NFL game summary for 10/28/1973:
Charley Johnson led Denver to a 30-7 halftime lead and eased the Broncos home, 40-28 over the Jets in New York's home opener. Denver scored three touchdowns in a space of 96 seconds in the first quarter on two passes by Johnson and a 40-yard interception return by Leroy Mitchell. Burgess Owens ran back a kickoff 82 yards for the Jets' first score and they added two more on Al Woodall's TD passes to Jerome Barkum and another on a 1-yard run by Emerson Boozer.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 140.7 (14) | 192.2 (4) | 332.8 (5) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 152.2 (14) | 180.7 (23) | 332.8 (22) | 12 | |
 | OFFENSE | 123.2 (19) | 100.7 (21) | 223.8 (24) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 155.2 (19) | 128.8 (12) | 284.0 (14) | 17 |
Line: Broncos by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (3-3-1) | 21 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 40 |
| New York Jets (2-5-0) | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
( 7- 0) DEN Gene Washington 15 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)
(14- 0) DEN Riley Odoms 21 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)
(21- 0) DEN Leroy Mitchell 40 yard interception return (Jim Turner kick)
(21- 7) NYJ Burgess Owens 82 yard kickoff return (Bobby Howfield kick)
(24- 7) DEN Jim Turner 21 yard field goal
(27- 7) DEN Jim Turner 47 yard field goal
(30- 7) DEN Jim Turner 19 yard field goal
(30-14) NYJ Emerson Boozer 1 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick)
(30-21) NYJ Jerome Barkum 30 yard pass from Al Woodall (Bobby Howfield kick)
(37-21) DEN Haven Moses 76 yard pass from Steve Ramsey (Jim Turner kick)
(37-28) NYJ Jerome Barkum 56 yard pass from Al Woodall (Bobby Howfield kick)
(40-28) DEN Jim Turner 33 yard field goal
DEN NYJ
First Downs: 20 17
Rushes-yards: 50-197 14-86
Yards/rush: 3.9 6.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-22-252-1 13-36-240-3
Sacked-yards: 2-17 1-11
Net pass yards: 235 229
Net yards/pass: 9.8 6.2
Total net yards: 432 315
Total plays: 74 (67% run) 51 (27% run)
Yards/play: 5.8 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 14-123 6-60
Attendance: 55,108
Passing:
DEN: Charley Johnson, 11 of 17 for 137 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Steve Ramsey, 3 of 5 for 115 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Al Woodall, 13 of 32 for 240 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bill Demory, 0 of 4 for 0 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Joe Dawkins, 30 for 117 yards; Floyd Little, 18 for 62 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 18 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 8 for 31 yards; Emerson Boozer, 6 for 55 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Floyd Little, 4 for 47 yards; Jerry Simmons, 3 for 38 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 21 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 4 for 111 yards and 2 TDs; John Riggins, 4 for 34 yards; Margene Adkins, 3 for 62 yards; David Knight, 1 for 19 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 2 for 57 yards NYJ: Margene Adkins, 4 for 78 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 13 yards; Burgess Owens, 1 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Cliff McClain, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 53 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Ray May, 1 for 1 yard; Bill Laskey, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Delles Howell, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 192 yards NYJ: Julian Fagan, 4 for 152 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 4/4 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 0/1
DEN: Charley Johnson, 11 of 17 for 137 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Steve Ramsey, 3 of 5 for 115 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Al Woodall, 13 of 32 for 240 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bill Demory, 0 of 4 for 0 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Joe Dawkins, 30 for 117 yards; Floyd Little, 18 for 62 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 18 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 8 for 31 yards; Emerson Boozer, 6 for 55 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Floyd Little, 4 for 47 yards; Jerry Simmons, 3 for 38 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 21 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 15 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 4 for 111 yards and 2 TDs; John Riggins, 4 for 34 yards; Margene Adkins, 3 for 62 yards; David Knight, 1 for 19 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 2 for 57 yards NYJ: Margene Adkins, 4 for 78 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 13 yards; Burgess Owens, 1 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Cliff McClain, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 53 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Leroy Mitchell, 1 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Ray May, 1 for 1 yard; Bill Laskey, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Delles Howell, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 192 yards NYJ: Julian Fagan, 4 for 152 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 4/4 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 0/1