Sunday October 16, 1977
. . . where the 1970s live forever!

NFL game summary for 10/16/1977:



Don Cockroft kicked a 30-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Browns a share of the AFC Central lead. Houston jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first period on the strength of an 87-yard Billy Johnson punt return and a 25-yard field goal by Toni Fritsch. Cleveland capitalized on three straight Houston turnovers to pull ahead 21-10 early in the second quarter. An interception by Tony Peters set up Cleo Miller's six-yard run for the Browns' first score. Two plays later Clarence Scott intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. Mickey Sims picked up a fumble on the Oilers' next possession to set up Brian Sipe's eight-yard scoring pass to Oscar Roan. Houston mounted a 13-point comeback and went ahead 23-21 with 4:28 left in the game but the Browns took the ensuing kickoff and drove 54 yards for Cockroft's winning field goal.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

TeamRush Yds/GmPass Yds/GmTot Yds/GmTurnovers
OFFENSE125.8  (17)147.5  (15)273.2  (17)16
DEFENSE158.5  (22)123.5  (7)282.0  (14)9
OFFENSE91.2  (28)143.2  (18)234.5  (23)5
DEFENSE148.0  (18)163.0  (21)311.0  (21)18

Line: Oilers by 2

Team1234F
Cleveland Browns (3-2-0)1470324
Houston Oilers (3-2-0)10100323

( 0- 7) HOU Billy Johnson 87 yard punt return (Toni Fritsch kick) ( 0-10) HOU Toni Fritsch 25 yard field goal ( 7-10) CLE Cleo Miller 6 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick) (14-10) CLE Clarence Scott 49 yard interception return (Don Cockroft kick) (21-10) CLE Oscar Roan 8 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick) (21-13) HOU Toni Fritsch 37 yard field goal (21-20) HOU John Hadl 6 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick) (21-23) HOU Toni Fritsch 36 yard field goal (24-23) CLE Don Cockroft 30 yard field goal
                     CLE             HOU
First Downs:         11              18
Rushes-yards:        31-109          37-109
Yards/rush:          3.5             2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     9-20-71-1       14-29-148-2
Sacked-yards:        1-10            2-29
Net pass yards:      61              119
Net yards/pass:      2.9             3.8
Total net yards:     170             228
Total plays:         52 (59% run)    68 (54% run)  
Yards/play:          3.3             3.4
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             4-1
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     11-65           7-76

Attendance: 47,888

Passing:
CLE: Brian Sipe, 8 of 19 for 58 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Greg Pruitt, 1 of 1 for 13 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 8 of 15 for 89 yards; John Hadl, 6 of 14 for 59 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Larry Poole, 14 for 52 yards; Cleo Miller, 12 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Greg Pruitt, 4 for 13 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Tim Wilson, 23 for 56 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 12 for 44 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Gary Parris, 2 for 24 yards; Cleo Miller, 2 for 17 yards; Oscar Roan, 2 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Larry Poole, 2 for 11 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 3 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 92 yards; Tim Wilson, 5 for 31 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 18 yards; Jimmie Giles, 1 for 4 yards; Don Hardeman, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Ken Ellis, 2 for 50 yards; Ricky Feacher, 2 for 31 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 55 yards; Warren Anderson, 1 for 24 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Rolly Woolsey, 3 for 26 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 110 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
CLE: Clarence Scott, 1 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Tony Peters, 1 for 25 yards HOU: Robert Brazile, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
CLE: Greg Coleman, 8 for 327 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 6 for 219 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 3/3


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