NFL game summary for 10/21/1973:
Mike Phipps and the Cleveland Browns spoiled Sid Gillman's debut as Houston coach with the Browns' highest scoring total since 1969. Phipps ran for two scores and threw TD passes to Fair Hooker and Frank Pitts. Leroy Kelly also scored and substitute QB Don Horn connected with Bo Scott for the finale. Two FGs by Skip Butler and a TD pass from Dan Pastorini to Eddie Hinton accounted for the Oilers' points.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 101.8 (24) | 106.6 (20) | 208.4 (26) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 192.6 (25) | 166.2 (22) | 358.8 (24) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 148.4 (10) | 100.2 (23) | 248.6 (20) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 135.6 (8) | 91.2 (3) | 226.8 (3) | 10 |
Line: Browns by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (0-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Cleveland Browns (4-2-0) | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
( 0- 7) CLE Leroy Kelly 8 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
( 0-14) CLE Mike Phipps 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
( 0-21) CLE Fair Hooker 21 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
( 0-28) CLE Frank Pitts 3 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
( 7-28) HOU Eddie Hinton 34 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(10-28) HOU Skip Butler 9 yard field goal
(13-28) HOU Skip Butler 31 yard field goal
(13-35) CLE Mike Phipps 13 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(13-42) CLE Bo Scott 2 yard pass from Don Horn (Don Cockroft kick)
HOU CLE
First Downs: 4 26
Rushes-yards: 18-23 52-264
Yards/rush: 1.3 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-22-116-1 12-21-148-1
Sacked-yards: 3-33 6-46
Net pass yards: 83 102
Net yards/pass: 3.3 3.8
Total net yards: 106 366
Total plays: 43 (41% run) 79 (65% run)
Yards/play: 2.5 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-0
Turnovers: 1 1
Penalties-yards: 8-59 9-85
Attendance: 61,146
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 of 19 for 118 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Lynn Dickey, 2 of 3 for -2 yards CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 19 for 146 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Don Horn, 1 of 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Bob Gresham, 7 for 1 yard; Fred Willis, 6 for -2 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for 19 yards; Lewis Jolley, 2 for 5 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 14 for 61 yards; Bo Scott, 13 for 46 yards; Greg Pruitt, 11 for 56 yards; Leroy Kelly, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mike Phipps, 4 for 15 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Lefear, 3 for 44 yards; Gloster Richardson, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Bob Gresham, 3 for 35 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for 51 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Lewis Jolley, 1 for 0 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for -4 yards CLE: Fair Hooker, 3 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Milt Morin, 3 for 38 yards; Frank Pitts, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Bo Scott, 2 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 33 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Alvin Haymond, 5 for 139 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Fanucci, 1 for 14 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 2 for 40 yards; Billy Lefear, 2 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Alvin Haymond, 4 for 15 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 1 for 14 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
HOU: Jeff Severson, 1 for 19 yards CLE: John Garlington, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
HOU: Skip Butler, 9 for 285 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 2/2 CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 of 19 for 118 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Lynn Dickey, 2 of 3 for -2 yards CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 19 for 146 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Don Horn, 1 of 2 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Bob Gresham, 7 for 1 yard; Fred Willis, 6 for -2 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for 19 yards; Lewis Jolley, 2 for 5 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 14 for 61 yards; Bo Scott, 13 for 46 yards; Greg Pruitt, 11 for 56 yards; Leroy Kelly, 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mike Phipps, 4 for 15 yards and 2 TDs; Billy Lefear, 3 for 44 yards; Gloster Richardson, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Bob Gresham, 3 for 35 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for 51 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Lewis Jolley, 1 for 0 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for -4 yards CLE: Fair Hooker, 3 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Milt Morin, 3 for 38 yards; Frank Pitts, 3 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Bo Scott, 2 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Kelly, 1 for 33 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Alvin Haymond, 5 for 139 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Fanucci, 1 for 14 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 2 for 40 yards; Billy Lefear, 2 for 32 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Alvin Haymond, 4 for 15 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 1 for 14 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
HOU: Jeff Severson, 1 for 19 yards CLE: John Garlington, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
HOU: Skip Butler, 9 for 285 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 2/2 CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1