All NFL game summaries for 12/17/1978:
Buffalo's Terry Miller became the tenth rookie in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Miller gained 123 yards on 15 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown, and finished the season with 1,060 yards. Colt running back Joe Washington kept the game close, throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Mike Siani after fumbling a handoff on a sweep. Both teams finished with 5-11 records, but Buffalo finished fourth in the AFC East by virtue of its two victories over Baltimore.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 145.9 (12) | 146.4 (17) | 292.3 (17) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 205.9 (28) | 128.5 (2) | 334.4 (25) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 127.0 (22) | 135.3 (22) | 262.3 (24) | 45 |
| DEFENSE | 187.8 (27) | 189.9 (26) | 377.7 (28) | 36 |
Line: Colts by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (5-11-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Baltimore Colts (5-11-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) BAL Don McCauley 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
( 7- 7) BUF Dennis Johnson 2 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
(14- 7) BUF Frank Lewis 39 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick)
(21- 7) BUF Terry Miller 60 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
(21-14) BAL Mike Siani 26 yard pass from Joe Washington (Toni Linhart kick)
BUF BAL
First Downs: 16 18
Rushes-yards: 45-193 46-139
Yards/rush: 4.3 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 3-13-53-0 5-16-71-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-38
Net pass yards: 53 33
Net yards/pass: 4.1 1.6
Total net yards: 246 172
Total plays: 58 (77% run) 66 (69% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 2.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 13-112 8-55
Attendance: 25,415
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 13 for 53 yards and 1 TD BAL: Bill Troup, 4 of 15 for 45 yards (1 int); Joe Washington, 1 of 1 for 26 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
BUF: Dennis Johnson, 19 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Terry Miller, 15 for 123 yards and 1 TD; Roland Hooks, 10 for 10 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -2 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 21 for 70 yards; Don Hardeman, 17 for 59 yards; Ron Lee, 4 for 13 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Bill Troup, 2 for -5 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Frank Lewis, 1 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Bob Chandler, 1 for 10 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 4 yards BAL: Mike Siani, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 1 for 13 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Lou Piccone, 2 for 34 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 3 for 86 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 2 for 8 yards BAL: Marshall Johnson, 2 for 8 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
BUF: Rusty Jackson, 7 for 234 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 145 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 0/1
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 13 for 53 yards and 1 TD BAL: Bill Troup, 4 of 15 for 45 yards (1 int); Joe Washington, 1 of 1 for 26 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
BUF: Dennis Johnson, 19 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Terry Miller, 15 for 123 yards and 1 TD; Roland Hooks, 10 for 10 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -2 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 21 for 70 yards; Don Hardeman, 17 for 59 yards; Ron Lee, 4 for 13 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Bill Troup, 2 for -5 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Frank Lewis, 1 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Bob Chandler, 1 for 10 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 4 yards BAL: Mike Siani, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 1 for 13 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Lou Piccone, 2 for 34 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 3 for 86 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 2 for 8 yards BAL: Marshall Johnson, 2 for 8 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
BUF: Rusty Jackson, 7 for 234 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 145 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 0/1
Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes and Pete Johnson rushed for a team record 160 yards as the Bengals erupted for their biggest point total of the season. Cincinnati converted two second quarter fumble recoveries into a 23-yard field goal by Chris Bahr and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Don Bass. Greg Pruitt led a mild Cleveland rally with a 70-yard touchdown run on the way to a career high 182-yard day. The Bengals put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter by scoring 24 points. Cincinnati's Pat McInally won his first NFL punting title (43.1) and Cleveland's Thom Darden posted an NFL-high 10 interceptions for the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.1 (7) | 183.5 (7) | 334.6 (4) | 44 |
| DEFENSE | 126.9 (8) | 196.9 (27) | 323.9 (23) | 42 | |
 | OFFENSE | 125.7 (23) | 166.1 (13) | 291.9 (18) | 46 |
| DEFENSE | 144.9 (16) | 142.0 (6) | 286.9 (9) | 31 |
Line: Bengals by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (8-8-0) | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 16 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (4-12-0) | 0 | 17 | 7 | 24 | 48 |
( 6- 0) CLE Mark Miller 5 yard rush (kick failed)
( 6- 3) CIN Chris Bahr 23 yard field goal
( 6-10) CIN Don Bass 40 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Chris Bahr kick)
( 6-17) CIN Archie Griffin 6 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Chris Bahr kick)
( 6-24) CIN Rick Walker 3 yard pass from Archie Griffin (Chris Bahr kick)
(13-24) CLE Greg Pruitt 70 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(16-24) CLE Don Cockroft 19 yard field goal
(16-31) CIN Ken Anderson 3 yard rush (Chris Bahr kick)
(16-34) CIN Chris Bahr 49 yard field goal
(16-41) CIN Pete Johnson 12 yard rush (Chris Bahr kick)
(16-48) CIN Scott Perry 16 yard interception return (Chris Bahr kick)
CLE CIN
First Downs: 17 27
Rushes-yards: 37-222 48-245
Yards/rush: 6.0 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-23-129-2 16-24-261-1
Sacked-yards: 3-23 2-12
Net pass yards: 106 249
Net yards/pass: 4.1 9.6
Total net yards: 328 494
Total plays: 63 (58% run) 74 (64% run)
Yards/play: 5.2 6.7
Fumbles-lost: 5-4 4-2
Turnovers: 6 3
Penalties-yards: 2-15 7-37
Attendance: 46,985
Passing:
CLE: Mark Miller, 6 of 21 for 129 yards (2 int); Brian Sipe, 0 of 2 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 14 of 22 for 256 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Archie Griffin, 1 of 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; John Reaves, 1 of 1 for 2 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 22 for 182 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 5 for 8 yards; Cleo Miller, 4 for 12 yards; Mike Pruitt, 3 for 11 yards; Mark Miller, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 4 yards CIN: Pete Johnson, 27 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Archie Griffin, 17 for 65 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Tony Davis, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Dave Logan, 3 for 86 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 19 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 17 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 7 yards CIN: Isaac Curtis, 7 for 138 yards; Don Bass, 2 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Pete Johnson, 2 for 25 yards; Archie Griffin, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Billy Brooks, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Walker, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 5 for 94 yards; Larry Collins, 3 for 64 yards CIN: Ray Griffin, 3 for 69 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 1 for 11 yards CIN: Tony Davis, 3 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Clay Matthews, 1 for 5 yards CIN: Ron Shumon, 1 for 48 yards; Scott Perry, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 4 for 173 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 3 for 111 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 CIN: Chris Bahr, 2/2
CLE: Mark Miller, 6 of 21 for 129 yards (2 int); Brian Sipe, 0 of 2 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 14 of 22 for 256 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Archie Griffin, 1 of 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; John Reaves, 1 of 1 for 2 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 22 for 182 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 5 for 8 yards; Cleo Miller, 4 for 12 yards; Mike Pruitt, 3 for 11 yards; Mark Miller, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 4 yards CIN: Pete Johnson, 27 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Archie Griffin, 17 for 65 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Tony Davis, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Dave Logan, 3 for 86 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 1 for 19 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 17 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 7 yards CIN: Isaac Curtis, 7 for 138 yards; Don Bass, 2 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Pete Johnson, 2 for 25 yards; Archie Griffin, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Billy Brooks, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Walker, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 5 for 94 yards; Larry Collins, 3 for 64 yards CIN: Ray Griffin, 3 for 69 yards; Jim Corbett, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Keith Wright, 1 for 11 yards CIN: Tony Davis, 3 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Clay Matthews, 1 for 5 yards CIN: Ron Shumon, 1 for 48 yards; Scott Perry, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
CLE: Johnny Evans, 4 for 173 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 3 for 111 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 CIN: Chris Bahr, 2/2
The 49ers used four quarterbacks but failed to mount a threat against the rampaging Lions, who scored 78 points in their final two games. Wide receiver Freddie Solomon, formerly a quarterback at the University of Tampa, replaced injured San Francisco regulars Steve DeBerg and Scott Bull, and defensive back Bruce Threadgill had a cast removed from his right hand in time to replace Solomon. Dexter Bussey with two touchdown runs and Benny Ricardo with four field goals paced the Detroit offensive attack. The Lions' defense collected four 49ers fumbles and three interceptions. Detroit's "Silver Rush" defensive line finished the season with a club record 53 sacks. Rookie defensive end Al Baker was the individual leader with 23.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 124.0 (25) | 121.2 (25) | 245.2 (27) | 56 |
| DEFENSE | 152.9 (21) | 167.1 (20) | 320.1 (22) | 43 | |
 | OFFENSE | 139.6 (16) | 143.3 (19) | 282.9 (21) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 130.2 (11) | 144.1 (7) | 274.3 (6) | 34 |
Line: Lions by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (2-14-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Detroit Lions (7-9-0) | 3 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 33 |
( 0- 3) DET Benny Ricardo 19 yard field goal
( 7- 3) SF Jack Steptoe 35 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Ray Wersching kick)
( 7- 6) DET Benny Ricardo 40 yard field goal
( 7-13) DET Dexter Bussey 4 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-20) DET Dexter Bussey 1 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7-27) DET Jimmy Allen 64 yard fumble return (Benny Ricardo kick)
(14-27) SF Freddie Solomon 11 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)
(14-30) DET Benny Ricardo 31 yard field goal
(14-33) DET Benny Ricardo 22 yard field goal
SF DET
First Downs: 20 17
Rushes-yards: 49-231 32-69
Yards/rush: 4.7 2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-21-182-3 15-30-180-1
Sacked-yards: 4-44 3-28
Net pass yards: 138 152
Net yards/pass: 5.5 4.6
Total net yards: 369 221
Total plays: 74 (66% run) 65 (49% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 10-4 1-1
Turnovers: 7 2
Penalties-yards: 12-106 7-57
Attendance: 56,674
Passing:
SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 of 9 for 85 yards (1 int); Scott Bull, 0 of 7 for 0 yards; Steve DeBerg, 3 of 3 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Threadgill, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (2 int) DET: Gary Danielson, 15 of 30 for 180 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SF: Paul Hofer, 15 for 96 yards; Greg Boykin, 12 for 57 yards; Freddie Solomon, 9 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Bob Ferrell, 8 for 26 yards; Scott Bull, 3 for 6 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 2 yards; Earl Carr, 1 for 2 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 19 for 51 yards and 2 TDs; Lawrence Gaines, 8 for 9 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 1 yard; Rick Kane, 1 for 4 yards; David Hill, 1 for 3 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SF: Paul Seal, 2 for 35 yards; Dave Williams, 2 for 20 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 50 yards; Jack Steptoe, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Kenny Harrison, 1 for 30 yards; Bob Ferrell, 1 for 12 yards DET: Luther Blue, 6 for 55 yards; David Hill, 4 for 63 yards; Freddie Scott, 2 for 17 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 18 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 18 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Dave Williams, 5 for 101 yards; Paul Hofer, 3 for 53 yards DET: James Hunter, 1 for 21 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Mike Shumann, 3 for 36 yards; Jack Steptoe, 3 for 25 yards DET: Luther Blue, 2 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Ricky Odom, 1 for 0 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 27 yards; Ed O'Neil, 1 for 10 yards; Luther Bradley, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
SF: Mike Connell, 4 for 163 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 7 for 310 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Ray Wersching, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 4/4
SF: Freddie Solomon, 5 of 9 for 85 yards (1 int); Scott Bull, 0 of 7 for 0 yards; Steve DeBerg, 3 of 3 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Threadgill, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (2 int) DET: Gary Danielson, 15 of 30 for 180 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
SF: Paul Hofer, 15 for 96 yards; Greg Boykin, 12 for 57 yards; Freddie Solomon, 9 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Bob Ferrell, 8 for 26 yards; Scott Bull, 3 for 6 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 2 yards; Earl Carr, 1 for 2 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 19 for 51 yards and 2 TDs; Lawrence Gaines, 8 for 9 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 1 yard; Rick Kane, 1 for 4 yards; David Hill, 1 for 3 yards; Gary Danielson, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SF: Paul Seal, 2 for 35 yards; Dave Williams, 2 for 20 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 50 yards; Jack Steptoe, 1 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Kenny Harrison, 1 for 30 yards; Bob Ferrell, 1 for 12 yards DET: Luther Blue, 6 for 55 yards; David Hill, 4 for 63 yards; Freddie Scott, 2 for 17 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 18 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 18 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Dave Williams, 5 for 101 yards; Paul Hofer, 3 for 53 yards DET: James Hunter, 1 for 21 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Mike Shumann, 3 for 36 yards; Jack Steptoe, 3 for 25 yards DET: Luther Blue, 2 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Ricky Odom, 1 for 0 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 27 yards; Ed O'Neil, 1 for 10 yards; Luther Bradley, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
SF: Mike Connell, 4 for 163 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 7 for 310 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Ray Wersching, 0/1 DET: Benny Ricardo, 4/4
The Chargers, behind Dan Fouts' 369 yards passing and four touchdowns, defeated the Oilers to finish 9-7 for the season (8-4 under Don Coryell). John Jefferson caught six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and became the first rookie wide receiver since Philadelphia's Harold Jackson (1969) to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. Jefferson had 56 catches for 1,001 yards. Another rookie, Houston's Earl Campbell, captured the NFL rushing title with 1,450 yards on 302 carries. The last rookie to win the rushing crown was Cleveland's Jim Brown in 1957.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 129.8 (21) | 200.5 (2) | 330.3 (5) | 48 |
| DEFENSE | 139.4 (14) | 146.5 (8) | 285.9 (8) | 35 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.3 (5) | 145.7 (18) | 302.9 (13) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 128.2 (9) | 164.9 (19) | 293.1 (12) | 31 |
Line: Oilers by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers (9-7-0) | 0 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 45 |
| Houston Oilers (10-6-0) | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
( 7- 0) SD John Jefferson 33 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Robert Woods 21 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7-10) HOU Toni Fritsch 43 yard field goal
(14-10) SD Dwight McDonald 37 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(21-10) SD Don Woods 3 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(21-17) HOU Ronnie Coleman 7 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
(24-17) SD Rolf Benirschke 19 yard field goal
(31-17) SD Bob Klein 10 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(31-24) HOU Tim Wilson 2 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
(38-24) SD Don Woods 18 yard rush (Rolf Benirschke kick)
(45-24) SD John Jefferson 36 yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
SD HOU
First Downs: 24 14
Rushes-yards: 39-149 27-117
Yards/rush: 3.8 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-41-369-2 16-33-165-2
Sacked-yards: 1-1 2-12
Net pass yards: 368 153
Net yards/pass: 8.8 4.4
Total net yards: 517 270
Total plays: 81 (48% run) 62 (43% run)
Yards/play: 6.4 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-1
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 11-90 6-35
Attendance: 49,554
Passing:
SD: Dan Fouts, 21 of 40 for 369 yards and 4 TDs (2 int); James Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 29 for 165 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Gifford Nielsen, 2 of 4 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 16 for 53 yards and 2 TDs; Lydell Mitchell, 8 for 35 yards; Clarence Williams, 8 for 18 yards; Hank Bauer, 5 for 21 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 22 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 14 for 77 yards; Tim Wilson, 7 for 27 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for -1 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 0 yards; Robert Woods, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
SD: John Jefferson, 6 for 149 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Klein, 5 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 62 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 15 yards; Dwight McDonald, 2 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 2 for 20 yards HOU: Tim Wilson, 4 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 67 yards; Mike Barber, 2 for 28 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Brian Duncan, 2 for 0 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Guido Merkens, 1 for 6 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 2 for 56 yards; Mike Fuller, 2 for 49 yards HOU: Johnnie Dirden, 7 for 158 yards; Robert Woods, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 7 for 92 yards HOU: Robert Woods, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Jerome Dove, 1 for 4 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Greg Stemrick, 1 for 38 yards; J.C. Wilson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 148 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 8 for 307 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
SD: Dan Fouts, 21 of 40 for 369 yards and 4 TDs (2 int); James Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 29 for 165 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Gifford Nielsen, 2 of 4 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SD: Don Woods, 16 for 53 yards and 2 TDs; Lydell Mitchell, 8 for 35 yards; Clarence Williams, 8 for 18 yards; Hank Bauer, 5 for 21 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 22 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 14 for 77 yards; Tim Wilson, 7 for 27 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for -1 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 0 yards; Robert Woods, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
SD: John Jefferson, 6 for 149 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Klein, 5 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 62 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 3 for 15 yards; Dwight McDonald, 2 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Don Woods, 2 for 20 yards HOU: Tim Wilson, 4 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 67 yards; Mike Barber, 2 for 28 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Brian Duncan, 2 for 0 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Guido Merkens, 1 for 6 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
SD: Clarence Williams, 2 for 56 yards; Mike Fuller, 2 for 49 yards HOU: Johnnie Dirden, 7 for 158 yards; Robert Woods, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
SD: Mike Fuller, 7 for 92 yards HOU: Robert Woods, 2 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
SD: Jerome Dove, 1 for 4 yards; Pete Shaw, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Greg Stemrick, 1 for 38 yards; J.C. Wilson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SD: Jeff West, 4 for 148 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 8 for 307 yards
Field Goals:
SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
Cullen Bryant rushed for 121 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Rams clinched the home field advantage for the playoffs and ended the Packers' hopes of reaching the postseason tournament. Bryant scored on runs of one and five yards and helped Los Angeles build a 21-7 third quarter lead. David Whitehurst completed a 22-yard scoring pass to Terdell Middleton to narrow the deficit to 21-14, but Frank Corral's 24-yard field goal and Rod Perry's 44-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the Rams' victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 129.9 (20) | 127.9 (24) | 257.7 (25) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 150.7 (20) | 160.2 (17) | 310.9 (19) | 46 | |
 | OFFENSE | 142.0 (15) | 183.5 (7) | 325.5 (6) | 43 |
| DEFENSE | 118.0 (4) | 125.5 (1) | 243.5 (1) | 39 |
Line: Rams by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Los Angeles Rams (12-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
( 0- 7) LA Cullen Bryant 1 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
( 0-14) LA Cullen Bryant 5 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
( 7-14) GB Terdell Middleton 4 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick)
( 7-21) LA Willie Miller 21 yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick)
(14-21) GB Terdell Middleton 22 yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick)
(14-24) LA Frank Corral 24 yard field goal
(14-31) LA Rod Perry 44 yard interception return (Frank Corral kick)
GB LA
First Downs: 17 18
Rushes-yards: 29-75 44-178
Yards/rush: 2.6 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-27-185-3 9-26-140-1
Sacked-yards: 2-19 2-19
Net pass yards: 166 121
Net yards/pass: 5.7 4.3
Total net yards: 241 299
Total plays: 58 (50% run) 72 (61% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-0
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 5-23 8-55
Attendance: 42,500
Passing:
GB: David Whitehurst, 12 of 25 for 166 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Bobby Douglass, 1 of 2 for 19 yards LA: Pat Haden, 9 of 26 for 140 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
GB: Terdell Middleton, 17 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 9 for 32 yards; Jim Culbreath, 3 for 5 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 30 for 121 yards and 2 TDs; John Cappelletti, 7 for 16 yards; Pat Haden, 3 for 27 yards; Anthony Davis, 3 for 7 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
GB: James Lofton, 5 for 92 yards; Rich McGeorge, 4 for 46 yards; Barty Smith, 2 for 6 yards; Terdell Middleton, 1 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 19 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 3 for 66 yards; Terry Nelson, 3 for 20 yards; Willie Miller, 2 for 37 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
GB: Aundra Thompson, 2 for 34 yards; Estus Hood, 1 for 33 yards; Steve Wagner, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 7 yards LA: Jim Jodat, 3 for 37 yards
Punt returns:
GB: Walter Tullis, 1 for 0 yards LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 38 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Estus Hood, 1 for 0 yards LA: Rod Perry, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Pat Thomas, 1 for 17 yards; Bill Simpson, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
GB: David Beverly, 6 for 202 yards LA: Glen Walker, 7 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 1/1
GB: David Whitehurst, 12 of 25 for 166 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Bobby Douglass, 1 of 2 for 19 yards LA: Pat Haden, 9 of 26 for 140 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
GB: Terdell Middleton, 17 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Barty Smith, 9 for 32 yards; Jim Culbreath, 3 for 5 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 30 for 121 yards and 2 TDs; John Cappelletti, 7 for 16 yards; Pat Haden, 3 for 27 yards; Anthony Davis, 3 for 7 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
GB: James Lofton, 5 for 92 yards; Rich McGeorge, 4 for 46 yards; Barty Smith, 2 for 6 yards; Terdell Middleton, 1 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 19 yards LA: Ron Jessie, 3 for 66 yards; Terry Nelson, 3 for 20 yards; Willie Miller, 2 for 37 yards and 1 TD; John Cappelletti, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
GB: Aundra Thompson, 2 for 34 yards; Estus Hood, 1 for 33 yards; Steve Wagner, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Culbreath, 1 for 7 yards LA: Jim Jodat, 3 for 37 yards
Punt returns:
GB: Walter Tullis, 1 for 0 yards LA: Jackie Wallace, 4 for 38 yards
Interceptions:
GB: Estus Hood, 1 for 0 yards LA: Rod Perry, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Pat Thomas, 1 for 17 yards; Bill Simpson, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
GB: David Beverly, 6 for 202 yards LA: Glen Walker, 7 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 1/1
Tony Dorsett rushed for 121 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys. Dorsett's seven-yard score in the first period capped an 80-yard drive. In the third quarter, his 54-yard run with Billy Joe DuPree's fumble pushed Dallas' lead to 23-0. New York's Wesley Walker caught two passes for a season total of 48 and an average of 24.4 yards a catch, best in the NFL. Roger Staubach, although sitting out the final regular season game, finished as the NFL's leading passer, completing 231 of 413 passes for 3,190 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 172.9 (3) | 201.3 (1) | 374.2 (2) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 110.2 (1) | 147.9 (9) | 258.1 (2) | 32 | |
 | OFFENSE | 145.5 (13) | 169.2 (11) | 314.7 (7) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 167.4 (26) | 177.8 (24) | 345.2 (26) | 39 |
Line: Cowboys by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (12-4-0) | 7 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 30 |
| New York Jets (8-8-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
( 7- 0) DAL Tony Dorsett 7 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(10- 0) DAL Rafael Septien 22 yard field goal
(17- 0) DAL Robert Newhouse 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(23- 0) DAL Tony Dorsett 54 yard fumble return (kick failed)
(23- 7) NYJ Jerome Barkum 9 yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick)
(30- 7) DAL Larry Brinson 8 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
DAL NYJ
First Downs: 23 11
Rushes-yards: 52-190 19-68
Yards/rush: 3.7 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-24-156-1 8-28-102-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 5-33
Net pass yards: 156 69
Net yards/pass: 6.5 2.1
Total net yards: 346 137
Total plays: 76 (68% run) 52 (36% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 2.6
Fumbles-lost: 4-0 3-1
Turnovers: 1 4
Penalties-yards: 4-25 1-10
Attendance: 52,532
Passing:
DAL: Danny White, 15 of 24 for 156 yards (1 int) NYJ: Matt Robinson, 8 of 28 for 102 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 29 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Larry Brinson, 8 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 6 for 18 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 3 for 2 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 9 for 40 yards; Scott Dierking, 5 for 8 yards; Bruce Harper, 3 for 25 yards; Matt Robinson, 2 for -5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 5 for 27 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 21 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 44 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 23 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 21 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 10 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 10 yards NYJ: Derrick Gaffney, 3 for 47 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 35 yards; Jerome Barkum, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Mickey Shuler, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Larry Brinson, 1 for 15 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 12 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 110 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 3 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Aaron Kyle, 1 for 17 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 12 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Larry Keller, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 160 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1
DAL: Danny White, 15 of 24 for 156 yards (1 int) NYJ: Matt Robinson, 8 of 28 for 102 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 29 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Larry Brinson, 8 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 6 for 18 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 3 for 2 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 9 for 40 yards; Scott Dierking, 5 for 8 yards; Bruce Harper, 3 for 25 yards; Matt Robinson, 2 for -5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 5 for 27 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 21 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 44 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 23 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 21 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 10 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 10 yards NYJ: Derrick Gaffney, 3 for 47 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 35 yards; Jerome Barkum, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Mickey Shuler, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Larry Brinson, 1 for 15 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 12 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 110 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Butch Johnson, 2 for 3 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Aaron Kyle, 1 for 17 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 12 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Larry Keller, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 160 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1
Fred Biletnikoff and Charles Phillips scored touchdowns 27 seconds apart as Oakland built an early 21-0 lead. Ken Stabler passed 31 yards to Biletnikoff for a score and Phillips ran 31 yards with Chuck Foreman's fumble. Mark van Eeghen rushed 28 times for 92 yards to go over 1,000 yards (1,080) for the third straight year. Van Eeghen is the only Raider ever to reach the mark more than once. Despite the loss, Minnesota gained its sixth consecutive playoff appearance, winning the NFC Central title as Green Bay lost to Los Angeles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 96.4 (28) | 196.3 (3) | 292.7 (16) | 44 |
| DEFENSE | 129.9 (10) | 169.8 (21) | 299.7 (15) | 41 | |
 | OFFENSE | 134.5 (17) | 172.3 (9) | 306.8 (10) | 41 |
| DEFENSE | 139.5 (15) | 160.8 (18) | 300.3 (16) | 36 |
Line: Raiders by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Oakland Raiders (9-7-0) | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
( 0- 7) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 13 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick)
( 0-14) OAK Charlie Phillips 31 yard fumble return (Errol Mann kick)
( 0-21) OAK Mark van Eeghen 4 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
( 6-21) MIN Ahmad Rashad 58 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (kick failed)
( 6-24) OAK Errol Mann 30 yard field goal
(13-24) MIN Rickey Young 9 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (Rick Danmeier kick)
(13-27) OAK Errol Mann 45 yard field goal
(20-27) MIN Ahmad Rashad 24 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (Rick Danmeier kick)
MIN OAK
First Downs: 21 16
Rushes-yards: 21-90 50-168
Yards/rush: 4.3 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 23-38-316-5 16-27-154-0
Sacked-yards: 1-17 1-11
Net pass yards: 299 143
Net yards/pass: 7.7 5.1
Total net yards: 389 311
Total plays: 60 (35% run) 78 (64% run)
Yards/play: 6.5 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 2-2
Turnovers: 7 2
Penalties-yards: 5-35 8-55
Attendance: 44,643
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 23 of 38 for 316 yards and 3 TDs (5 int) OAK: Ken Stabler, 9 of 15 for 88 yards and 1 TD; David Humm, 7 of 11 for 66 yards; Dave Casper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 13 for 41 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 20 yards OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 28 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Whittington, 13 for 61 yards; Pete Banaszak, 4 for 18 yards; David Humm, 4 for -3 yards; Booker Russell, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 45 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 40 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards OAK: Cliff Branch, 4 for 45 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 2 for 29 yards; Arthur Whittington, 2 for 9 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 2 for 8 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 1 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 51 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 13 yards OAK: Joe Stewart, 1 for 56 yards; Derrick Ramsey, 1 for 9 yards; Arthur Whittington, 1 for -2 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 6 yards OAK: Neal Colzie, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 2 for 1 yard; Ted Hendricks, 1 for 9 yards; Mike Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Monte Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 4 for 139 yards OAK: Ray Guy, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 2/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 23 of 38 for 316 yards and 3 TDs (5 int) OAK: Ken Stabler, 9 of 15 for 88 yards and 1 TD; David Humm, 7 of 11 for 66 yards; Dave Casper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 13 for 41 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 20 yards OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 28 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Whittington, 13 for 61 yards; Pete Banaszak, 4 for 18 yards; David Humm, 4 for -3 yards; Booker Russell, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 45 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 40 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards OAK: Cliff Branch, 4 for 45 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 2 for 29 yards; Arthur Whittington, 2 for 9 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 2 for 8 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 1 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 51 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 13 yards OAK: Joe Stewart, 1 for 56 yards; Derrick Ramsey, 1 for 9 yards; Arthur Whittington, 1 for -2 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 6 yards OAK: Neal Colzie, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 2 for 1 yard; Ted Hendricks, 1 for 9 yards; Mike Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Monte Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 4 for 139 yards OAK: Ray Guy, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 2/2
Wilbert Montgomery scored touchdowns on runs of two and seven yards in the opening nine minutes and rushed for 100 or more yards for the sixth time in 1978 to help earn the Eagles an NFC wild card playoff berth. Montgomery's 130 yards on 25 carries gave him a season total of 1,220 yards, eclipsing Steve Van Buren's 19-year record of 1,146 yards. Teammate Mike Hogan rushed for 100 yards for the first time this year.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.4 (8) | 131.3 (23) | 281.7 (22) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 161.3 (25) | 154.8 (13) | 316.1 (21) | 37 | |
 | OFFENSE | 147.9 (10) | 142.2 (20) | 290.1 (20) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 120.9 (5) | 173.2 (23) | 294.1 (13) | 43 |
Line: Eagles by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (6-10-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (9-7-0) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
( 0- 6) PHI Wilbert Montgomery 2 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0-13) PHI Wilbert Montgomery 7 yard rush (Mike Michel kick)
( 3-13) NYG Joe Danelo 24 yard field goal
( 3-20) PHI Frank LeMaster 9 yard interception return (Mike Michel kick)
NYG PHI
First Downs: 11 16
Rushes-yards: 18-48 52-238
Yards/rush: 2.7 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-30-206-3 4-13-72-1
Sacked-yards: 4-31 1-8
Net pass yards: 175 64
Net yards/pass: 5.1 4.6
Total net yards: 223 302
Total plays: 52 (34% run) 66 (78% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 1-1
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 7-66 8-67
Attendance: 56,396
Passing:
NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 10 of 19 for 81 yards (2 int); Randy Dean, 7 of 10 for 126 yards (1 int); Dave Jennings, 1 of 1 for -1 yards PHI: Ron Jaworski, 4 of 13 for 72 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NYG: Doug Kotar, 8 for 30 yards; Dan Doornink, 8 for 18 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 0 yards; Dave Jennings, 1 for 0 yards PHI: Wilbert Montgomery, 25 for 130 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Hogan, 22 for 100 yards; Billy Campfield, 3 for 10 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 0 yards; John Walton, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 5 for 86 yards; Johnny Perkins, 5 for 85 yards; Dan Doornink, 3 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 2 for 15 yards; Al Dixon, 2 for 15 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for -1 yards PHI: Harold Carmichael, 3 for 57 yards; Wilbert Montgomery, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Ernest Pough, 1 for 20 yards; Frank Marion, 1 for 12 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 10 yards; John Skorupan, 1 for 7 yards PHI: Billy Campfield, 2 for 37 yards
Punt returns:
PHI: John Sciarra, 4 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Terry Jackson, 1 for 1 yard PHI: Herman Edwards, 2 for 15 yards; Frank LeMaster, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 202 yards PHI: Mike Michel, 5 for 178 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1
NYG: Joe Pisarcik, 10 of 19 for 81 yards (2 int); Randy Dean, 7 of 10 for 126 yards (1 int); Dave Jennings, 1 of 1 for -1 yards PHI: Ron Jaworski, 4 of 13 for 72 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NYG: Doug Kotar, 8 for 30 yards; Dan Doornink, 8 for 18 yards; Willie Spencer, 1 for 0 yards; Dave Jennings, 1 for 0 yards PHI: Wilbert Montgomery, 25 for 130 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Hogan, 22 for 100 yards; Billy Campfield, 3 for 10 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 0 yards; John Walton, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Jim Robinson, 5 for 86 yards; Johnny Perkins, 5 for 85 yards; Dan Doornink, 3 for 6 yards; Doug Kotar, 2 for 15 yards; Al Dixon, 2 for 15 yards; Brian Kelley, 1 for -1 yards PHI: Harold Carmichael, 3 for 57 yards; Wilbert Montgomery, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Ernest Pough, 1 for 20 yards; Frank Marion, 1 for 12 yards; Gary Shirk, 1 for 10 yards; John Skorupan, 1 for 7 yards PHI: Billy Campfield, 2 for 37 yards
Punt returns:
PHI: John Sciarra, 4 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Terry Jackson, 1 for 1 yard PHI: Herman Edwards, 2 for 15 yards; Frank LeMaster, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
NYG: Dave Jennings, 5 for 202 yards PHI: Mike Michel, 5 for 178 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Joe Danelo, 1/1
Al Hunter rushed for 133 yards and scored two touchdowns as Seattle became the first third-year team in NFL history to win nine games in a season. Hunter's second touchdown came on a fourth-and-one play and gave the Seahawks a 20-3 lead. Kansas City's Tony Reed followed with a 62-yard run to cut the Seattle lead to 20-17. Reed rushed 11 times for 121 yards and finished the season with 1,053 yards, the most by a Kansas City back since Mike Garrett gained 1,087 in 1967. Seattle's Steve Largent captured the AFC receiving crown with 71 catches for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 182.2 (2) | 119.3 (27) | 301.5 (15) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 145.5 (17) | 155.3 (14) | 300.8 (17) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 146.0 (11) | 191.0 (5) | 337.0 (3) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 150.7 (19) | 197.4 (28) | 348.1 (27) | 36 |
Line: Seahawks by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs (4-12-0) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 19 |
| Seattle Seahawks (9-7-0) | 7 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
( 0- 7) SEA Steve Largent 57 yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick)
( 3- 7) KC Jan Stenerud 33 yard field goal
( 3-13) SEA Al Hunter 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 3-20) SEA Al Hunter 55 yard rush (Efren Herrera kick)
(10-20) KC Arnold Morgado 1 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)
(17-20) KC Tony Reed 62 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)
(17-23) SEA Efren Herrera 31 yard field goal
(19-23) KC Safety, Herman Weaver forced out of end zone by Ed Beckman
KC SEA
First Downs: 18 26
Rushes-yards: 36-253 45-204
Yards/rush: 7.0 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 5-19-66-3 19-30-265-1
Sacked-yards: 3-22 2-13
Net pass yards: 44 252
Net yards/pass: 2.0 7.9
Total net yards: 297 456
Total plays: 58 (62% run) 77 (58% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 2-10 4-60
Attendance: 58,490
Passing:
KC: Mike Livingston, 5 of 19 for 66 yards (3 int) SEA: Jim Zorn, 18 of 29 for 256 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Herman Weaver, 1 of 1 for 9 yards
Rushing:
KC: Arnold Morgado, 12 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Tony Reed, 11 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Ted McKnight, 9 for 46 yards; Mark Bailey, 2 for 19 yards; Mike Livingston, 1 for 4 yards; MacArthur Lane, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Al Hunter, 27 for 133 yards and 2 TDs; Sherman Smith, 13 for 67 yards; Jim Zorn, 2 for 6 yards; Don Testerman, 2 for 3 yards; Herman Weaver, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
KC: Henry Marshall, 1 for 40 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 19 yards; MacArthur Lane, 1 for 6 yards; Ted McKnight, 1 for 1 yard; Tony Samuels, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Don Testerman, 4 for 38 yards; Steve Largent, 3 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Sam McCullum, 3 for 38 yards; John Sawyer, 3 for 22 yards; Sherman Smith, 2 for 32 yards; Ron Howard, 2 for 19 yards; Al Hunter, 1 for 20 yards; Duke Fergerson, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Eddie Payton, 2 for 47 yards; Horace Belton, 1 for 41 yards; Ed Beckman, 1 for 34 yards; Whitney Paul, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Rufus Crawford, 2 for 44 yards; Al Hunter, 1 for 20 yards; Doug Long, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Eddie Payton, 1 for 24 yards SEA: Rufus Crawford, 3 for 49 yards
Interceptions:
KC: Gary Barbaro, 1 for 30 yards SEA: John Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Keith Simpson, 1 for 0 yards; Cornell Webster, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Zenon Andrusyshyn, 4 for 175 yards SEA: Herman Weaver, 3 for 104 yards
Field Goals:
KC: Jan Stenerud, 1/1 SEA: Efren Herrera, 1/2
KC: Mike Livingston, 5 of 19 for 66 yards (3 int) SEA: Jim Zorn, 18 of 29 for 256 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Herman Weaver, 1 of 1 for 9 yards
Rushing:
KC: Arnold Morgado, 12 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Tony Reed, 11 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Ted McKnight, 9 for 46 yards; Mark Bailey, 2 for 19 yards; Mike Livingston, 1 for 4 yards; MacArthur Lane, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Al Hunter, 27 for 133 yards and 2 TDs; Sherman Smith, 13 for 67 yards; Jim Zorn, 2 for 6 yards; Don Testerman, 2 for 3 yards; Herman Weaver, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
KC: Henry Marshall, 1 for 40 yards; Larry Dorsey, 1 for 19 yards; MacArthur Lane, 1 for 6 yards; Ted McKnight, 1 for 1 yard; Tony Samuels, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Don Testerman, 4 for 38 yards; Steve Largent, 3 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Sam McCullum, 3 for 38 yards; John Sawyer, 3 for 22 yards; Sherman Smith, 2 for 32 yards; Ron Howard, 2 for 19 yards; Al Hunter, 1 for 20 yards; Duke Fergerson, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Eddie Payton, 2 for 47 yards; Horace Belton, 1 for 41 yards; Ed Beckman, 1 for 34 yards; Whitney Paul, 1 for 0 yards SEA: Rufus Crawford, 2 for 44 yards; Al Hunter, 1 for 20 yards; Doug Long, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Eddie Payton, 1 for 24 yards SEA: Rufus Crawford, 3 for 49 yards
Interceptions:
KC: Gary Barbaro, 1 for 30 yards SEA: John Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Keith Simpson, 1 for 0 yards; Cornell Webster, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Zenon Andrusyshyn, 4 for 175 yards SEA: Herman Weaver, 3 for 104 yards
Field Goals:
KC: Jan Stenerud, 1/1 SEA: Efren Herrera, 1/2
Jim Hart paced the Cardinals to their sixth win in eight games. Hart completed 22 of 40 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns and scored twice on runs of two and nine yards. Dave Stief caught nine passes for 183 yards and Pat Tilley added seven receptions for 105 yards. After an 0-8 start the Cardinals rebounded to finish 6-10 in Bud Wilkinson's first year as head coach.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 107.9 (27) | 142.1 (21) | 250.1 (26) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 132.5 (12) | 134.4 (3) | 266.9 (5) | 35 | |
 | OFFENSE | 125.0 (24) | 188.2 (6) | 313.2 (8) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 157.0 (23) | 138.7 (5) | 295.7 (14) | 36 |
Line: Cardinals by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (9-7-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (6-10-0) | 0 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
( 7- 0) ATL Ray Strong 1 yard rush (Tim Mazzetti kick)
( 7- 7) STL Dave Stief 37 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7-14) STL Al Chandler 12 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(14-14) ATL Dennis Pearson 100 yard kickoff return (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(14-21) STL Pat Tilley 26 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(14-28) STL Jim Hart 2 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(14-35) STL Steve Jones 3 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(21-35) ATL Ricky Patton 8 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick)
(21-42) STL Jim Hart 9 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
ATL STL
First Downs: 18 24
Rushes-yards: 18-41 36-79
Yards/rush: 2.3 2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-42-312-3 23-42-362-1
Sacked-yards: 4-42 2-14
Net pass yards: 270 348
Net yards/pass: 5.9 7.9
Total net yards: 311 427
Total plays: 64 (28% run) 80 (45% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 1-1
Turnovers: 6 2
Penalties-yards: 5-27 6-45
Attendance: 40,022
Passing:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 16 of 32 for 257 yards and 1 TD (2 int); June Jones, 5 of 10 for 55 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 22 of 40 for 333 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Mike Wood, 1 of 1 for 29 yards; Steve Pisarkiewicz, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Ray Strong, 11 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Haskel Stanback, 6 for 15 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for -1 yards STL: Jim Otis, 13 for 27 yards; Gordon Bell, 7 for 23 yards; Willard Harrell, 7 for 12 yards; Steve Jones, 6 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 2 for 11 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Pisarkiewicz, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jackson, 5 for 102 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 80 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 44 yards; Billy Ryckman, 3 for 29 yards; Ray Strong, 3 for 22 yards; Ricky Patton, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 1 for 18 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 9 yards STL: Dave Stief, 9 for 183 yards and 1 TD; Pat Tilley, 7 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Al Chandler, 4 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 2 for 17 yards; Gordon Bell, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 117 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 2 for 31 yards; Edgar Fields, 2 for 21 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 25 yards STL: Gordon Bell, 2 for 54 yards; Rolly Woolsey, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 3 yards STL: Gordon Bell, 1 for 8 yards; Rolly Woolsey, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 0 yards STL: Carl Allen, 2 for 39 yards; Eric Williams, 1 for 24 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 139 yards STL: Mike Wood, 6 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Steve Bartkowski, 16 of 32 for 257 yards and 1 TD (2 int); June Jones, 5 of 10 for 55 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 22 of 40 for 333 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Mike Wood, 1 of 1 for 29 yards; Steve Pisarkiewicz, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Ray Strong, 11 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Haskel Stanback, 6 for 15 yards; Ricky Patton, 1 for -1 yards STL: Jim Otis, 13 for 27 yards; Gordon Bell, 7 for 23 yards; Willard Harrell, 7 for 12 yards; Steve Jones, 6 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Jim Hart, 2 for 11 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Pisarkiewicz, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Alfred Jackson, 5 for 102 yards; Wallace Francis, 3 for 80 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 44 yards; Billy Ryckman, 3 for 29 yards; Ray Strong, 3 for 22 yards; Ricky Patton, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 1 for 18 yards; Haskel Stanback, 1 for 9 yards STL: Dave Stief, 9 for 183 yards and 1 TD; Pat Tilley, 7 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Al Chandler, 4 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Steve Jones, 2 for 17 yards; Gordon Bell, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dennis Pearson, 2 for 117 yards and 1 TD; James Wright, 2 for 31 yards; Edgar Fields, 2 for 21 yards; George Franklin, 1 for 25 yards STL: Gordon Bell, 2 for 54 yards; Rolly Woolsey, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Billy Ryckman, 2 for 3 yards STL: Gordon Bell, 1 for 8 yards; Rolly Woolsey, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 0 yards STL: Carl Allen, 2 for 39 yards; Eric Williams, 1 for 24 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 139 yards STL: Mike Wood, 6 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
Archie Manning completed 25 of 36 passes for 250 yards and the game-winning touchdown as the Saints posted their seventh win of the season, the most in club history. Manning, who finished the season with 291 completions in 471 attempts for 3,416 yards, flipped a one-yard scoring pass to Henry Childs with 10:56 left to ensure the victory. Childs caught six passes to tie with Detroit's David Hill for the top spot among NFC tight ends (53 receptions). Tony Galbreath added five catches to finish the season with 74, breaking Danny Abramowicz's club record of 73.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 111.6 (26) | 193.4 (4) | 305.0 (11) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 154.5 (22) | 159.3 (16) | 313.8 (20) | 41 | |
 | OFFENSE | 133.1 (18) | 108.5 (28) | 241.6 (28) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 125.2 (7) | 135.3 (4) | 260.5 (3) | 40 |
Line: Saints by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (7-9-0) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 3- 0) NO Steve Mike-Mayer 32 yard field goal
( 3- 3) TB Neil O'Donoghue 47 yard field goal
(10- 3) NO Chuck Muncie 21 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
(10-10) TB Jimmie Giles 2 yard pass from Doug Williams (Neil O'Donoghue kick)
(17-10) NO Henry Childs 1 yard pass from Archie Manning (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
NO TB
First Downs: 24 10
Rushes-yards: 38-171 22-102
Yards/rush: 4.5 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 25-36-250-2 7-23-96-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-21
Net pass yards: 250 75
Net yards/pass: 6.9 3.0
Total net yards: 421 177
Total plays: 74 (51% run) 47 (46% run)
Yards/play: 5.7 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 5-49 5-30
Attendance: 51,207
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 25 of 36 for 250 yards and 1 TD (2 int) TB: Doug Williams, 7 of 22 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Louis Carter, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 11 for 60 yards; Mike Strachan, 8 for 25 yards; Kim Jones, 5 for 17 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 1 yard TB: Johnny Davis, 9 for 44 yards; Louis Carter, 7 for 31 yards; George Ragsdale, 5 for 27 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Henry Childs, 6 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chandler, 6 for 56 yards; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 35 yards; Larry Hardy, 2 for 44 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 9 yards; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 1 yard; Ike Harris, 1 for 19 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 6 yards TB: Larry Mucker, 2 for 56 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 19 yards and 1 TD; George Ragsdale, 2 for 10 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 1 for 39 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 33 yards; Don Schwartz, 1 for 19 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 2 for 24 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 5 for 36 yards TB: Danny Reece, 3 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Mike Washington, 1 for 24 yards; Dave Lewis, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 4 for 168 yards TB: Dave Green, 9 for 361 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 1/1
NO: Archie Manning, 25 of 36 for 250 yards and 1 TD (2 int) TB: Doug Williams, 7 of 22 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Louis Carter, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Chuck Muncie, 11 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 11 for 60 yards; Mike Strachan, 8 for 25 yards; Kim Jones, 5 for 17 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 1 yard TB: Johnny Davis, 9 for 44 yards; Louis Carter, 7 for 31 yards; George Ragsdale, 5 for 27 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Henry Childs, 6 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chandler, 6 for 56 yards; Tony Galbreath, 5 for 35 yards; Larry Hardy, 2 for 44 yards; Rich Mauti, 2 for 9 yards; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 1 yard; Ike Harris, 1 for 19 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 6 yards TB: Larry Mucker, 2 for 56 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 19 yards and 1 TD; George Ragsdale, 2 for 10 yards; Louis Carter, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Rich Mauti, 1 for 39 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 33 yards; Don Schwartz, 1 for 19 yards TB: Jimmie Giles, 2 for 24 yards; Danny Reece, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 5 for 36 yards TB: Danny Reece, 3 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
TB: Mike Washington, 1 for 24 yards; Dave Lewis, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 4 for 168 yards TB: Dave Green, 9 for 361 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2 TB: Neil O'Donoghue, 1/1