NFL game summary for 12/16/1978:
Steve Schubert returned a punt 73 yards for the deciding score as the Bears eliminated Washington from the playoffs. Walter Payton rushed 16 times for 90 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown, to capture the NFC rushing crown (1,395 yards on 333 carries and 11 touchdowns). Washington's John Riggins finished the season with a career-high 1,014 yards rushing and became only the third Redskins' back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. (Larry Brown and Mike Thomas were the others).
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 157.1 (6) | 125.9 (25) | 283.0 (21) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 136.6 (13) | 155.0 (12) | 291.6 (11) | 30 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.5 (19) | 158.9 (14) | 289.5 (20) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 157.7 (24) | 155.6 (15) | 313.3 (19) | 29 |
Line: Redskins by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (7-9-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Washington Redskins (8-8-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 7- 0) CHI Walter Payton 44 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick) ( 7- 3) WAS Mark Moseley 33 yard field goal (14- 3) CHI Steve Schubert 73 yard punt return (Bob Thomas kick) (14-10) WAS Jean Fugett 17 yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Mark Moseley kick)
CHI WAS
First Downs: 10 16
Rushes-yards: 40-170 31-124
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-10-44-3 21-31-198-2
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-17
Net pass yards: 44 181
Net yards/pass: 4.4 5.5
Total net yards: 214 305
Total plays: 50 (80% run) 64 (48% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 6-45 5-45
Attendance: 49,774
Passing:
CHI: Mike Phipps, 6 of 10 for 44 yards (3 int) WAS: Joe Theismann, 13 of 21 for 107 yards (1 int); Billy Kilmer, 8 of 10 for 91 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Roland Harper, 22 for 74 yards; Walter Payton, 16 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Mike Phipps, 2 for 6 yards WAS: Mike Thomas, 16 for 65 yards; John Riggins, 10 for 44 yards; Benny Malone, 4 for 2 yards; Joe Theismann, 1 for 13 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Roland Harper, 3 for 21 yards; James Scott, 2 for 16 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 7 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 68 yards; Mike Thomas, 5 for 44 yards; Jean Fugett, 4 for 41 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 3 for 14 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 20 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 11 yards; Ricky Thompson, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 21 yards WAS: Tony Green, 2 for 58 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD WAS: Tony Green, 3 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Gary Fencik, 1 for 59 yards; Don Rives, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 23 yards; Dave Butz, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 204 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 7 for 268 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/1
CHI: Mike Phipps, 6 of 10 for 44 yards (3 int) WAS: Joe Theismann, 13 of 21 for 107 yards (1 int); Billy Kilmer, 8 of 10 for 91 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Roland Harper, 22 for 74 yards; Walter Payton, 16 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Mike Phipps, 2 for 6 yards WAS: Mike Thomas, 16 for 65 yards; John Riggins, 10 for 44 yards; Benny Malone, 4 for 2 yards; Joe Theismann, 1 for 13 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Roland Harper, 3 for 21 yards; James Scott, 2 for 16 yards; Walter Payton, 1 for 7 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 68 yards; Mike Thomas, 5 for 44 yards; Jean Fugett, 4 for 41 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 3 for 14 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 20 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 11 yards; Ricky Thompson, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 21 yards WAS: Tony Green, 2 for 58 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Steve Schubert, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD WAS: Tony Green, 3 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Gary Fencik, 1 for 59 yards; Don Rives, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 23 yards; Dave Butz, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 204 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 7 for 268 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/1