The 1978 Green Bay Packers (8-7-1)

September 3: Green Bay Packers (1-0) 13, Detroit Lions (0-1) 7

(DETROIT) - Barty Smith plunged one yard for a touchdown 3:52 into the second half and the Green Bay Packers held off the Detroit Lions the rest of the way to score a 13-7 victory in an NFL season opener. RB Dexter Bussey dashed five yards for Detroit's only touchdown with 2:10 left in the third quarter but the Lions failed to catch up to the dismay of their smallest season opening crowd in four years, 51,187 fans. Green Bay's defensive line, led by ends Ezra Johnson and Mike Butler, penetrated Detroit's young offensive line repeatedly, sacking veteran quarterback Greg Landry eight times and dumping him for 76 yards in losses to spoil the debut of Lions' Coach Monte Clark. Chester Marcol kicked first-quarter field goals of 41 and 23 yards for the Packers, who have opened on the road five times in the last 30 years and won them all.

GREEN BAY - 6 0 7 0 - 13

DETROIT - 0 0 7 0 - 7

1st - GB - Marcol, 41-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

1st - GB - Marcol, 23-yard field goal GREEN BAY 6-0

3rd - GB - B. Smith, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 13-0

3rd - DET - Dexter Bussey, 5-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick) GREEN BAY 13-7

September 10 : Green Bay Packers (2-0) 28, New Orleans Saints (1-1) 17

(MILWAUKEE) - David Whitehurst fired four touchdown passes, three to rookie Jarnes Lofton on plays covering 42,47 and 18 yards, and Terdell Middleton rushed for 114 yards to lead the Packers to a 28-17 victory over the Saints in Milwaukee. Whitehurst, a second-year quarterback, completed 10 of 15 passes for 161 yards for the young Packers, 2-0 for their first time since 1969. His other scoring pass was a 9-yarder to Rich McGeorge early in the fourth quarter. The Packers erased a 10-7 deficit 6:06 into the second quarter when Lofton, sixth player picked in last May's NFL draft, grabbed a Whitehurst pass just over the line of scrimmage and raced 47 yards to the end zone. Lofton leaped to grab another Whitehurst pass between DB Clarence Chapman and Ray Brown and fell into the end zone for an 18-yard scoring play as Green Bay led 21-10 early in the third quarter.

NEW ORLEANS - 3 7 0 7 - 17

GREEN BAY - 7 7 7 7 - 28

1st - GB - Lofton, 42-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

1st - NO - Richie Szaro, 37-yard field goal GREEN BAY 7-3

2nd - NO - Ike Harris, 6-yard pass from Archie Manning (Szaro kick) NO 10-7

2nd - GB - Lofton, 47-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 14-10

3rd - GB - Lofton, 18-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 21-10

4th - GB - McGeorge, 9-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GR BAY 28-10

4th - NO - Mike Strachan, 4-yard run (Szaro kick) GREEN BAY 28-17

September 17 : Oakland Raiders (2-1) 28, Green Bay Packers (2-1) 3

(GREEN BAY) - Mark van Eeghen rushed for 151 yards, setting up two touchdown runs by Arthur Whittington and one by Terry Robiskie to lead the Oakland Raiders to a 28-3 win over Green Bay. Ken Stabler threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Dave Casper for the Raiders, who rushed for 348 yards. Most of them came behind the blocking of OG Gene Upshaw and OT Art Shell as the Raiders dominated the line of scrimmage and dropped the Packers' record to 2-1. Stabler's touchdown pass to Casper 7:58 before halftime gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead. Van Eeghen ran 17 yards to the Packer 29 to set up the score after a fumble recovery by Raider LB Phil Villapiano. The Raiders went 48 yards in six plays on their next series to make it 14-0 on Robiskie's 11-yard touchdown run. Another 17-yard run by van Eeghen sparked the drive. The Packers scored on a 34-yard field goal by Chester Marcol seven seconds before halftime, then marched to a first down at the Raider 23 early in the fourth quarter. However, LB Monte Johnson recovered a Barty Smith fumble on the next play, and the Raiders marched 85 yards in 12 running plays to score on a 7-yard run by Whittington. Whittington also scored from 10 yards out with 3:48 to play, making it 28-3.

OAKLAND - 0 14 0 14 - 28

GREEN BAY - 0 3 0 0 - 3

2nd - OAK - Dave Casper, 11-yd pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) OAK 7-0

2nd - OAK - Terry Robiskie, 11-yard run (Mann kick) OAKLAND 14-0

2nd - GB - Marcol, 34-yard field goal OAKLAND 14-3

4th - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 7-yard run (Mann kick) OAKLAND 21-3

4th - OAK - Whittington, 10-yard run (Mann kick) OAKLAND 28-3

September 24 : Green Bay Packers (3-1) 24, San Diego Chargers (1-3) 3

(SAN DIEGO) - Walter Landers ran 15 yards with a blocked punt for a touchdown and Willie Buchanon raced 77 yards with an interception for another score as the Packers crushed the Chargers in a heat-scorched game. It was 102 degrees at San Diego Stadium and the heat seemed to affected both teams. Buchanon intercepted four passes and the Packers benefitted from 11 turnovers. The Chargers' defense sacked Green Bay quarterback David Whitehurst 10 times to set a team record, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from losing their third game to four outings. After a scoreless first period, San Diego P Jeff West fumbled a high snap from center that was recovered on the Chargers' 13 by Green Bay's Rick Nuzum. On the next play, Terdell Middleton swept right end for 13 yards and a touchdown, giving the Packers the lead for good. Early to the third quarter, West dropped back to punt again with the ball on the San Diego 30. But his kick was blocked by CB Estus Hood and Landers scooped it up and dashed untouched into the end zone, making it 14-0. The Chargers' only score came after backup QB James Harris, who started to place of the injured Dan Fouts, marched San Diego from its 38yard line to the Green Bay 25, where the drive stalled and Rolf Benirschke booted a 43-yard field goal. The Packers got that score back on Chester Marcol's 34-yard field goal late to the third quarter and Green Bay got an insurance touchdown on Buchanon's fourth interception of the day with 2:46 left to the game.

GREEN BAY - 0 7 10 7 - 24

SAN DIEGO - 0 0 3 0 - 3

2nd - GB - Middleton, 13-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

3rd - GB - Landers, 15-yard blocked punt return (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 14-0

3rd - SD - Rolf Benirschke, 43-yard field goal GREEN BAY 14-3

3rd - GB - Marcol, 37-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-3

4th - GB - Buchanon, 77-yard interception return (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 24-3

October 1: Green Bay Packers (4-1) 35, Detroit Lions (1-4) 14

(MILWAUKEE) - Terdell Middleton rushed for 148 yards, 76 on a third-quarter touchdown scamper, and David Whitehurst fired scoring passes covering 43 and 19 yards to Aundra Thompson to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 35-14 victory over the Detroit Lions. Whitehurst also ran 1 yard for a touchdown and completed 14 of 18 passes for 230 yards. His 43-yard pass to Thompson in the second period scored what proved to be the decisive touchdown, as the Packers, 4-1 for the first time since 1972, led 21-0. The punchless Lions (1-4) saw quarterbacks Greg Landry and Gary Danielson sacked six times for 50 yards in losses. Ezra Johnson was in on four of the sacks The Packers took a 7-0 lead on Barty Smith's 1-yard scoring run, set up by James Lofton's 15-yard run on a reverse. Whitehurst's sneak made it 14-0 early in the second quarter and capped a 64-yard march sparked by runs of 15 and 25 yards by Middleton. Whitehurst's 43-yard pass to Thompson provided a 21-0 halftime lead.

DETROIT - 0 0 7 7 - 14

GREEN BAY - 7 14 7 7 - 35

1st - GB - Smith, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

2nd - GB - Whitehurst, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 14-0

2nd - GB - Thompson, 43-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GR BAY 21-0

3rd - DET - Luther Blue, 12-yd pass fr Gary Danielson (Benny Ricardo kick) GB 21-7

3rd - GB - Middleton, 76-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 28-7

4th - GB - Thompson, 19-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GB 35-7

4th - DET - Freddie Scott, 42-yard pass from Danielson (Ricardo kick) GB 35-14

October 8: Green Bay Packers (5-1) 24, Chicago Bears (3-3) 14

(GREEN BAY) - S Steve Luke returned an intercepted pass 83 yards for a touchdown and an interception by tackle Carl Barzilauskas set up another score, leading the surprising Green Bay Packers to a 24-14 victory over the Chicago Bears. Chester Marcol kicked a 41-yard second-quarter field goal after a fumble recovery by Luke, as the swarming Packer defense forced five turnovers. The Packers (5-1), off to their best start since 1966, broke open the defensive struggle after DE Mike Butler hit Bear QB Bob Avellini's arm as he tried to throw from his 28-yard line early in the third quarter. The ball squirted to near the line of scrimmage where a charging Barzilauskas grabbed it and lumbered 5 yards to the 14. Terdell Middteton scored from 2 yards out on fourth down six plays later for a 10-0 Green Bay lead. Avellini, rushed hard by rookie LB John Anderson on the next Bears' series, overthrew Greg Latta. Luke picked off the ball and raced down the right sideline to the end zone behind a crushing block by DE Ezra Johnson. The Bears (3-3) capped a 71-yard march when Avellini passed 15 yards to James Scott for a touchdown with 12:08 to play. However, the Packers wrapped it up two scrimmage plays later when David Whitehurst fired a 58-yard touchdown bomb to rookie James Lofton for a 24-7 lead. Avellini passed 17 yards to Scott for the Bears' second touchdown with 2:51 to play.

CHICAGO - 0 0 0 14 - 14

GREEN BAY - 0 3 14 7 - 24

2nd - GB - Marcol, 41-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

3rd - GB - Middleton, 2-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 10-0

3rd - GB - Luke, 63-yard interception return (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 17-0

4th - CHI - James Scott, 15-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick) GB 17-7

4th - GB - Lofton, 58-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 24-7

4th - CHI - Scott, 17-yard pass from Avellini (Bob Thomas kick) GREEN BAY 24-14

October 15: Green Bay Packers (6-1) 45, Seattle Seahawks (3-4) 28

(MILWAUKEE) - Steve Odom returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and Terdell Middleton rushed for 121 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Packers to a 45-28 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers (6-1) forced seven turnovers in a steady drizzle and converted three first-quarter fumble recoveries into touchdowns for a 28-0 lead. Packer end Ezra Johnson recovered a Jim Zorn fumble at the Seattle 41 on the Seahawks' third scrimmage play. David Whitehurst passed 24 yards to James Lofton on a crossing pattern for a touchdown two plays later as Green Bay led 14-0. In a related story, Odom made certain early that young Greg Peeters of rural Shiocton got his game ball from the Packers-Seattle game. Odom had visited the 11-year old boy at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Appteton last week. Young Peeters had both legs amputated after a tractor accident. Odom told him that if he made a touchdown, he would bring the game ball to Greg. Odom ran the opening kickoff back and made good on his promise.

SEATTLE - 0 14 7 7 - 28

GREEN BAY - 28 3 14 0 - 45

1st - GB - Odom, 95-yard kickoff return (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

1st - GB - Lofton, 24-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 14-0

1st - GB - Middleton, 5-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 21-0

1st - GB - Middleton, 14-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 28-0

2nd - SEA - Jim Zorn, 12-yard run (Effren Herrera kick) GREEN BAY 28-7

2nd - SEA - Steve Largent, 48-yard pass from Zorn (Herrera kick) GB 28-14

2nd - GB - Marcol, 22-yard field goal GREEN BAY 31-14

3rd - GB - Middleton, 2-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 38-14

3rd - SEA - Sherman Smith, 9-yard run (Herrera kick) GREEN BAY 38-21

3rd - GB - Middleton, 9-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 45-21

4th - SEA - David Sims, 2-yard run (Herrera kick) GREEN BAY 45-28

October 22 : Minnesota Vikings (4-4) 21, Green Bay Packers (6-2) 7

(MINNESOTA) - The long and winding road for Fran Tarkenton and the Minnesota Vikings took a positive turn with a 21-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Tarkenton, criticized this season by hometown fans and media, connected on three touchdown strikes and passed the 45,000 mark in career passing yardage as the Vikings knocked a game off the Packers' division lead and kept their playoff hopes alive. "That's pretty amazing for a guy who can't throw the ball anymore, isn't it?" said Tarkenton, who raised his 18-year total to 45,143 yards with 26 completions in 43 attempts for 262 yards. "Actually, I wasn't aware of it until you told me," he said to a reporter. "I've been throwing the ball pretty well for the last six weeks; hell, for the whole season." Tarkenton, who beat the Green Bay blitz frequently, was asked if he thought the Packers hurt themselves too much with an all-out rush. "I can't knock what they're doing," he said. "And I don't think anyone is going to change anything just because they lost one game. They're 6-2. We're 4-4, that's still a long ways to go." Green Bay Coach Bart Starr was disappointed but not glum, despite an 0-7 record against the Vikings as a coach. "They still know how to win," he said. "But I found out one thing, we can play with them and I'll still take our position." Minnesota Coach Bud Grant, 19-4 against the Packers lifetime, admitted that the Packers' two-game lead is still formidable but not impossible to overcome.

GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 0 - 7

MINNESOTA - 0 14 0 7 - 21

2nd - MIN - Chuck Foreman, 16-yd pass fr Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick) MIN 7-0

2nd - GB - Middleton, 3-yard run (Marcol kick) TIED 7-7

2nd - MIN - Ahmad Rashad, 4-yard pass from Tarkenton (Danmeier kick) MIN 14-7

4th - MIN - Rashad, 15-yard pass from Tarkenton (Danmeier kick) MIN 21-7

October 29 : Green Bay Packers (7-2) 9, Tampa Bay Buccanneers (4-5) 7

(GREEN BAY) - Green Bay Coach Bart Starr said the kick might have been the most important of Chester Marcol's career, and the Packers' Polish-born place kicking star wouldn't argue. "I can't even reniember the last lime I won a regular season game with a kick in the last few seconds. I was having a horrible day, and I was hoping I would at least get another chance," said Marcol, who kicked a 48-yard field goal with 41 seconds left to rally the Packers to a 9-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Marcol had made two short kickoffs, had a 38-yard field goal try blocked and had a bad centerr snap cost him a chance to kick an extra point earlier in the defensive struggle. However, his game-winning kick was perfect after a fourth down pass from David Whitehurst to Steve Odom had gained 18 yards to sustain the winning drive. Marcol, a seven-year NFL veteran, tied Fred Cone for fourth place on the Packers' career scoring list with 455 points. The field goal was his longest since he kicked a 52-yarder against Baltimore in 1974. The Packer began their winning drive at their 20 with 2:16 to play after Neil O'Donoghue had missed his second field goal of the game, a 35-yard attempt. Whitehurst sparked the drive by passing to James Lofton for 21 yards and to Aundra Thompson for 12. Then, on fourth-and-10 at the Buccaneer 47 with 1:20 left, Whitehurst picked up the first down by firing a sideline pass to Odom for 18 yards to the 29. Marcol kicked his decisive field goal, aided by a 17 mile-an-hour wind, after a draw play lost a yard and two incomplete passes by Whitehurst.

TAMPA BAY - 0 0 7 0 - 7

GREEN BAY - 6 0 0 3 - 9

1st - GB - Middleton, 2-yard run (Pass failed) GREEN BAY 6-0

3rd - TB - Ricky Bell, 1-yard run (Neil O'Donoghue kick) TAMPA BAY 7-6

4th - GB - Marcol, 41-yard field goal GREEN BAY 9-7

November 5: Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) 10, Green Bay Packers (7-3) 3

(PHILADELPHIA) - It was the kind of a game you had to see to believe. The Green Bay Packers gained 385 yards and the crippled Philadelphia Eagles 148. The Eagles won 10-3. As a result, the Eagles evened their record at 5-5 and held on to an outside chance for a wild card berth. The Packers, still leading the Central Division by a game over Minnesota, dropped to 7-3. It could be said the Packers beat themselves, something the Eagles have done many times in recent years. The Pack turned the ball over five times - three intercepted passes, two fumbles - and was hit with seven penalties for 74 yards. Philadelphia, meanwhile, had just one turnover and only three penalties for a total of 15 yards. And the Eagles played with two substitute running backs, themselves nursing injuries. Wilbert Montgomery, one of the top running backs in the NFL, and his running partner, Mike Hogan, sat out the game. Billy Campfield, 34 yards on 11 carries, and Cleveland Franklin, 15 for 22, took over the starting job. Even the Eagles passing was nothing to brag about. QB Ron Jaworski completed 13 of 20 for just 106 yards David Whitehurst completed 18 of 33 for 220. Terdell Middleton ran for 87 and Barty Smith for 57. The game turned on a Packer mistake, a low snap from center that P David Beverly fumbled, and the Eagles' Kay Phillips recovered at the Packers' two-yard line. On second down, substitute QB John Sciarra ran into the end zone from the two on an option play. Sciarra's score turned a 3-0 deficit -the result of a 42-yard field goal by Chester Marcol - into a 7-3 halftime lead. The Eagles' final points came in the third quarter on Nick Mike-Mayer's 27-yard field goal. Green Bay made one last desperate bid to pull out a game it should have won by at least two touchdowns. The Pack drove from its 42 with 3:51 left to the Eagles 14. A pass completion moved it to ihe 10. But with a chance to send the game into overtime, Whitehurst suffered his third interception of the game as DB Herman Edwards grabbed one at the Eagles six and returned it 19 yards. The Eagles ran out the clock.

GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 0 - 3

PHILADELPHIA - 0 7 3 0 - 10

1st - GB - Marcol, 42-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

2nd - PHIL - John Sciarra, 2-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) PHILADELPHIA 7-3

3rd - PHIL - Mike-Mayer, 27-yard field goal PHILADELPHIA 10-3

November 12: Dallas Cowboys (7-4) 42, Green Bay Packers (7-4) 14

(MILWAUKEE) - Tony Dorsett rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, Robert Newhouse added 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns and Roger Staubach passed to Billy Joe DuPree for two more scores, powering the Cowboys over Green Bay in Milwaukee. Staubach, who left the game after being shaken up late in the third quarter, completed 20 of 31 passes for 200 yards as the Cowboys, 7-4, stayed one game behind first-place Washington in the NFC East. The Packers, 7-4, fell into a first-place tie with Minnesota in the NFC Central with their third defeat in four games. The Cowboys rushed for a club-record 313 yards, surpassing the mark of 286 set against Philadelphia Nov. 18,1973. The Packers took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run by Barty Smith after Mike Douglass recovered a punt fumbled by Dallas' Butch Johnson at the Cowboy 15. However, the Cowboys tied the game late in the first period on a 14-yard touchdown run by Newhouse which capped a 99-yard, 17-play drive. An offsides penalty against the Packers on fourth and 2 at the Green Bay 47 sustained the march. Dorsett scored from 9 yards out 2:02 into the second period to cap a 47-yard drive and the Cowboys led 14-7. They drove 59 yards in eight plays on their next series, with Staubach passing 8 yards to DuPree for another touchdown. Newhouse scored from 3 yards out on Dallas' first series of the second half. A 21-yard Staubach to Tony Hill pass sparked the drive. Staubach threw an 18-yard scoring pass to DuPree late in the third quarter and Dorsett raced 33 yards for another touchdown for a 42-7 Dallas lead early in the final period

DALLAS - 7 14 14 7 - 42

GREEN BAY - 7 0 0 7 - 14

1st - GB - Smith, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

1st - DALL - Robert Newhouse, 14-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) TIED 7-7

2nd - DALL - Tony Dorsett, 9-yard run (Septien kick) DALLAS 14-7

2nd - DALL - Billy Joe DuPree, 8-yd pass fr Roger Staubach (Septien kick) DAL 21-7

3rd - DALL - Newhouse, 3-yard run (Septien kick) DALLAS 28-7

3rd - DALL - DuPree, 18-yard pass from Staubach (Septien kick) DALLAS 35-7

4th - DALL - Dorsett, 33-yard run (Septien kick) DALLAS 42-7

4th - GB - Odom, 18-yard pass from Douglass (Marcol kick) DALLAS 42-14

November 19 : Denver Broncos (8-4) 16, Green Bay Packers (7-5) 3

(DENVER) - Craig Morton awoke Denver's slumbering offense with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Haven Moses, and Rob Lytle rushed for more than 100 yards and another score, lifting the Broncos past the Green Bay Packers 16-3. Denver, which raised its record to 8-4, scored on its first two possessions in the second half to erase a 3-0 halftime deficit. Morton connected with Moses on a 31-yard pass play to help set up his scoring toss to a diving Moses in the rear of the end zone with 11:20 left in the third quarter Lytle carried six times for 40 yards on the Broncos' next series, scoring himself on a 2-yard slant off the left side with 2:44 left in the period. Green Bay's Chester Marcol, who earlier kicked a 19-yard field goal for the only score in the first half, missed from 35 and 27 yards out, thwarting two Packer scoring opportunities in the second half.

GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 0 - 3

DENVER - 0 0 14 2 - 16

1st - GB - Marcol, 19-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

3rd - DEN - Haven Moses, 14-yd pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick) DEN 7-3

3rd - DEN - Rob Lytle, 2-yard run (Turner kick) DENVER 14-3

4th - DEN - Safety, Lyle Alzado sacked Whitehurst in the end zone DENVER 16-3

November 26 : Green Bay Packers (7-5-1) 10, Minnesota Vikings (7-5-1) 10 (Tie)

(GREEN BAY) -Minnesota's Fran Tarkenton threw a 5-yard game-tying touchdown pass to Ahmad Rashad with 10 seconds left in regulation, and the Vikings and Packers finished in a 10-10 overtime tie in Green Bay as the teams remained deadlocked for the NFC Central Division lead. The Vikings' Rick Danmeier blew a chance to win the game when his 21-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right with four minutes left in the sudden-death, 15-minute overtime period. The game ended in a tie after the Packers' Chester Marcol kicked wide to the left on a 40-yard field goal try with 17 seconds left in the extra period. The Vikings forced the overtime when Tarkenton, who was held to 35 yards passing in the first three quarters but finished with 199, completed his scoring pass to Rashad, and Danmeier kicked the extra point for a 10-10 tie. Rashad made a leaping catch over CB Mike McCoy. The Packers nearly scored on the last play of regulation when Aundra Thompson caught a 59-yard pass from David Whitehurst at the Vikings' 6, but was tackled by safety Tom Hannon. Green Bay's Terdell Middleton set a team record with 39 attempts for 110 yards, and became only the fourth running back in Packer history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.

MINNESOTA - 3 0 0 7 0 - 10

GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 3 0 - 10

1st - MINN - Rick Danmeier, 19-yard field goal MINNESOTA 3-0

2nd - GB - Middleton, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-3

4th - GB - Marcol, 19-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-3

4th - MIN - Ahmad Rashad, 5-yd pass fr Fran Tarkenton (Danmeier kick) TIED 10-10

December 3: Green Bay Packers (8-5-1) 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9) 7

(TAMPA BAY) - David Whitehurst completed 13 of 19 passes, including a 10-yard touchdown to James Lofton, as the Green Bay Packers defeated the crippled Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-7. The victory gave the Packers an 8-5-1 record. The loss eliminated the 5-9 Bucs from playoff contention. Whitehurst, who has thrown six of his nine touchdown passes to Lofton, gave the Packers a 7-0 lead that was quickly followed by Chester Marcol's 27-yard field goal at 5:52 of the first period. Barty Smith added a 1-yard plunge hi the second quarter for Green Bay. Tampa's only score was a 14-yard run by George Ragsdale. The Bucs, with their entire starting backfield and two offensive linemen sidelined with injuries, received three more injuries in the game. Defensive star Lee Roy Selmon and K Neil O'Donoghue both left the game with minor knee ailments and were unable to return. Ragsdale, a second-year pro who entered the game with only 45 career yards rushing, gained 70 yards on 12 carries, but left the game early in the third quarter with an injured right shoulder and did not return.

GREEN BAY - 10 7 0 0 - 17

TAMPA BAY - 0 7 0 0 - 7

1st - GB - Lofton, 10-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

1st - GB - Marcol, 27-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-0

2nd - TB - George Ragsdale, 14-yard run (Neil O'Donoghue kick) GREEN BAY 10-7

2nd - GB - Smith, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 17-7

December 10: Chicago Bears (6-9) 14, Green Bay Packers (8-6-1) 0

(CHICAGO) - Walter Payton dove one yard for a touchdown and James Scott hauled in a 35-yard TD pass from Mike Phipps to give the Bears a triumph over the Green Bay Packers. The Bears' victory knocked the Packers back into a first-place tie with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Central Division. It left the decision of the division crown on the final game for both teams next week. The Bears' defense deserved equal credit with the offense for the victory, evening the season series between the two teams at one victory apiece. In the first half neither team could advance past the opponent's 30 until the final two minutes when Payton's touchdown drive ended an 11-play parade lhat covered 83 yards. Phipps' 32-yard pass to Golden Richards to the Packers' 15 and a late-hit penalty, which put the ball on the seven, were the keys to the score. The Packers lost the ball twice on fumbles and both turned into key plays. The first fumble, by Terdell Middleton, cost the Packers possession on the Bears' 30. The second, by Johnny Gray on a punt, resulted in the Bears' second score.

GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 0 - 0

CHICAGO - 0 7 7 0 - 14

2nd - CHI - Walter Payton, 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick) CHICAGO 7-0

3rd - CHI - James Scott, 35-yard pass from Mike Phipps (Thomas kick) CHI 14-0

December 17: Los Angeles Rams (12-4) 31, Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) 14

(LOS ANGELES) - Pat Haden, the frequently criticized Los Angeles quarterback, scrambled 24 yards to set up one touchdown and passed 21 yards to Willie Miller for another score to lead the Rams to a 31-14 victory over Green Bay and a home-field advantage in the playoffs. The defeat dropped Green Bay to 8-7-1 and eliminated the Packers from playoff consideration. They played in rain at the Coliseum. Cullen Bryant rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 1 and 5 yards, the latter set up when Haden rushed his 24 yards to the Packers' 5-yard line. The Rams, 12-4 and already slated to host a playoff game on December 31, will be the NFC's championship game host if they survive that first contest. The Rams scored first after Pat Thomas intercepted a David Whitehurst pass at the Los Angeles 48-yard line and returned to the Green Bay 31. Eight plays and two Green Bay offside penalties resulted in Bryant's first touchdown, on a sweep to the right. Haden, who has been under fire in Los Angeles because the Rams had only been 4-4 since winning seven straight, completed three passes in that advance. Nolan Cromwell partially deflected a David Beverly punt to put the Rams at midfield and start their second touchdown advance. Los Angeles went 50 yards in six plays, including Haden's scramble when he couldn't find an open man. It was Haden's longest run since he joined the Rams two years ago.

GREEN BAY - 0 0 7 7 - 14

LOS ANGELES - 7 0 14 10 - 31

1st - LA - Wendell Bryant, 1-yard run (Frank Corral kick) LOS ANGELES 7-0

3rd - LA - Bryant, 5-yard run (Corral kick) LOS ANGELES 14-0

3rd - GB - Middleton, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) LOS ANGELES 14-7

3rd - LA - Willie Miller, 21-yard pass from Pat Haden (Corral kick) LA 21-7

4th - GB - Middleton, 21-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) LA 21-14

4th - LA - Corral, 24-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 24-14

4th - LA - Rod Perry, 44-yard interception return (Corral kick) LOS ANGELES 31-14

NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED

John Anderson 60 LB 6- 3 221 Michigan 1 1 22 13 1978 Draft - 1st round

Bob Barber 70 DE 6- 3 240 Grambling 3 3 26 16 1976 Trade - Pittsburgh

Carl Barzilauskas 75 DT 6- 6 265 Indiana 1 5 27 16 1978 Trade - NY Jets

David Beverly 11 P 6- 2 180 Auburn 4 5 28 16 1975 FA - Houston

Elmo Boyd 85 WR 6- 0 188 E. Kentucky 1 1 24 2 1978 FA - San Francisco

Willie Buchanon 28 CB 6- 0 190 San Diego State 7 7 27 16 1972 Draft - 1st round

Mike Butler 77 DE 6- 5 265 Kansas 2 2 24 16 1977 Draft - 1st round

Jim Carter 50 LB 6- 3 245 Minnesota 8 8 29 14 1970 Draft - 3rd round

Francis Chesley 53 LB 6- 3 219 Wyoming 1 1 23 1 1978 FA

Paul Coffman 82 TE 6- 3 218 Kansas State 1 1 22 16 1978 FA

Jim Culbreath 31 RB 6- 0 210 Oklahoma 2 2 25 12 1977 Draft - 10th round

Bobby Douglass 19 QB 6- 4 225 Kansas 1 10 30 12 1978 FA - New Or (1977)

Mike Douglass 65 LB 6- 0 224 San Diego State 1 1 23 16 1978 Draft - 5th round

Derrel Gofourth 57 C 6- 3 260 Oklahoma State 2 2 23 16 1977 Draft - 7th round

Johnnie Gray 24 S 5-11 185 Cal St-Fullerton 4 4 24 16 1975 FA

Jim Gueno 51 LB 6- 2 220 Tulane 3 3 24 16 1976 Draft - 9th round

Leotis Harris 69 G 6- 1 267 Arkansas 1 1 23 13 1978 Draft - 6th round

Estus Hood 38 CB 5-11 180 Illinois State 1 1 22 16 1978 Draft - 3rd round

Mike Hunt 55 LB 6- 2 240 Minnesota 1 1 21 16 1978 Draft - 2nd round

Mel Jackson 71 G 6- 1 267 USC 3 3 24 16 1976 Draft - 12th round

Danny Johnson 58 LB 6- 1 218 Tennessee State 1 1 23 16 1978 FA

Ezra Johnson 78 DE 6- 4 240 Morris Brown 2 2 22 16 1977 Draft - 1st round

Terry Jones 63 DT 6- 2 259 Alabama 1 1 21 16 1978 Draft - 11th round

Greg Koch 68 T 6- 4 265 Arkansas 2 2 23 16 1977 Draft - 2nd round

Walt Landers 42 FB 6- 0 214 Clark 1 1 25 4 1978 FA

James Lofton 80 WR 6- 3 187 Stanford 1 1 22 16 1978 Draft - 1st round

Steve Luke 46 S 6- 2 205 Ohio State 4 4 24 16 1975 Draft - 4th round

Chester Marcol 13 K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale 7 7 28 16 1972 Draft - 2nd round

Larry McCarren 54 C 6- 3 248 Illinois 6 6 26 16 1973 Draft - 12th round

Mike C. McCoy 29 CB 5-11 183 Colorado 3 3 25 16 1976 Draft - 3rd round

Rich McGeorge 81 TE 6- 4 230 Elon 9 9 29 16 1970 Draft - 1st round

Terdell Middleton 37 HB 6- 0 195 Memphis State 2 2 23 16 1977 Draft - 3rd round

Rick Nuzum 56 C 6- 4 238 Kentucky 1 2 26 16 1978 Trade - L. Angeles

Steve Odom 84 WR 5- 8 174 Utah 5 5 25 12 1974 Draft - 5th round

Dave Roller 74 DT 6- 2 270 Kentucky 4 5 28 16 1975 FA - S. Cali (WFL)

Paul Rudzinski 66 LB 6- 1 220 Michigan State 1 1 22 16 1978 FA

Howard Sampson 36 DB 5-10 185 Arkansas 1 1 22 15 1978 FA

Nate Simpson 48 RB 5-11 190 Tennessee State 2 2 23 16 1977 Draft - 5th round

Gerald Skinner 73 T 6- 4 260 Arkansas 1 1 26 15 1978 FA

Barty Smith 33 FB 6- 3 240 Richmond 5 5 26 16 1974 Draft - 1st round

Dennis Sproul 16 QB 6- 2 210 Arizona State 1 1 22 6 1978 Draft - 8th round

Tim Stokes 76 T 6- 5 252 Oregon 1 5 28 16 1978 Trade - Washington

Willie Taylor 89 WR 6- 1 179 Pittsburgh 1 1 22 1 1978 FA

Aundra Thompson 43 WR 6- 0 186 E. Texas State 2 2 25 16 1976 Draft - 5th round

Eric Torkelson 26 RB 6- 2 194 Connecticut 5 5 26 14 1974 Draft - 11th round

Walter Tullis 20 WR 6- 0 170 Delaware State 1 1 25 16 1978 FA

Steve Wagner 21 S 6- 2 208 Wisconsin 3 3 24 16 1976 FA

Gary Weaver 52 LB 6- 1 225 Fresno State 4 6 29 16 1975 FA - Oak (1974)

David Whitehurst 17 QB 6- 2 204 Furman 2 2 23 16 1977 Draft - 8th round

NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent

August 5: Kansas City 17, Green Bay (0-1) 14

(GREEN BAY) - Rookie Ronnie Rowland scored from the 1-yard line following an 82-yard drive in the fourth quarter Saturday night to give the Chiefs the win The touchdown, which came with 13:31 left, capped the NFL coaching debut of the Chiefs' Marv Levy. The Packers scored two touchdowns on fourth down gambles and appeared on their way to victory before veteran Dennis Shaw rallied the Chiefs in the final quarter. With the crowd of 54,453 roaring its approval, Packer Coach Bart Starr passed up a short field goal midway through the first quarter. Fullback Barty Smith made the strategy pay off when he scored from the 1. Starr gambled a second time with the Packers trailing 10-7 midway through the third quarter. This time, faced with fourth and two at the Chiefs' 5, quarterback David Whitehurst caught Kansas City by surprise and lofted a scoring pass to running back Nate Simpson. The Chiefs drove 42 yards early in the game and took a 3-0 lead on Jan Stenerud's 39-yard field goal. Later in the first quarter, veteran Mike Livingston led the Chiefs on a 76-yard drive and Ted McKnight scored from the 4 to give them a 10-7 half time lead.

KANSAS CITY - 0 10 10 0 - 17

GREEN BAY - 3 14 0 6 - 14

1st - KC - Jan Stenerud, 39-yard field goal KANSAS CITY 3-0

1st - GB - Barty Smith, 1-yard run (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 7-3

2nd - KC - Ted McKnight, 4-yard run (Stenerud kick) KANSAS CITY 10-7

3rd - GB - Simpson, 5-yard pass from Whitehurst (Marcol kick) GREEN BAY 14-10

4th - KC - Ronnie Rowland, 1-yard run (Stenerud kick) KANSAS CITY 17-14

August 11: Washington 20, Green Bay (0-2) 12

(WASHINGTON) - Quarterback Joe Theismann survived a second-half battering by Green Bay's defensive line and hit Tommy Reamon, a forgotten star of the defunct World Football League, with a 15- yard touchdown pass that cinched a Washington preseason victory Friday night. Theismann's strike to the diminutive running back late in the fourth quarter capped a Redskin 62-yard drive in which Reamon repeatedly contributed with off-tackle bursts of 5 to 7 yards. Reamon played with Redskin Coach Jack Pardee with the Orlando Blazers in the WFL, then followed him to Chicago and Washington. The Packers pulled close early in the second half when Dave Roller dumped Theismann for a safety and another sack pinned the Redskins deep in their own territory. David Whitehurst then hit James Lofton with a 29-yard pass over the arms of Redskin defender Gerard Williams, and big fullback Barty Smith then plunged into the end zone from one yard out to bring the Packers to within 13-12. Theismann, however, engineered the drive capped by his second touchdown pass of the night.

GREEN BAY - 0 3 9 0 - 12

WASHINGTON - 7 6 0 7 - 20

1st - WAS - Frank Grant, 3-yd pass f Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) WAS 7-0

2nd -WASH - Moseley, 41-yard field goal WASHINGTON 10-0

2nd - GB - Marcol, 31-yard field goal WASHINGTON 10-3