NFL game summary for 09/12/1976:
The Jets took an early 10-0 lead but Browns quarterbacks Mike Phipps and Brian Sipe riddled the New York defense with five touchdown passes to spoil the debut of Jets' coach Lou Holtz. Phipps led the Browns to 21 points in the second quarter with touchdown passes of 13 and four yards to Reggie Rucker and 23 yards to Paul Warfield. Sipe entered in the third quarter following a shoulder injury to Phipps and threw another TD pass to Rucker of 8 yards and one of 26 to Steve Holden. The Browns' Thom Darden starred on defense with two interceptions. Greg Pruitt led all rushers with 124 yards.
Line: Browns by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Jets (0-1-0) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
 Cleveland Browns (1-0-0) | 0 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
( 3- 0) NYJ Pat Leahy 41 yard field goal
(10- 0) NYJ Steve Davis 20 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(10- 7) CLE Reggie Rucker 13 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-14) CLE Paul Warfield 23 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-21) CLE Reggie Rucker 4 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)
(10-24) CLE Don Cockroft 32 yard field goal
(10-31) CLE Reggie Rucker 8 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
(17-31) NYJ Richard Todd 8 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(17-38) CLE Steve Holden 26 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
NYJ CLE
First Downs: 17 21
Rushes-yards: 28-111 42-207
Yards/rush: 4.0 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-36-162-2 18-25-183-0
Sacked-yards: 2-15 0-0
Net pass yards: 147 183
Net yards/pass: 3.9 7.3
Total net yards: 258 390
Total plays: 66 (42% run) 67 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 5.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-1
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 5-40 5-73
Attendance: 67,496
Passing:
NYJ: Joe Namath, 15 of 31 for 137 yards (1 int); Richard Todd, 4 of 5 for 25 yards (1 int) CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 15 for 100 yards and 3 TDs; Brian Sipe, 7 of 10 for 83 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 11 for 36 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Clark Gaines, 6 for 29 yards; Richard Todd, 3 for 10 yards and 1 TD CLE: Greg Pruitt, 17 for 124 yards; Cleo Miller, 15 for 47 yards; Mike Pruitt, 5 for 7 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 for 26 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 3 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Rich Caster, 5 for 39 yards; Louie Giammona, 4 for 18 yards; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 40 yards; David Knight, 2 for 36 yards; Clark Gaines, 2 for 16 yards; Don Buckey, 2 for 7 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 6 yards CLE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 37 yards and 3 TDs; Greg Pruitt, 4 for 51 yards; Paul Warfield, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Cleo Miller, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Holden, 1 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Roan, 1 for 17 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Lou Piccone, 4 for 107 yards; Jazz Jackson, 2 for 33 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 28 yards CLE: Mike Pruitt, 2 for 43 yards; Cleo Miller, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 3 for 6 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 3 for 17 yards; Willie Miller, 2 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 30 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 5 for 211 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 149 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1
NYJ: Joe Namath, 15 of 31 for 137 yards (1 int); Richard Todd, 4 of 5 for 25 yards (1 int) CLE: Mike Phipps, 11 of 15 for 100 yards and 3 TDs; Brian Sipe, 7 of 10 for 83 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 11 for 36 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Clark Gaines, 6 for 29 yards; Richard Todd, 3 for 10 yards and 1 TD CLE: Greg Pruitt, 17 for 124 yards; Cleo Miller, 15 for 47 yards; Mike Pruitt, 5 for 7 yards; Mike Phipps, 3 for 26 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 3 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Rich Caster, 5 for 39 yards; Louie Giammona, 4 for 18 yards; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 40 yards; David Knight, 2 for 36 yards; Clark Gaines, 2 for 16 yards; Don Buckey, 2 for 7 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 6 yards CLE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 37 yards and 3 TDs; Greg Pruitt, 4 for 51 yards; Paul Warfield, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Cleo Miller, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Holden, 1 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Roan, 1 for 17 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Lou Piccone, 4 for 107 yards; Jazz Jackson, 2 for 33 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 28 yards CLE: Mike Pruitt, 2 for 43 yards; Cleo Miller, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 3 for 6 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 3 for 17 yards; Willie Miller, 2 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 30 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 5 for 211 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 149 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1