 5 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 87 yards; Jim Smith, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Theo Bell, 2 for 20 yards; Randy Grossman, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 32 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Don McCauley, 3 for 58 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 71 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 81 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 19 yards PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 6 for 224 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 4 for 131 yards
Field Goals: