NFL game summary for 11/26/1972:
The Browns won their sixth straight after spotting Buffalo a 10-point lead and continued in a tie with Pittsburgh for the AFC Central Division lead. O. J. Simpson became the first AFC runner to reach the 1,000 mark in '72, his 93 yards on 27 carries moving him over the top. Browns DE Nick Roman grabbed an interception and sped 36 yards for a TD.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.4 (9) | 111.8 (24) | 263.2 (21) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 167.1 (24) | 144.6 (8) | 311.7 (18) | 26 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.0 (20) | 146.9 (16) | 272.9 (18) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 162.6 (23) | 139.1 (7) | 301.7 (17) | 19 |
Line: Browns by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (3-8-0) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cleveland Browns (8-3-0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
( 7- 0) BUF O.J. Simpson 6 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(10- 0) BUF John Leypoldt 38 yard field goal
(10- 3) CLE Don Cockroft 33 yard field goal
(10-10) CLE Leroy Kelly 13 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-17) CLE Ken Brown 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-24) CLE Nick Roman 36 yard interception return (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-27) CLE Don Cockroft 49 yard field goal
BUF CLE
First Downs: 12 16
Rushes-yards: 44-147 36-132
Yards/rush: 3.3 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 5-12-56-1 11-22-145-2
Sacked-yards: 5-28 2-24
Net pass yards: 28 121
Net yards/pass: 1.6 5.0
Total net yards: 175 253
Total plays: 61 (72% run) 60 (60% run)
Yards/play: 2.9 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 7-1 1-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 2-20 3-22
Attendance: 70,104
Passing:
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 3 of 6 for 34 yards; Leo Hart, 2 of 6 for 22 yards (1 int) CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 22 for 145 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 27 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 10 for 34 yards; Dennis Shaw, 3 for 17 yards; Leo Hart, 3 for 1 yard; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 2 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 18 for 58 yards; Bo Scott, 8 for 40 yards; Ken Brown, 5 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Bo Cornell, 2 for 5 yards; Mike Phipps, 2 for 1 yard; Billy Lefear, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 2 for 25 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 13 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 9 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 9 yards CLE: Bo Scott, 6 for 62 yards; Frank Pitts, 2 for 36 yards; Milt Morin, 1 for 18 yards; Chip Glass, 1 for 16 yards; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 4 for 105 yards; Linzy Cole, 1 for 26 yards CLE: Billy Lefear, 1 for 21 yards; Ken Brown, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 9 yards CLE: Bobby Majors, 3 for 1 yard; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Paul Guidry, 1 for 0 yards; Mike Stratton, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Nick Roman, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 9 for 333 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 3 of 6 for 34 yards; Leo Hart, 2 of 6 for 22 yards (1 int) CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 22 for 145 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 27 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 10 for 34 yards; Dennis Shaw, 3 for 17 yards; Leo Hart, 3 for 1 yard; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 2 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 18 for 58 yards; Bo Scott, 8 for 40 yards; Ken Brown, 5 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Bo Cornell, 2 for 5 yards; Mike Phipps, 2 for 1 yard; Billy Lefear, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 2 for 25 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 13 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 9 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 9 yards CLE: Bo Scott, 6 for 62 yards; Frank Pitts, 2 for 36 yards; Milt Morin, 1 for 18 yards; Chip Glass, 1 for 16 yards; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 4 for 105 yards; Linzy Cole, 1 for 26 yards CLE: Billy Lefear, 1 for 21 yards; Ken Brown, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 9 yards CLE: Bobby Majors, 3 for 1 yard; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Paul Guidry, 1 for 0 yards; Mike Stratton, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Nick Roman, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 9 for 333 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2