NFL game summary 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