NFL game summary for 09/07/1980:

Pat Haden, who had won the starting berth over Vince Ferragamo, suffered a broken index finger on his passing hand midway through the final quarter. Haden will be out of action for four weeks, according to the Rams' physician. Even if Haden had not been hurt, there were indications that Coach Ray Malavasi was in for another season of quarterback controversy. After Haden was intercepted three times, a chorus of "We want Vince" went up from the Big A crowd of 64,892. Ferragamo, the Rams' playoff hero last season, completed four of five passes in the closing minutes of the game, but by then the outcome had been settled.

The Lions rolled up 494 yards in total offense, with 330 of that on the ground. Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma and the No. 1 choice in this year's draft, carried 22 times and ran for three touchdowns. His 153 yards was the best rushing total by a Detroit back since Altie Taylor gained 160 in a 1973 game. Dexter Bussey ran for 11 yards in 14 carries for the Lions and scored on a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to break a 20-20 tie. The performances by Sims and Bussey marked the first time since 1934 -- Detroit's first season in the NFL -- that two Lions backs had gained more than 100 yards in the same game.

"We're for real," Sims said of the Lions, who loom as title contenders in the NFC Central Division after being doormats last season. "I know we are capable of doing it. I hope this shows that we're in this thing." Gary Danielson, the Detroit quarterback who missed the entire 1979 season with a knee in suffered in the final preseason game, completed 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards. "By winning today, we were able to show the world that we can play with anybody," he said.

The Rams' Drew Hill returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and Los Angeles went on to build a 20-17 halftime lead. A 38-yard field goal by Ed Murray tied the score early in the third period and then the Lions surged ahead. Sims took a short pass from Danielson and to it into a 66 yard gain to the LA. 19. Two plays later, Bussey bolted for the go-ahead TD. A 41 yard scoring burst by Sims on the first play of the fourth quarter made it 34-20 and the Lions finished the scoring on a four-yard sweep by Horace King with 29 seconds left in the game.

Haden was 13-for-24 passing before he went out when his finger was broken as it hit a shoulder pad. He was miffed that the fans seemed to be cheering his injury, although most of those booing probably didn't know that he'd been hurt seriously. "It's really vicious when fans cheer an injury." Haden said. "People come out and pay 15 bucks and act like animals, and I don't think that's right." Haden added, "That's three broken fingers in three years. I'm very disappointed, and it's a real rough way to start the year." [The Sporting News]

Line: Rams by 9

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Detroit Lions (1-0-0)	10	7	10	14	41
Los Angeles Rams (0-1-0)	6	14	0	0	20

( 0- 6) LA  Drew Hill 98 yard kickoff return (kick failed)
( 3- 6) DET Eddie Murray 52 yard field goal
(10- 6) DET Billy Sims 10 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick)
(10-13) LA  Cullen Bryant 1 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
(10-20) LA  Elvis Peacock 1 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
(17-20) DET Billy Sims 1 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick)
(20-20) DET Eddie Murray 38 yard field goal
(27-20) DET Dexter Bussey 15 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick)
(34-20) DET Billy Sims 41 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick)
(41-20) DET Horace King 4 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick)

                     DET             LA
First Downs:         27              16
Rushes-yards:        46-330          24-86
Yards/rush:          7.2             3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-19-173-0     17-29-179-3
Sacked-yards:        2-9             2-10
Net pass yards:      164             169
Net yards/pass:      7.8             5.5
Total net yards:     494             255
Total plays:         67 (68% run)    55 (43% run)  
Yards/play:          7.4             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             1-0
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     9-93            11-59

Attendance: 64,892