All NFL game summaries for 09/26/1976:

Haskel Stanback scored on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter to break a scoreless tie and lead the Falcons to their first win of the season. Stanback's score came three plays after Dewey McClain recovered a fumbled punt reception at the Bears' 17. Atlanta's defense allowed Chicago into Falcons territory only once in the first three quarters and cut short two Bears' drives in the fourth period with interceptions.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bears by 5

                     ATL             CHI
First Downs:         19              10
Rushes-yards:        43-137          32-116
Yards/rush:          3.2             3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-32-164-0     10-22-110-3
Sacked-yards:        5-31            0-0
Net pass yards:      133             110
Net yards/pass:      3.6             5.0
Total net yards:     270             226
Total plays:         80 (53% run)    54 (59% run)  
Yards/play:          3.4             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             3-3
Turnovers:           0               6
Penalties-yards:     2-25            4-30

Attendance: 41,029

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The Bengals' defense and Archie Griffin were worse than the rain for the Packers after Cincinnati spotted Green Bay a 7-0 lead. Ken Riley and Tom Casanova each returned interceptions for touchdowns while their defensive mates allowed the Packers 71 yards rushing and minus 35 yards passing. Griffin picked up 78 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey suffered five sacks for 67 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bengals by 17

                     GB              CIN
First Downs:         7               19
Rushes-yards:        25-71           48-222
Yards/rush:          2.8             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     5-23-45-3       11-24-86-0
Sacked-yards:        6-80            3-22
Net pass yards:      -35             64
Net yards/pass:      -1.2            2.4
Total net yards:     36              286
Total plays:         54 (46% run)    75 (64% run)  
Yards/play:          0.7             3.8
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             2-1
Turnovers:           4               1
Penalties-yards:     5-47            5-53

Attendance: 44,103

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Efren Herrera kicked a 32-yard field goal with three seconds left to break a 27-27 tie and knock Baltimore from the ranks of the unbeaten. Herrera's kick was preceded by a Roger Staubach to Billy Joe DuPree touchdown pass putting the Cowboys ahead 27-24 with 3:27 remaining and Toni Linhart's 24-yard field goal to tie the game with 28 seconds left to play. Staubach had his best day in eight years as a Cowboys' passer, completing 22 of 28 passes for 339 yards. Bert Jones passed for 237 yards. Baltimore's opening score was countered by another Dallas spectacular, a 39-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Drew Pearson to Golden Richards off a double reverse.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 7

                     BAL             DAL
First Downs:         25              21
Rushes-yards:        39-184          32-92
Yards/rush:          4.7             2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-31-237-0     23-29-378-0
Sacked-yards:        2-21            2-13
Net pass yards:      216             365
Net yards/pass:      6.5             11.8
Total net yards:     400             457
Total plays:         72 (54% run)    63 (50% run)  
Yards/play:          5.6             7.3
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             4-3
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     7-55            8-65

Attendance: 63,725

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Rick Upchurch returned the Browns' first punt 73 yards for a touchdown and repeated the feat (47 yards) in the third quarter as the Denver defense and specialty teams helped deal Cleveland its second defeat. Calvin Jones's 43-yard fumble recovery return for a score ignited a three-and-a-half minute, 17-point burst. Upchurch followed with a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown, and Steve Ramsey capped off the barrage with a 36-yard TD pass to Haven Moses. Browns' quarterback Brian Sipe completed 17 of 31 but had two picked off by Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Broncos by 7

                     CLE             DEN
First Downs:         17              18
Rushes-yards:        33-83           32-55
Yards/rush:          2.5             1.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     20-37-158-2     11-21-177-2
Sacked-yards:        2-14            1-6
Net pass yards:      144             171
Net yards/pass:      3.7             7.8
Total net yards:     227             226
Total plays:         72 (45% run)    54 (59% run)  
Yards/play:          3.2             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             3-1
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     13-121          8-63

Attendance: 62,758

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Nate Allen's block of a bobbled conversion attempt provided Minnesota's winning margin in a game controlled by the defenses. The Lions' and Vikings' defenses gave up 168 and 251 yards, respectively. Both teams were shut out in the first half and were deadlocked 3-3 after three quarters. Chuck Foreman, the game's leading rusher with 94 yards, scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a five-yard draw before Detroit got its final score with 2:01 left in the game. Greg Landry completed 13 of 24 passes for 198 yards including a one-yard TD pass to Charlie Sanders.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Vikings by 8

                     MIN             DET
First Downs:         10              14
Rushes-yards:        35-116          33-101
Yards/rush:          3.3             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-20-72-0      13-24-198-0
Sacked-yards:        2-20            7-48
Net pass yards:      52              150
Net yards/pass:      2.4             4.8
Total net yards:     168             251
Total plays:         57 (61% run)    64 (51% run)  
Yards/play:          2.9             3.9
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             3-2
Turnovers:           0               2
Penalties-yards:     6-36            5-39

Attendance: 76,914

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Rookie Mike Rae connected twice with Cliff Branch for touchdowns to overcome a first quarter Houston lead and maintain Oakland's unbeaten status. Rae, substituting for injured Ken Stabler, hit Branch in the end zone on his first NFL pass and completed 12 of his next 21 for 170 yards. Dan Pastorini brought the Oilers back to within one point on a four-yard pass to Mack Alston with 7:26 remaining after the Raiders twice stopped Houston at the 1-yard line.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Raiders by 3

                     OAK             HOU
First Downs:         13              17
Rushes-yards:        36-106          32-79
Yards/rush:          2.9             2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-22-170-1     16-36-216-1
Sacked-yards:        5-42            2-27
Net pass yards:      128             189
Net yards/pass:      4.7             5.0
Total net yards:     234             268
Total plays:         63 (57% run)    70 (45% run)  
Yards/play:          3.7             3.8
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             0-0
Turnovers:           1               1
Penalties-yards:     6-68            2-15

Attendance: 42,338

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Rookie running back Tony Galbreath rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns and his rookie teammate Chuck Muncie added 126 yards to lead the Saints to a comeback victory over the Chiefs. Galbreath's nine-yard run in the fourth quarter put the Saints ahead for the first time and a Bobby Scott to Henry Childs touchdown pass with just eight seconds left on the clock insured Hank Stram's first victory as a Saints' coach, the win coming over the team Stram coached from 1960 through 1974.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Chiefs by 6

                     NO              KC
First Downs:         19              18
Rushes-yards:        44-299          44-165
Yards/rush:          6.8             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-21-126-2     10-20-149-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             5-44
Net pass yards:      126             105
Net yards/pass:      6.0             4.2
Total net yards:     425             270
Total plays:         65 (67% run)    69 (63% run)  
Yards/play:          6.5             3.9
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-0
Turnovers:           2               0
Penalties-yards:     10-95           8-80

Attendance: 53,918

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John Cappelletti's two-touchdown performance helped the Rams overcome an early 10-0 Giants lead. The Giants picked up all their points in the first quarter, six coming on a Craig Morton to Bob Tucker touchdown pass after a Pat Hughes interception at the Rams 37. Tom Dempsey's 44-yard field goal after Cappelletti's first touchdown tied the score in the third quarter and Cappelletti scored again in the fourth on a 32-yard pass from James Harris to put the Rams ahead. Los Angeles' final score came late in the game after Isiah Robertson intercepted Morton at the Giants' 18. Doug Kotar led all rushers with 108 yards, his first 100-yard game since 1974.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 13

                     NYG             LA
First Downs:         20              18
Rushes-yards:        42-168          44-189
Yards/rush:          4.0             4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-26-160-4     14-23-179-1
Sacked-yards:        4-41            0-0
Net pass yards:      119             179
Net yards/pass:      4.0             7.8
Total net yards:     287             368
Total plays:         72 (58% run)    67 (65% run)  
Yards/play:          4.0             5.5
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             2-1
Turnovers:           5               2
Penalties-yards:     3-35            7-53

Attendance: 60,698

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Garo Yepremian converted three of four field goal attempts and Bob Griese connected with Jim Mandich for a third-quarter touchdown as the Dolphins' defense limited the Jets to 224 yards. The Griese-to-Mandich score came five plays after Charlie Babb intercepted a Joe Namath pass, returning it 20 yards to the Jets' 49. The Miami defense allowed the Jets no deeper than the Dolphins' 25 and picked up four New York fumbles.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Dolphins by 19

                     NYJ             MIA
First Downs:         10              23
Rushes-yards:        20-65           47-211
Yards/rush:          3.2             4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-26-171-1     12-24-127-0
Sacked-yards:        1-12            1-4
Net pass yards:      159             123
Net yards/pass:      5.9             4.9
Total net yards:     224             334
Total plays:         47 (42% run)    72 (65% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        4-4             3-1
Turnovers:           5               1
Penalties-yards:     6-54            3-25

Attendance: 49,754

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Steve Grogan led the Patriots on a 21-point scoring spree after trailing 20-9 in the third quarter. Grogan, completing six of eight passes for 192 yards in the scoring binge, threw 38 yards to Russ Francis and 58 yards to Darryl Stingley for touchdowns and ran one in from the 6 to give New England its first win ever over Pittsburgh. Terry Bradshaw picked up 291 yards passing, but seven Steeler fumbles, six of which the Patriots recovered, stymied the Pittsburgh offense.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Steelers by 15

                     NE              PIT
First Downs:         18              24
Rushes-yards:        40-142          37-169
Yards/rush:          3.5             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-32-257-2     20-39-291-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             3-44
Net pass yards:      257             247
Net yards/pass:      8.0             5.9
Total net yards:     399             416
Total plays:         72 (55% run)    79 (46% run)  
Yards/play:          5.5             5.3
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             7-6
Turnovers:           4               6
Penalties-yards:     4-52            8-70

Attendance: 47,379

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Dan Fouts passed for three touchdowns in a 27-point second quarter as undefeated San Diego continued on its best start since 1968. Rickey Young scored from the three just three seconds into the second period. Fouts completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner and hit Dwight McDonald twice for scores to give San Diego a 33-10 halftime lead. The Chargers' defense limited the Cardinal rushers to 124 yards and picked up four St. Louis fumbles.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cardinals by 6

                     STL             SD
First Downs:         22              24
Rushes-yards:        28-124          45-206
Yards/rush:          4.4             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     20-33-240-1     15-18-259-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             2-14
Net pass yards:      240             245
Net yards/pass:      7.3             12.2
Total net yards:     364             451
Total plays:         61 (45% run)    65 (69% run)  
Yards/play:          6.0             6.9
Fumbles-lost:        4-4             2-0
Turnovers:           5               0
Penalties-yards:     5-20            5-54

Attendance: 39,911

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Jim Plunkett staked the 49ers to a 31-7 halftime lead on an 11-of-16 passing performance that netted three touchdowns. San Francisco victimized Seahawk punter Rick Engles, blocking his first punt to set up a first quarter field goal and Ralph McGill returned another 50 yards for a touchdown. Hugh McKinnis scored twice for Seattle on short bursts and Jim Zorn threw for 264 yards including a fourth quarter touchdown pass, closing the gap to 10 points before Steve Mike-Mayer ended a perfect day with 45 and 31-yard field goals.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: 49ers by 11

                     SF              SEA
First Downs:         19              29
Rushes-yards:        32-142          35-130
Yards/rush:          4.4             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-29-239-1     21-44-305-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-14
Net pass yards:      239             291
Net yards/pass:      8.2             6.5
Total net yards:     381             421
Total plays:         61 (52% run)    80 (43% run)  
Yards/play:          6.2             5.3
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             3-1
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     11-106          4-45

Attendance: 59,108

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Joe Ferguson threw touchdown passes to Bob Chandler and Reuben Gant to give the Bills their first victory of the season. Buccaneer kicker Dave Green scored the first points of the season for Tampa Bay and almost turned the tables on Buffalo. In the final minutes of the game Green caught a nine-yard pass from Steve Spurrier on a fake field goal, but was short of a first down at the Bills' 11. The Buccaneers' defense virtually shut down the Buffalo ground attack, giving up 109 yards rushing, only 39 to O.J. Simpson.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bills by 10

                     BUF             TB
First Downs:         14              15
Rushes-yards:        35-109          40-170
Yards/rush:          3.1             4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-22-188-0     13-28-170-1
Sacked-yards:        1-2             1-2
Net pass yards:      186             168
Net yards/pass:      8.1             5.8
Total net yards:     295             338
Total plays:         58 (60% run)    69 (57% run)  
Yards/play:          5.1             4.9
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             2-1
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     4-30            10-59

Attendance: 42,805

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