NFL game summary for 11/05/1972:
RB Leroy Kelly's two TDs and a pair of FGs by Don Cockroft helped the Browns to their first shutout of the season and enabled them to remain only a game out of first place in the AFC's Central Division.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 100.9 (24) | 110.7 (25) | 211.6 (25) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 200.3 (25) | 179.4 (20) | 379.7 (26) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 109.6 (20) | 139.4 (17) | 249.0 (22) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 157.9 (23) | 151.3 (13) | 309.1 (17) | 13 |
Line: Browns by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (1-7-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns (5-3-0) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
( 0- 3) CLE Don Cockroft 19 yard field goal ( 0- 6) CLE Don Cockroft 32 yard field goal ( 0-13) CLE Leroy Kelly 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick) ( 0-20) CLE Leroy Kelly 14 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
HOU CLE
First Downs: 11 15
Rushes-yards: 29-119 38-152
Yards/rush: 4.1 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-24-115-0 9-20-152-0
Sacked-yards: 4-22 1-6
Net pass yards: 93 146
Net yards/pass: 3.3 7.0
Total net yards: 212 298
Total plays: 57 (50% run) 59 (64% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 1-15 4-56
Attendance: 61,985
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 7 of 14 for 68 yards; Kent Nix, 8 of 10 for 47 yards CLE: Mike Phipps, 9 of 20 for 152 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Paul Robinson, 15 for 77 yards; Fred Willis, 10 for 33 yards; Willie Rodgers, 3 for -8 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 17 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 19 for 72 yards and 2 TDs; Bo Scott, 12 for 60 yards; Mike Phipps, 6 for 16 yards; Billy Lefear, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Fred Willis, 7 for 64 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 27 yards; Dave Smith, 2 for 11 yards; Paul Robinson, 1 for 6 yards; Alvin Reed, 1 for 4 yards; Willie Rodgers, 1 for 3 yards CLE: Milt Morin, 3 for 70 yards; Fair Hooker, 2 for 39 yards; Bo Scott, 2 for 31 yards; Leroy Kelly, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Al Johnson, 4 for 88 yards; Benny Johnson, 1 for 10 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Ken Houston, 4 for 19 yards; Al Johnson, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Bobby Majors, 3 for 8 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 8 for 312 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 7 for 284 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/3
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 7 of 14 for 68 yards; Kent Nix, 8 of 10 for 47 yards CLE: Mike Phipps, 9 of 20 for 152 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Paul Robinson, 15 for 77 yards; Fred Willis, 10 for 33 yards; Willie Rodgers, 3 for -8 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 17 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 19 for 72 yards and 2 TDs; Bo Scott, 12 for 60 yards; Mike Phipps, 6 for 16 yards; Billy Lefear, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Fred Willis, 7 for 64 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 27 yards; Dave Smith, 2 for 11 yards; Paul Robinson, 1 for 6 yards; Alvin Reed, 1 for 4 yards; Willie Rodgers, 1 for 3 yards CLE: Milt Morin, 3 for 70 yards; Fair Hooker, 2 for 39 yards; Bo Scott, 2 for 31 yards; Leroy Kelly, 2 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Al Johnson, 4 for 88 yards; Benny Johnson, 1 for 10 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Ken Houston, 4 for 19 yards; Al Johnson, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Bobby Majors, 3 for 8 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 8 for 312 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 7 for 284 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/3