NFL game summary for 09/26/1976:
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):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 176.0 (10) | 184.0 (9) | 360.0 (10) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 166.0 (19) | 112.0 (6) | 278.0 (12) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 183.0 (8) | 169.0 (13) | 352.0 (11) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 105.0 (7) | 114.0 (7) | 219.0 (3) | 3 |
Line: Broncos by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (1-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Denver Broncos (2-1-0) | 17 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 44 |
( 0- 7) DEN Rick Upchurch 73 yard punt return (Jim Turner kick) ( 0-14) DEN Otis Armstrong 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) ( 0-17) DEN Jim Turner 47 yard field goal ( 7-17) CLE Oscar Roan 5 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick) ( 7-24) DEN Calvin Jones 43 yard fumble return (Jim Turner kick) ( 7-30) DEN Rick Upchurch 47 yard punt return (kick failed) ( 7-37) DEN Haven Moses 36 yard pass from Steve Ramsey (Jim Turner kick) (13-37) CLE Greg Pruitt 8 yard rush (kick failed) (13-44) DEN Jim Kiick 12 yard pass from Steve Ramsey (Jim Turner kick)
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
Passing:
CLE: Brian Sipe, 18 of 31 for 134 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Dave Mays, 2 of 6 for 24 yards DEN: Steve Ramsey, 10 of 20 for 166 yards and 2 TDs (2 int); Norris Weese, 1 of 1 for 11 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 16 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Mike Pruitt, 14 for 21 yards; Brian Duncan, 2 for 2 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Otis Armstrong, 18 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Lonnie Perrin, 7 for 11 yards; Jim Kiick, 3 for 10 yards; Mike Franckowiak, 2 for 3 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 8 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 5 for 18 yards; Mike Pruitt, 4 for 29 yards; Oscar Roan, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Steve Holden, 2 for 27 yards; Gary Parris, 2 for 24 yards; Brian Duncan, 2 for 11 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 16 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 11 yards DEN: Jack Dolbin, 3 for 37 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 40 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 16 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Brian Duncan, 3 for 74 yards; Steve Holden, 1 for 27 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 21 yards; Dick Ambrose, 1 for 16 yards DEN: John Schultz, 1 for 20 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 1 for 10 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 125 yards and 2 TDs
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 1 for 15 yards; Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Tom Jackson, 2 for 22 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 239 yards; Dave Mays, 1 for 54 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 4 for 108 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1
CLE: Brian Sipe, 18 of 31 for 134 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Dave Mays, 2 of 6 for 24 yards DEN: Steve Ramsey, 10 of 20 for 166 yards and 2 TDs (2 int); Norris Weese, 1 of 1 for 11 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 16 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Mike Pruitt, 14 for 21 yards; Brian Duncan, 2 for 2 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Otis Armstrong, 18 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Lonnie Perrin, 7 for 11 yards; Jim Kiick, 3 for 10 yards; Mike Franckowiak, 2 for 3 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 8 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 5 for 18 yards; Mike Pruitt, 4 for 29 yards; Oscar Roan, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Steve Holden, 2 for 27 yards; Gary Parris, 2 for 24 yards; Brian Duncan, 2 for 11 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 16 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 11 yards DEN: Jack Dolbin, 3 for 37 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 40 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 16 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Brian Duncan, 3 for 74 yards; Steve Holden, 1 for 27 yards; Larry Poole, 1 for 21 yards; Dick Ambrose, 1 for 16 yards DEN: John Schultz, 1 for 20 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 1 for 10 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 125 yards and 2 TDs
Interceptions:
CLE: Thom Darden, 1 for 15 yards; Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Tom Jackson, 2 for 22 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 239 yards; Dave Mays, 1 for 54 yards DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 4 for 108 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 0/1 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1