NFL game summary for 12/10/1978:
Larry Gordon led an alert Dolphins defense that forced seven turnovers as Miami clinched a wild card playoff berth, ending a three-year postseason drought. Gordon became the first Miami linebacker to pick off three passes in a game and teammate Gerald Small recorded his first NFL touchdown on a 46-yard interception return. The Dolphins broke a 6-6 tie in the third quarter on Norm Bulaich's five-yard run, which was set up by a 37-yard Bob Griese-to-Nat Moore pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 138.1 (17) | 167.9 (11) | 305.9 (13) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 142.6 (16) | 160.6 (17) | 303.2 (17) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 153.9 (7) | 152.5 (15) | 306.4 (12) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 149.9 (19) | 175.4 (24) | 325.3 (23) | 42 |
Line: Dolphins by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland Raiders (8-7-0) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Miami Dolphins (10-5-0) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 23 |
( 0- 3) MIA Garo Yepremian 35 yard field goal
( 0- 6) MIA Garo Yepremian 27 yard field goal
( 6- 6) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 16 yard pass from Ken Stabler (kick failed)
( 6-13) MIA Norm Bulaich 5 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 6-16) MIA Garo Yepremian 34 yard field goal
( 6-23) MIA Gerald Small 46 yard interception return (Garo Yepremian kick)
OAK MIA
First Downs: 21 13
Rushes-yards: 30-85 29-97
Yards/rush: 2.8 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-38-263-5 14-26-163-2
Sacked-yards: 3-29 0-0
Net pass yards: 234 163
Net yards/pass: 5.7 6.3
Total net yards: 319 260
Total plays: 71 (42% run) 55 (52% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 4.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 2-1
Turnovers: 7 3
Penalties-yards: 4-30 4-35
Attendance: 73,003
Passing:
OAK: Ken Stabler, 23 of 36 for 251 yards and 1 TD (5 int); David Humm, 1 of 2 for 12 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 14 of 26 for 163 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 12 for 28 yards; Arthur Whittington, 11 for 39 yards; Pete Banaszak, 6 for 18 yards; Ken Stabler, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 14 for 49 yards; Leroy Harris, 9 for 30 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Delvin Williams, 2 for 2 yards; Guy Benjamin, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
OAK: Cliff Branch, 6 for 75 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 5 for 63 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 4 for 39 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 3 for 19 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 20 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 12 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 4 for 38 yards; Leroy Harris, 3 for 22 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 49 yards; Duriel Harris, 2 for 34 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 9 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 8 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
OAK: Derrick Ramsey, 3 for 59 yards; Harold Hart, 1 for 38 yards; Joe Stewart, 1 for 23 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
OAK: Neal Colzie, 3 for 10 yards MIA: Jimmy Cefalo, 2 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 1 for 33 yards; Charlie Phillips, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Larry Gordon, 3 for 35 yards; Gerald Small, 2 for 85 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
OAK: Ray Guy, 5 for 201 yards MIA: George Roberts, 6 for 258 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 0/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3
OAK: Ken Stabler, 23 of 36 for 251 yards and 1 TD (5 int); David Humm, 1 of 2 for 12 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 14 of 26 for 163 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 12 for 28 yards; Arthur Whittington, 11 for 39 yards; Pete Banaszak, 6 for 18 yards; Ken Stabler, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 14 for 49 yards; Leroy Harris, 9 for 30 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Delvin Williams, 2 for 2 yards; Guy Benjamin, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
OAK: Cliff Branch, 6 for 75 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 5 for 63 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 4 for 39 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 3 for 19 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 20 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 12 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 4 for 38 yards; Leroy Harris, 3 for 22 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 49 yards; Duriel Harris, 2 for 34 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 9 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 8 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
OAK: Derrick Ramsey, 3 for 59 yards; Harold Hart, 1 for 38 yards; Joe Stewart, 1 for 23 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
OAK: Neal Colzie, 3 for 10 yards MIA: Jimmy Cefalo, 2 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 1 for 33 yards; Charlie Phillips, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Larry Gordon, 3 for 35 yards; Gerald Small, 2 for 85 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
OAK: Ray Guy, 5 for 201 yards MIA: George Roberts, 6 for 258 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 0/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3