In 1978, an injury to Newhouse late in the season allowed him to become an important contributor in the final push toward a second straight Super Bowl appearance. Against the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving he had 16 carries for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns, including 103 first-half rushing yards and a 59-yard run to set up a field goal. Two weeks later against the Philadelphia Eagles, he scored on a 44-yard screen pass reception and on a one-yard run. In the first-round playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons, he had 17 carries for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns. The following week in the conference championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, he had a four-yard scoring reception that put the Cowboys ahead 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Laidlaw ended up scoring 7 touchdowns in the 6 games prior to Super Bowl XIII.