NFL game summary for 09/09/1979:

Rookie Steve Atkins rushed for 110 yards on 12 carries, scored once, and set up another touchdown on a 60-yard run as the Packers posted a come-from-behind win. The Packers, who were trailing 12-0 at halftime, used an onside kick to start the second half and spark their rally. Barty Smith's one-yard run capped a 51-yard drive following the onside kick recovery. Short touchdown runs by quarterback David Whitehurst and Atkins gave the Packers a 21-12 third-quarter lead. The Saints narrowed the deficit to 21-19 early in the fourth quarter when Mike Strachan capped a 76-yard drive with a one-yard run. Atkins ran 60 yards down the sideline on the Packers' next offensive play to set up a three-yard score by Eric Torkelson. Green Bay's initial win of the season overshadowed Archie Manning's 291-yard passing performance (28 of 45) for the Saints, who amassed 474 yards in total offense.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

	Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
OFFENSE	188.0 (6)	324.0 (1)	512.0 (2)	2
DEFENSE	257.0 (28)	295.0 (27)	552.0 (28)	2
OFFENSE	77.0 (26)	72.0 (27)	149.0 (27)	1
DEFENSE	183.0 (21)	117.0 (10)	300.0 (11)	2

Line: Packers by 2½

Team	1	2	3	4	F
New Orleans Saints (0-2-0)	3	9	0	7	19
Green Bay Packers (1-1-0)	0	0	21	7	28

( 3- 0) NO Tony Galbreath 23 yard field goal ( 6- 0) NO Tony Galbreath 27 yard field goal (12- 0) NO Henry Childs 33 yard pass from Archie Manning (kick failed) (12- 7) GB Barty Smith 1 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick) (12-14) GB David Whitehurst 2 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick) (12-21) GB Steve Atkins 3 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick) (19-21) NO Mike Strachan 1 yard rush (Tony Galbreath kick) (19-28) GB Eric Torkelson 3 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick)

                     NO              GB
First Downs:         29              21
Rushes-yards:        36-185          30-194
Yards/rush:          5.1             6.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     28-45-291-2     9-15-139-1
Sacked-yards:        1-2             3-24
Net pass yards:      289             115
Net yards/pass:      6.3             6.4
Total net yards:     474             309
Total plays:         82 (43% run)    48 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          5.8             6.4
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             1-1
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     9-51            3-35

Attendance: 53,184

Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 28 of 45 for 291 yards and 1 TD (2 int) GB: David Whitehurst, 9 of 15 for 139 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 15 for 82 yards; Mike Strachan, 14 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Kim Jones, 3 for 5 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for 28 yards; Chuck Muncie, 2 for 17 yards GB: Barty Smith, 13 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Steve Atkins, 12 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Terdell Middleton, 3 for 13 yards; Eric Torkelson, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; David Whitehurst, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
NO: Wes Chandler, 10 for 92 yards; Henry Childs, 7 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Muncie, 3 for 21 yards; Tony Galbreath, 3 for 20 yards; Ike Harris, 2 for 26 yards; Brooks Williams, 1 for 14 yards; Mike Strachan, 1 for 3 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 3 yards GB: Aundra Thompson, 4 for 49 yards; James Lofton, 2 for 64 yards; Steve Atkins, 1 for 18 yards; Walter Tullis, 1 for 12 yards; Barty Smith, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Jack Holmes, 2 for 31 yards; Rich Mauti, 1 for 25 yards; Jim Kovach, 1 for 10 yards GB: Steve Odom, 5 for 116 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Pat Hughes, 1 for 8 yards GB: Johnnie Gray, 1 for 35 yards; Mike Douglass, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
NO: Wes Chandler, 1 for 23 yards GB: David Beverly, 3 for 111 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 2/3