NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
Charley Johnson threw three TD passes and Floyd Little ran for two scores as Denver saved third place in the AFC's Western Division. Bronco kicker Jim Turner kicked a 35-yard FG and six conversions to move into eighth place among NFL lifetime scoring leaders with 886 points.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 108.2 (22) | 153.2 (14) | 261.5 (20) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 198.2 (26) | 168.6 (21) | 366.8 (26) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.5 (18) | 176.4 (5) | 306.9 (10) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 118.7 (4) | 157.5 (15) | 276.2 (10) | 22 |
Line: Broncos by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (3-11-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Denver Broncos (5-9-0) | 3 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
( 0- 3) DEN Jim Turner 35 yard field goal ( 0-10) DEN Floyd Little 3 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) ( 7-10) NE Carl Garrett 1 yard rush (Mike Walker kick) ( 7-17) DEN Rod Sherman 20 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick) ( 7-24) DEN Haven Moses 19 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick) ( 7-31) DEN Haven Moses 22 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick) (14-31) NE Carl Garrett 5 yard rush (Mike Walker kick) (14-38) DEN Floyd Little 5 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) (14-45) DEN Fran Lynch 15 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) (21-45) NE Tom Reynolds 28 yard pass from Brian Dowling (Mike Walker kick)
NE DEN
First Downs: 22 26
Rushes-yards: 27-125 31-141
Yards/rush: 4.6 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-35-210-0 21-31-341-0
Sacked-yards: 7-75 0-0
Net pass yards: 135 341
Net yards/pass: 3.2 11.0
Total net yards: 260 482
Total plays: 69 (39% run) 62 (50% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 7.8
Fumbles-lost: 3-0 0-0
Turnovers: 0 0
Penalties-yards: 7-48 7-90
Attendance: 51,656
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 15 of 26 for 140 yards; Brian Dowling, 3 of 9 for 70 yards and 1 TD DEN: Charley Johnson, 13 of 17 for 218 yards and 3 TDs; Steve Ramsey, 7 of 10 for 113 yards; Mike Ernst, 1 of 4 for 10 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 11 for 40 yards and 2 TDs; John Tarver, 8 for 30 yards; Josh Ashton, 7 for 44 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 11 yards DEN: Floyd Little, 11 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Fran Lynch, 8 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 5 for 26 yards; Clem Turner, 4 for 17 yards; Mike Ernst, 1 for 4 yards; Billy Van Heusen, 1 for 0 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NE: John Tarver, 5 for 38 yards; Reggie Rucker, 4 for 46 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 34 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 19 yards; Tom Reynolds, 2 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 1 for 22 yards DEN: Floyd Little, 4 for 55 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Van Heusen, 3 for 34 yards; Riley Odoms, 3 for 30 yards; Rod Sherman, 2 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 35 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 19 yards; Jim Krieg, 1 for 18 yards; Clem Turner, 1 for 10 yards; Fran Lynch, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 3 for 109 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 51 yards DEN: Randy Montgomery, 2 for 52 yards; Clem Turner, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Rickie Harris, 2 for 10 yards DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 84 yards; Charlie Greer, 1 for -5 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 6 for 251 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 2 for 74 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1
NE: Jim Plunkett, 15 of 26 for 140 yards; Brian Dowling, 3 of 9 for 70 yards and 1 TD DEN: Charley Johnson, 13 of 17 for 218 yards and 3 TDs; Steve Ramsey, 7 of 10 for 113 yards; Mike Ernst, 1 of 4 for 10 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 11 for 40 yards and 2 TDs; John Tarver, 8 for 30 yards; Josh Ashton, 7 for 44 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 11 yards DEN: Floyd Little, 11 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Fran Lynch, 8 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 5 for 26 yards; Clem Turner, 4 for 17 yards; Mike Ernst, 1 for 4 yards; Billy Van Heusen, 1 for 0 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NE: John Tarver, 5 for 38 yards; Reggie Rucker, 4 for 46 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 34 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 19 yards; Tom Reynolds, 2 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 1 for 22 yards DEN: Floyd Little, 4 for 55 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Van Heusen, 3 for 34 yards; Riley Odoms, 3 for 30 yards; Rod Sherman, 2 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 35 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 19 yards; Jim Krieg, 1 for 18 yards; Clem Turner, 1 for 10 yards; Fran Lynch, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 3 for 109 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 51 yards DEN: Randy Montgomery, 2 for 52 yards; Clem Turner, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Rickie Harris, 2 for 10 yards DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 84 yards; Charlie Greer, 1 for -5 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 6 for 251 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 2 for 74 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1