NFL game summary for 12/15/1974:
Houston won its sixth in the last seven games to finish at .500 after two seasons at 1-13. The Oilers beat the Browns for the first time ever after losing to them nine straight times. Second-half touchdowns by Willie Rodgers, Fred Willis and Billy Johnson gave Houston its first non-losing season since 1969. Greg Pruitt, the AFC kickoff return champ, led the rushers with 102 yards on 15 carries.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 137.1 (14) | 118.3 (24) | 255.4 (23) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 171.8 (25) | 148.0 (11) | 319.8 (25) | 37 | |
 | OFFENSE | 90.7 (26) | 144.3 (17) | 235.0 (25) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 146.8 (18) | 168.2 (19) | 314.9 (22) | 32 |
Line: Oilers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (4-10-0) | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| Houston Oilers (7-7-0) | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
( 7- 0) CLE Steve Holden 41 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Mack Alston 7 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
( 7-14) HOU Billy Johnson 6 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(14-14) CLE Greg Pruitt 4 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(17-14) CLE Don Cockroft 37 yard field goal
(17-21) HOU Fred Willis 5 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
(17-28) HOU Willie Rodgers 20 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
(24-28) CLE Fair Hooker 9 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
CLE HOU
First Downs: 20 20
Rushes-yards: 34-142 42-182
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-29-227-2 12-25-121-2
Sacked-yards: 3-38 2-20
Net pass yards: 189 101
Net yards/pass: 5.9 3.7
Total net yards: 331 283
Total plays: 66 (51% run) 69 (60% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 1-1
Turnovers: 4 3
Penalties-yards: 13-134 8-74
Attendance: 33,299
Passing:
CLE: Mike Phipps, 16 of 29 for 227 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 12 of 25 for 121 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Ken Brown, 10 for 14 yards; Hugh McKinnis, 6 for 15 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 for 11 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 11 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 10 for 58 yards; George Amundson, 10 for 14 yards; Willie Rodgers, 7 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Dan Pastorini, 3 for -8 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Milt Morin, 4 for 40 yards; Steve Holden, 3 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Greg Pruitt, 3 for 70 yards; Hugh McKinnis, 3 for 3 yards; Ken Brown, 2 for 16 yards; Fair Hooker, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD HOU: Fred Willis, 5 for 23 yards; Billy Johnson, 3 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Billy Parks, 2 for 40 yards; Mack Alston, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
CLE: Eddie Brown, 2 for 52 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 12 yards; Ken Brown, 1 for 9 yards; Jim Romaniszyn, 1 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 27 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 16 yards; George Amundson, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 4 for 47 yards; Thom Darden, 2 for 8 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 39 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Billy Andrews, 1 for 18 yards; Charlie Hall, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Bob Atkins, 1 for 36 yards; Tody Smith, 1 for 34 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 295 yards HOU: David Beverly, 7 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1
CLE: Mike Phipps, 16 of 29 for 227 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 12 of 25 for 121 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Ken Brown, 10 for 14 yards; Hugh McKinnis, 6 for 15 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 for 11 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 11 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 10 for 58 yards; George Amundson, 10 for 14 yards; Willie Rodgers, 7 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Dan Pastorini, 3 for -8 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Milt Morin, 4 for 40 yards; Steve Holden, 3 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Greg Pruitt, 3 for 70 yards; Hugh McKinnis, 3 for 3 yards; Ken Brown, 2 for 16 yards; Fair Hooker, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD HOU: Fred Willis, 5 for 23 yards; Billy Johnson, 3 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Billy Parks, 2 for 40 yards; Mack Alston, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
CLE: Eddie Brown, 2 for 52 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 12 yards; Ken Brown, 1 for 9 yards; Jim Romaniszyn, 1 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 27 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 16 yards; George Amundson, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 4 for 47 yards; Thom Darden, 2 for 8 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 39 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Billy Andrews, 1 for 18 yards; Charlie Hall, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Bob Atkins, 1 for 36 yards; Tody Smith, 1 for 34 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 295 yards HOU: David Beverly, 7 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1