NFL game summary for 12/18/1977:
Don McCauley scored from the 3 yard line with 4:44 left in the game to give the Colts their third consecutive AFC Eastern Division championship. McCauley's touchdown capped a spectacular 27-point second-half rally. Baltimore trailed 21-3 after Raymond Clayborn returned the second half kickoff 101 yards. The Colts pulled to within 24-23 on Bert Jones touchdown passes of 14, 78 and 12 yards. Jones wound up with 19 completions in 30 attempts for 340 yards. Lydell Mitchell was the leading rusher in the game with 83 yards on 23 carries.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 164.4 (7) | 146.4 (14) | 310.8 (9) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 110.2 (2) | 132.5 (7) | 242.7 (4) | 29 | |
 | OFFENSE | 150.1 (9) | 165.7 (8) | 315.8 (7) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 125.5 (7) | 160.5 (24) | 286.0 (17) | 45 |
Line: Colts by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (9-5-0) | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Baltimore Colts (10-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 30 |
( 7- 0) NE Russ Francis 5 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
( 7- 3) BAL Toni Linhart 28 yard field goal
(14- 3) NE Steve Grogan 1 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(21- 3) NE Raymond Clayborn 101 yard kickoff return (John Smith kick)
(21-10) BAL Glenn Doughty 14 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(24-10) NE John Smith 30 yard field goal
(24-16) BAL Raymond Chester 78 yard pass from Bert Jones (kick failed)
(24-23) BAL Freddie Scott 12 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(24-30) BAL Don McCauley 3 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
NE BAL
First Downs: 17 24
Rushes-yards: 35-166 36-172
Yards/rush: 4.7 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-25-129-2 19-30-340-0
Sacked-yards: 3-25 4-29
Net pass yards: 104 311
Net yards/pass: 3.7 9.1
Total net yards: 270 483
Total plays: 63 (55% run) 70 (51% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 6.9
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 9-60 3-35
Attendance: 42,250
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 25 for 129 yards and 1 TD (2 int) BAL: Bert Jones, 19 of 30 for 340 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 66 yards; Don Calhoun, 10 for 38 yards; Ike Forte, 5 for 25 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 37 yards and 1 TD BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 23 for 83 yards; Bert Jones, 8 for 42 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 2 for 3 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 39 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 41 yards; Darryl Stingley, 3 for 37 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 18 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 16 yards BAL: Glenn Doughty, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 51 yards; Raymond Chester, 4 for 122 yards and 1 TD; Freddie Scott, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 30 yards; Bob McKay, 1 for 16 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Don McCauley, 2 for 34 yards; Marshall Johnson, 1 for 15 yards; Sanders Shiver, 1 for 7 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 2 for 39 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 172 yards BAL: David Lee, 3 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/3
NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 25 for 129 yards and 1 TD (2 int) BAL: Bert Jones, 19 of 30 for 340 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 66 yards; Don Calhoun, 10 for 38 yards; Ike Forte, 5 for 25 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 37 yards and 1 TD BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 23 for 83 yards; Bert Jones, 8 for 42 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 2 for 3 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 1 for 39 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 41 yards; Darryl Stingley, 3 for 37 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 18 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 16 yards BAL: Glenn Doughty, 5 for 110 yards and 1 TD; Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 51 yards; Raymond Chester, 4 for 122 yards and 1 TD; Freddie Scott, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 30 yards; Bob McKay, 1 for 16 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Don McCauley, 2 for 34 yards; Marshall Johnson, 1 for 15 yards; Sanders Shiver, 1 for 7 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 2 for 39 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 172 yards BAL: David Lee, 3 for 98 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/3