NFL game summary for 12/10/1978:
Randy Dean threw his first NFL touchdown pass and Doug Kotar rushed for a season-high 118 yards on 27 carries as the Giants ended a six-game losing streak. Dean capped a seven-play, 56-yard first quarter drive by hitting Gary Shirk with a six-yard scoring pass. Kotar added a 12-yard touchdown run in the final quarter. New York's defense contributed four fumble recoveries and one interception. The Giants' running game produced 231 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 123.7 (24) | 187.5 (6) | 311.2 (8) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 151.7 (20) | 146.9 (8) | 298.6 (14) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 144.6 (13) | 139.0 (21) | 283.6 (21) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 162.6 (26) | 151.7 (11) | 314.3 (19) | 32 |
Line: Cardinals by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (5-10-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants (6-9-0) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 3) NYG Joe Danelo 30 yard field goal
( 0-10) NYG Gary Shirk 6 yard pass from Randy Dean (Joe Danelo kick)
( 0-17) NYG Doug Kotar 12 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)
STL NYG
First Downs: 17 14
Rushes-yards: 33-143 51-231
Yards/rush: 4.3 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-38-198-1 8-14-24-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 0-0
Net pass yards: 198 24
Net yards/pass: 5.2 1.7
Total net yards: 341 255
Total plays: 71 (46% run) 65 (78% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 3.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-4 1-1
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 8-65 2-15
Attendance: 52,226
Passing:
STL: Jim Hart, 15 of 38 for 198 yards (1 int) NYG: Randy Dean, 8 of 14 for 24 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Willard Harrell, 15 for 82 yards; Jim Otis, 14 for 50 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 15 yards; Ted Farmer, 1 for 4 yards; Dave Stief, 1 for -8 yards NYG: Doug Kotar, 27 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Dan Doornink, 11 for 62 yards; Randy Dean, 7 for 29 yards; Willie Spencer, 5 for 20 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
STL: Dave Stief, 7 for 99 yards; Al Chandler, 4 for 71 yards; Gordon Bell, 2 for 19 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 7 yards; Willard Harrell, 1 for 2 yards NYG: Gary Shirk, 3 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Jim Robinson, 2 for 2 yards; Emery Moorehead, 1 for 8 yards; Al Dixon, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
STL: Willard Harrell, 2 for 34 yards NYG: John Skorupan, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gordon Bell, 4 for 20 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Steve Neils, 1 for 18 yards NYG: Terry Jackson, 1 for 51 yards
Punting:
STL: Mike Wood, 5 for 181 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 7 for 257 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/2 NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1
STL: Jim Hart, 15 of 38 for 198 yards (1 int) NYG: Randy Dean, 8 of 14 for 24 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Willard Harrell, 15 for 82 yards; Jim Otis, 14 for 50 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 15 yards; Ted Farmer, 1 for 4 yards; Dave Stief, 1 for -8 yards NYG: Doug Kotar, 27 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Dan Doornink, 11 for 62 yards; Randy Dean, 7 for 29 yards; Willie Spencer, 5 for 20 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
STL: Dave Stief, 7 for 99 yards; Al Chandler, 4 for 71 yards; Gordon Bell, 2 for 19 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 7 yards; Willard Harrell, 1 for 2 yards NYG: Gary Shirk, 3 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Jim Robinson, 2 for 2 yards; Emery Moorehead, 1 for 8 yards; Al Dixon, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
STL: Willard Harrell, 2 for 34 yards NYG: John Skorupan, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Gordon Bell, 4 for 20 yards NYG: Jim Robinson, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Steve Neils, 1 for 18 yards NYG: Terry Jackson, 1 for 51 yards
Punting:
STL: Mike Wood, 5 for 181 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 7 for 257 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 0/2 NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1