NFL game summary for 10/08/1972:
Rookie safety Tommy Casanova's punt returns scored one TD and set up another as the Bengals came from behind and broke a string of nine periods without a TD. The Cincinnati defense got to the Broncos' QB six times, including three times by DT Mike Reid.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 160.7 (5) | 213.7 (4) | 374.3 (2) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 108.7 (8) | 164.0 (13) | 272.7 (10) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 165.0 (4) | 154.0 (14) | 319.0 (8) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 79.0 (1) | 131.3 (10) | 210.3 (2) | 6 |
Line: Bengals by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (1-3-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
( 7- 0) DEN Floyd Little 7 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(10- 0) DEN Jim Turner 38 yard field goal
(10- 7) CIN Essex Johnson 1 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(10-14) CIN Tommy Casanova 66 yard punt return (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(10-21) CIN Chip Myers 12 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)
DEN CIN
First Downs: 11 13
Rushes-yards: 31-130 30-90
Yards/rush: 4.2 3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-19-86-0 12-20-148-0
Sacked-yards: 6-49 5-39
Net pass yards: 37 109
Net yards/pass: 1.5 4.4
Total net yards: 167 199
Total plays: 56 (55% run) 55 (54% run)
Yards/play: 3.0 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-1
Turnovers: 0 1
Penalties-yards: 6-38 4-40
Attendance: 55,812
Passing:
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 6 of 14 for 86 yards; Charley Johnson, 0 of 5 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 12 of 20 for 148 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 18 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Anderson, 9 for 48 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 29 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 9 yards; Steve Ramsey, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Essex Johnson, 15 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 8 for 11 yards; Paul Robinson, 3 for 9 yards; Doug Dressler, 2 for 10 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 11 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Billy Masters, 3 for 30 yards; Bobby Anderson, 2 for 47 yards; Rod Sherman, 1 for 9 yards CIN: Bob Trumpy, 4 for 37 yards; Doug Dressler, 3 for 38 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 40 yards; Speedy Thomas, 1 for 16 yards; Chip Myers, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Joe Dawkins, 1 for 26 yards CIN: Bernard Jackson, 2 for 51 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rod Sherman, 1 for 10 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Tommy Casanova, 4 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Lemar Parrish, 2 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 8 for 330 yards CIN: Dave Lewis, 6 for 284 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 0/1
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 6 of 14 for 86 yards; Charley Johnson, 0 of 5 for 0 yards CIN: Ken Anderson, 12 of 20 for 148 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 18 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Anderson, 9 for 48 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 29 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 9 yards; Steve Ramsey, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Essex Johnson, 15 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 8 for 11 yards; Paul Robinson, 3 for 9 yards; Doug Dressler, 2 for 10 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 11 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Billy Masters, 3 for 30 yards; Bobby Anderson, 2 for 47 yards; Rod Sherman, 1 for 9 yards CIN: Bob Trumpy, 4 for 37 yards; Doug Dressler, 3 for 38 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 40 yards; Speedy Thomas, 1 for 16 yards; Chip Myers, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Joe Dawkins, 1 for 26 yards CIN: Bernard Jackson, 2 for 51 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rod Sherman, 1 for 10 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Tommy Casanova, 4 for 106 yards and 1 TD; Lemar Parrish, 2 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 8 for 330 yards CIN: Dave Lewis, 6 for 284 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 0/1