NFL game summary for 09/23/1979:
Miami scored 28 second-half points to defeat Chicago and remain unbeaten. Miami overcame a 6-3 Chicago lead when Delvin Williams finished a 67-yard drive with a three-yard scoring run. Larry Csonka scored on each of the next three Dolphins possessions with touchdown runs of 1, 9, and 12 yards. Don Strock, starting in place of the injured Bob Griese, passed for 207 yards (12 of 17) and ended the game with eight straight completions.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 206.3 (1) | 109.3 (27) | 315.7 (12) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 126.3 (12) | 116.3 (4) | 242.7 (6) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 142.7 (15) | 166.3 (16) | 309.0 (14) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 100.3 (3) | 136.0 (7) | 236.3 (4) | 9 |
Line: Dolphins by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (2-2-0) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Miami Dolphins (4-0-0) | 3 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
( 0- 3) MIA Uwe von Schamann 21 yard field goal
( 3- 3) CHI Bob Thomas 30 yard field goal
( 6- 3) CHI Bob Thomas 32 yard field goal
( 6-10) MIA Delvin Williams 3 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
( 6-17) MIA Larry Csonka 12 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
( 9-17) CHI Bob Thomas 36 yard field goal
( 9-24) MIA Larry Csonka 9 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
( 9-31) MIA Larry Csonka 1 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
(16-31) CHI Willie McClendon 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI MIA
First Downs: 16 23
Rushes-yards: 28-85 39-193
Yards/rush: 3.0 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-25-160-2 12-17-207-0
Sacked-yards: 1-5 1-11
Net pass yards: 155 196
Net yards/pass: 6.0 10.9
Total net yards: 240 389
Total plays: 54 (51% run) 57 (68% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 6.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-1
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 8-50 4-43
Attendance: 66,011
Passing:
CHI: Vince Evans, 11 of 17 for 92 yards (2 int); Bob Avellini, 5 of 8 for 68 yards MIA: Don Strock, 12 of 17 for 207 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 43 yards; Vince Evans, 6 for 32 yards; Dave Williams, 4 for 2 yards; Willie McClendon, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 15 for 73 yards and 3 TDs; Delvin Williams, 14 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 4 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Howell, 2 for 6 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 20 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 49 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 3 for 39 yards; Greg Latta, 3 for 22 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 2 for 13 yards; Willie McClendon, 2 for 7 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 20 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 10 yards MIA: Nat Moore, 5 for 121 yards; Bruce Hardy, 2 for 31 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 2 for 24 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 14 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 3 for 58 yards; Rickey Watts, 1 for 26 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 18 yards MIA: Mike Kozlowski, 2 for 45 yards; Tony Nathan, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Charlie Babb, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Neal Colzie, 1 for 13 yards; Charlie Babb, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 2 for 70 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 3/3 MIA: Uwe von Schamann, 1/3
CHI: Vince Evans, 11 of 17 for 92 yards (2 int); Bob Avellini, 5 of 8 for 68 yards MIA: Don Strock, 12 of 17 for 207 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 43 yards; Vince Evans, 6 for 32 yards; Dave Williams, 4 for 2 yards; Willie McClendon, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Bob Avellini, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 15 for 73 yards and 3 TDs; Delvin Williams, 14 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 4 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Howell, 2 for 6 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 20 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 49 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 3 for 39 yards; Greg Latta, 3 for 22 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 2 for 13 yards; Willie McClendon, 2 for 7 yards; Golden Richards, 1 for 20 yards; Dave Williams, 1 for 10 yards MIA: Nat Moore, 5 for 121 yards; Bruce Hardy, 2 for 31 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 2 for 24 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 14 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 3 for 58 yards; Rickey Watts, 1 for 26 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 18 yards MIA: Mike Kozlowski, 2 for 45 yards; Tony Nathan, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Charlie Babb, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Neal Colzie, 1 for 13 yards; Charlie Babb, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 2 for 70 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 3/3 MIA: Uwe von Schamann, 1/3