From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1978 Green Bay Packers season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Green Bay Packers |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 8–7–1 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC Central |
| coach | Bart Starr |
| stadium | Lambeau Field |
| Milwaukee County Stadium | |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| shortnavlink | Packers seasons |
Milwaukee County Stadium
The 1978 Green Bay Packers season was their 60th season overall and their 58th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team posted an 8–7–1 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a second-place finish in the NFC Central division. This marked the first season the Packers were above .500 since 1972. The Packers got off to a 6–1 start. However, most of the wins came against weaker teams, and once the schedule toughened up the Packers struggled winning only one and tying one of their next six games. After a big win in Tampa Bay over the Buccaneers, the 8–5–1 Packers still had a shot at a NFC Central Title. However, the team would lose both of their final games, closing out with a 31–14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and at 8–7–1 finished in a first-place tie with Minnesota. Since the Packers' record against the Vikings was 0–1–1 due to a 10–10 tie and a 21–7 loss, Green Bay missed the playoffs as the Eagles also leap-frogged the Packers for the final Wild Card spot, which the Packers would've still clinched at minimum regardless of the Vikings' result for the NFC Central.
Off-season
NFL draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Coffman | Tight end | Kansas State |
| Rick Peot | Punter | Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
Personnel
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | Green Bay Packers | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | at **[Detroit Lions](1978-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 13–7 | 1–0 | Pontiac Silverdome | 51,187 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 | [New Orleans Saints](1978-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 28–17 | 2–0 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 54,336 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 17 | [Oakland Raiders](1978-oakland-raiders-season) | **L** 3–28 | 2–1 | Lambeau Field | 55,903 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | at [San Diego Chargers](1978-san-diego-chargers-season) | **W** 24–3 | 3–1 | San Diego Stadium | 42,755 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | **[Detroit Lions](1978-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 35–14 | 4–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 54,601 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | **[Chicago Bears](1978-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 24–14 | 5–1 | Lambeau Field | 56,267 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | [Seattle Seahawks](1978-seattle-seahawks-season) | **W** 45–28 | 6–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 52,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | at **[Minnesota Vikings](1978-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **L** 7–21 | 6–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,411 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 29 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 9–7 | 7–2 | Lambeau Field | 55,108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | at [Philadelphia Eagles](1978-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **L** 3–10 | 7–3 | Veterans Stadium | 64,214 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | [Dallas Cowboys](1978-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 14–42 | 7–4 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 55,256 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | at [Denver Broncos](1978-denver-broncos-season) | **L** 3–16 | 7–5 | Mile High Stadium | 74,965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | **[Minnesota Vikings](1978-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **T** 10–10 (OT) | 7–5–1 | Lambeau Field | 51,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 17–7 | 8–5–1 | Tampa Stadium | 67,754 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 10 | at **[Chicago Bears](1978-chicago-bears-season)** | **L** 0–14 | 8–6–1 | Soldier Field | 34,306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 14–31 | 8–7–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 42,500 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text
Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints
- Network: CBS
- Announcers: Bill Mazer, Hank Stram, Nick Buoniconti David Whitehurst fired four touchdown passes, three to rookie James Lofton on plays covering 42, 47 and 18 yards, and Terdell Middleton rushed for 114 yards to lead The Green Bay Packers to victory and a 2–0 start for the first time since 1969. Whitehurst a second-year quarterback, completing 10 of 15 passes for the young Packers. His other scoring pass was a nine-yarder to Rich McGeorge early in the fourth quarter.
Week 6 vs Bears
First quarter
- No scoring Second quarter
- GB – Chester Marcol 41-yard field goal. Packers 3–0. Third quarter
- GB – Terdell Middleton 2-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 10–0.
- GB – Steve Luke 63-yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 17–0. Fourth quarter
- CHI – James Scott 15-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick). Packers 17–7.
- GB – James Lofton 58-yard pass from David Whitehurst (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 24–7.
- CHI – James Scott 17-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick). Packers 24–14. ;Top passers
- CHI – Bob Avellini – 23/37, 224 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
- GB – David Whitehurst – 6/12, 88 yards, TD ;Top rushers
- CHI – Walter Payton – 19 rushes, 82 yards
- GB – Terdell Middleton – 16 rushes, 64 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- CHI – James Scott – 9 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
- GB – James Lofton – 2 receptions, 65 yards, TD
Week 8 at Vikings
First quarter
- No scoring Second quarter
- MIN – Chuck Foreman 16-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 7–0.
- GB – Terdell Middleton 3-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Tied 7–7.
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 14–7. Third quarter
- No scoring Fourth quarter
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 15-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 21–7. Top passers
- GB – David Whitehurst – 18/30, 120 yards, INT
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 26/43, 262 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
- GB – Terdell Middleton – 15 rushes, 81 yards, TD
- MIN – Chuck Foreman – 24 rushes, 46 yards Top receivers
- GB – Barty Smith – 6 receptions, 54 yards
- MIN – Rickey Young – 7 receptions, 73 yards
Standings
Awards and records
- Terrell Middleton, NFC leader in touchdowns
References
References
- ''NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book'', Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 448
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1978 Green Bay Packers season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report