NFL game summary for 12/09/1979:
Quarterback Bob Griese, starting for the first time in three weeks, passed for two touchdowns to lead Miami to its first AFC East championship since 1974. Griese (17 of 22 for 229 yards and two touchdowns) fired scoring passes to wide receivers Nat Moore (25 yards) and Jimmy Cefalo (29 yards) as the Dolphins scored on their first two possessions. The Miami defense registered three turnovers and recorded four sacks.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 141.6 (16) | 161.6 (19) | 303.2 (19) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 108.9 (4) | 172.2 (13) | 281.1 (6) | 31 | |
 | OFFENSE | 99.8 (25) | 159.6 (22) | 259.4 (26) | 37 |
| DEFENSE | 149.9 (24) | 158.9 (4) | 308.8 (12) | 23 |
Line: Dolphins by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (10-5-0) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Detroit Lions (2-13-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 7- 0) MIA Nat Moore 25 yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick)
(14- 0) MIA Jimmy Cefalo 29 yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick)
(14- 3) DET Benny Ricardo 46 yard field goal
(21- 3) MIA Larry Csonka 3 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
(28- 3) MIA Gary Davis 3 yard rush (Uwe von Schamann kick)
(28-10) DET Gene Washington 29 yard pass from Scott Hunter (Benny Ricardo kick)
MIA DET
First Downs: 22 10
Rushes-yards: 41-142 20-82
Yards/rush: 3.5 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-23-233-1 9-25-141-2
Sacked-yards: 6-54 4-41
Net pass yards: 179 100
Net yards/pass: 6.2 3.4
Total net yards: 321 182
Total plays: 70 (58% run) 49 (40% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 7-55 11-66
Attendance: 78,087
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 17 of 22 for 229 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Guy Benjamin, 1 of 1 for 4 yards DET: Jeff Komlo, 5 of 16 for 59 yards (2 int); Scott Hunter, 4 of 8 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Tom Skladany, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 13 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Delvin Williams, 11 for 55 yards; Gary Davis, 7 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Tony Nathan, 6 for 17 yards; Bob Torrey, 4 for 22 yards DET: Rick Kane, 6 for 30 yards; Dexter Bussey, 5 for 24 yards; Jeff Komlo, 5 for 13 yards; Bo Robinson, 3 for 13 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 4 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Duriel Harris, 4 for 63 yards; Delvin Williams, 2 for 21 yards; Tony Nathan, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Lee, 2 for 14 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 11 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Steve Howell, 1 for 2 yards DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 65 yards; Bo Robinson, 2 for 20 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; David Hill, 1 for 21 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Tony Nathan, 2 for 36 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 11 yards DET: John Arnold, 4 for 107 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Tony Nathan, 3 for 1 yard DET: John Arnold, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
MIA: Neal Colzie, 1 for 17 yards; Tim Foley, 1 for 8 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 183 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
MIA: Bob Griese, 17 of 22 for 229 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Guy Benjamin, 1 of 1 for 4 yards DET: Jeff Komlo, 5 of 16 for 59 yards (2 int); Scott Hunter, 4 of 8 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Tom Skladany, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 13 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Delvin Williams, 11 for 55 yards; Gary Davis, 7 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Tony Nathan, 6 for 17 yards; Bob Torrey, 4 for 22 yards DET: Rick Kane, 6 for 30 yards; Dexter Bussey, 5 for 24 yards; Jeff Komlo, 5 for 13 yards; Bo Robinson, 3 for 13 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 4 for 78 yards and 1 TD; Duriel Harris, 4 for 63 yards; Delvin Williams, 2 for 21 yards; Tony Nathan, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Lee, 2 for 14 yards; Gary Davis, 2 for 11 yards; Jimmy Cefalo, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Steve Howell, 1 for 2 yards DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 65 yards; Bo Robinson, 2 for 20 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; David Hill, 1 for 21 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Tony Nathan, 2 for 36 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 11 yards DET: John Arnold, 4 for 107 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Tony Nathan, 3 for 1 yard DET: John Arnold, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
MIA: Neal Colzie, 1 for 17 yards; Tim Foley, 1 for 8 yards DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIA: George Roberts, 5 for 183 yards DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1