NFL game summary for 10/05/1975:
O. J. Simpson continued his blazing start with 138 yards and a record of 538 yards for the first three games. It was O. J.'s 27th 100-yard day and his yardage boosted him into fifth place in the all-time NFL standings with 6,844, passing John Henry Johnson. Jim Braxton, O. J.'s running and blocking mate, rushed for 102 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Bills won their third straight and knocked the Broncos from the unbeaten ranks. Buffalo rolled up 436 yards, held Denver to 47 yards rushing and gave up two touchdown passes, one an 80-yard bomb from John Hufnagel to Rick Upchurch. The anticipated duel between O. J. and Otis Armstrong, the 1974 rushing champ, failed to materialize when Armstrong left the game with rib injuries after one play.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OFFENSE | 144.5 (11) | 236.5 (1) | 381.0 (3) | 6 | |
DEFENSE | 108.5 (5) | 204.0 (22) | 312.5 (17) | 5 | |
OFFENSE | 309.5 (1) | 88.0 (25) | 397.5 (2) | 1 | |
DEFENSE | 116.5 (9) | 190.5 (18) | 307.0 (16) | 10 |
Line: Bills by 10½
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver Broncos (2-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Buffalo Bills (3-0-0) | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
( 0- 3) BUF John Leypoldt 39 yard field goal
( 0-10) BUF Jim Braxton 3 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 0-17) BUF Jim Braxton 19 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7-17) DEN Floyd Little 35 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)
( 7-24) BUF J.D. Hill 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7-31) BUF O.J. Simpson 16 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7-38) BUF Jim Braxton 4 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(14-38) DEN Rick Upchurch 80 yard pass from John Hufnagel (Jim Turner kick)
DEN BUF First Downs: 13 29 Rushes-yards: 15-47 60-293 Yards/rush: 3.1 4.9 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-36-266-3 9-18-143-0 Sacked-yards: 1-8 0-0 Net pass yards: 258 143 Net yards/pass: 7.0 7.9 Total net yards: 305 436 Total plays: 52 (28% run) 78 (76% run) Yards/play: 5.9 5.6 Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-1 Turnovers: 4 1 Penalties-yards: 4-31 6-46 Attendance: 79,798
Passing:
DEN: Charley Johnson, 10 of 22 for 131 yards and 1 TD (2 int); John Hufnagel, 5 of 14 for 135 yards and 1 TD (1 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 9 of 18 for 143 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 6 for 21 yards; Oliver Ross, 5 for 15 yards; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 3 yards; John Hufnagel, 1 for 8 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 0 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 26 for 138 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 17 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Don Calhoun, 6 for 20 yards; Gary Hayman, 4 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 6 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 13 yards; Gary Marangi, 1 for 7 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 3 for 48 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 47 yards; Floyd Little, 3 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 3 for 38 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 12 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 2 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 4 for 69 yards; J.D. Hill, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 1 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Paul Seymour, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 96 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 19 yards BUF: John Holland, 2 for 33 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 24 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Gary Hayman, 2 for 22 yards; Ed Jones, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Dwight Harrison, 2 for 37 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 4 for 163 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 4 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1
DEN: Charley Johnson, 10 of 22 for 131 yards and 1 TD (2 int); John Hufnagel, 5 of 14 for 135 yards and 1 TD (1 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 9 of 18 for 143 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 6 for 21 yards; Oliver Ross, 5 for 15 yards; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 3 yards; John Hufnagel, 1 for 8 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 0 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 26 for 138 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 17 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Don Calhoun, 6 for 20 yards; Gary Hayman, 4 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 6 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 13 yards; Gary Marangi, 1 for 7 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 3 for 48 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 47 yards; Floyd Little, 3 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 3 for 38 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 12 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 2 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 4 for 69 yards; J.D. Hill, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 1 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Paul Seymour, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 96 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 19 yards BUF: John Holland, 2 for 33 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 24 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Gary Hayman, 2 for 22 yards; Ed Jones, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Dwight Harrison, 2 for 37 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 4 for 163 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 4 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1