NFL game summary for 12/24/1978:
The Oilers, making their first postseason appearance since 1969, advanced to the divisional playoffs on a brilliant passing performance by Dan Pastorini, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 306 yards and one touchdown. The two AFC wild card teams were locked in a 7-7 tie until midway through the fourth quarter. But Pastorini then completed all four of his passes in a 53-yard drive that set up Toni Fritsch's 35-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 7:25 left. One play after the ensuing kickoff, Gregg Bingham intercepted a Bob Griese pass and the Oilers drove 50 yards in 10 plays (9 on the ground) for Earl Campbell's clinching touchdown from the 1 yard line. Griese completed 11 of 28 passes. Campbell, the NFL's leading rusher during the regular season with 1,450 yards, gained 84 yards on 26 carries.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 154.8 (6) | 146.1 (18) | 300.9 (16) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 129.5 (9) | 177.6 (24) | 307.1 (17) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 147.9 (11) | 154.3 (15) | 302.2 (13) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 141.3 (16) | 181.8 (26) | 323.1 (23) | 53 |
Line: Dolphins by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (11-6-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Miami Dolphins (11-6-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
( 0- 7) MIA Andre Tillman 13 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Tim Wilson 13 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
(10- 7) HOU Toni Fritsch 35 yard field goal
(17- 7) HOU Earl Campbell 1 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(17- 9) MIA Safety, Dan Pastorini ran out of end zone
HOU MIA
First Downs: 23 14
Rushes-yards: 45-165 25-91
Yards/rush: 3.7 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-30-306-0 12-30-137-3
Sacked-yards: 2-16 2-19
Net pass yards: 290 118
Net yards/pass: 9.1 3.7
Total net yards: 455 209
Total plays: 77 (58% run) 57 (43% run)
Yards/play: 5.9 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 2-2
Turnovers: 1 5
Penalties-yards: 5-37 1-5
Attendance: 70,036
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 20 of 29 for 306 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 0 of 1 for 0 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 28 for 114 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Don Strock, 1 of 2 for 23 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 26 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Tim Wilson, 14 for 76 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for -9 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 12 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 2 yards MIA: Delvin Williams, 13 for 41 yards; Leroy Harris, 9 for 43 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 0 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 103 yards; Tim Wilson, 5 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 4 for 112 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 22 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 13 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 4 for 42 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 28 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 14 yards; Leroy Harris, 1 for 21 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Robert Woods, 2 for 55 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 2 for 67 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 30 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Robert Woods, 3 for 11 yards MIA: Nat Moore, 1 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Reinfeldt, 1 for 0 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 220 yards MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 243 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/1
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 20 of 29 for 306 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 0 of 1 for 0 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 28 for 114 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Don Strock, 1 of 2 for 23 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 26 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Tim Wilson, 14 for 76 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for -9 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 12 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 2 yards MIA: Delvin Williams, 13 for 41 yards; Leroy Harris, 9 for 43 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 0 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 7 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 6 for 103 yards; Tim Wilson, 5 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 4 for 112 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 22 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 13 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 4 for 42 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 28 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 14 yards; Leroy Harris, 1 for 21 yards; Delvin Williams, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Robert Woods, 2 for 55 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 2 for 67 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 30 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Robert Woods, 3 for 11 yards MIA: Nat Moore, 1 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Reinfeldt, 1 for 0 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 220 yards MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 243 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/1