NFL game summary for 12/03/1978:
Roger Staubach's 36-yard scoring pass to Billy Joe DuPree in the fourth quarter gave Dallas the win and the NFC East title. Dallas tied the score 10-10 late in the third quarter when Scott Laidlaw faked a run off tackle and lateraled back to Staubach, who hit Tony Hill with a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys' game-winning score was set up by Harvey Martin's interception of a screen pass early in the fourth quarter. Staubach completed 15 of 27 passes for 243 yards, giving him a club record 218 completions for the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 202.0 (1) | 175.2 (8) | 377.2 (2) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 111.9 (3) | 172.2 (23) | 284.2 (8) | 39 | |
 | OFFENSE | 180.6 (3) | 201.6 (1) | 382.2 (1) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 100.1 (1) | 152.6 (10) | 252.7 (2) | 24 |
Line: Cowboys by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (10-4-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Dallas Cowboys (10-4-0) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 3) DAL Rafael Septien 26 yard field goal
( 7- 3) NE Sam Cunningham 52 yard rush (David Posey kick)
(10- 3) NE David Posey 30 yard field goal
(10-10) DAL Tony Hill 40 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(10-17) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 36 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
NE DAL
First Downs: 16 17
Rushes-yards: 36-213 35-99
Yards/rush: 5.9 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-29-170-2 15-27-243-0
Sacked-yards: 3-20 2-13
Net pass yards: 150 230
Net yards/pass: 4.7 7.9
Total net yards: 363 329
Total plays: 68 (52% run) 64 (54% run)
Yards/play: 5.3 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 4-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 4-36 1-10
Attendance: 63,263
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 29 for 170 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 27 for 243 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 14 for 80 yards; Horace Ivory, 5 for 14 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 26 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 15 for 49 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 13 for 40 yards; Roger Staubach, 7 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Harold Jackson, 6 for 80 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 42 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 34 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 9 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 5 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 4 for 39 yards; Tony Dorsett, 3 for 31 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 48 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Horace Ivory, 2 for 49 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 33 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 57 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 39 yards; Stanley Morgan, 2 for 20 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 18 yards; Harvey Martin, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NE: Jerrel Wilson, 5 for 196 yards DAL: Danny White, 8 for 308 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/4 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1
NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 29 for 170 yards (2 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 15 of 27 for 243 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 14 for 80 yards; Horace Ivory, 5 for 14 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 26 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 15 for 49 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 13 for 40 yards; Roger Staubach, 7 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Harold Jackson, 6 for 80 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 42 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 34 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 9 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 5 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 4 for 39 yards; Tony Dorsett, 3 for 31 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 48 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Horace Ivory, 2 for 49 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 33 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 57 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 2 for 39 yards; Stanley Morgan, 2 for 20 yards DAL: Butch Johnson, 3 for 29 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 18 yards; Harvey Martin, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NE: Jerrel Wilson, 5 for 196 yards DAL: Danny White, 8 for 308 yards
Field Goals:
NE: David Posey, 1/4 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1