NFL game summary for 11/07/1976:
Safety Thom Darden picked up a fourth quarter fumble and then tipped an Oilers' pass to Bob Babich, setting up a pair of Cleveland touchdowns in a 21-7 win. Greg Pruitt carried the ball three times following Darden's fumble recovery, then tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to Brian Duncan for a 14-7 lead. Brian Sipe connected with Oscar Roan on the next series for Cleveland's final score. Ronnie Coleman scored the only Houston TD on a seven-yard pass from John Hadl late in the first half.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 168.6 (7) | 183.2 (9) | 351.9 (6) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 125.1 (7) | 166.0 (18) | 291.1 (12) | 16 | |
 | OFFENSE | 102.6 (27) | 174.0 (10) | 276.6 (19) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 136.5 (13) | 150.4 (9) | 286.9 (9) | 13 |
Line: Oilers by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns (5-4-0) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 21 |
| Houston Oilers (4-5-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
( 2- 0) CLE Safety, Elbert Drungo tackled in end zone by Mack Mitchell
( 5- 0) CLE Don Cockroft 30 yard field goal
( 8- 0) CLE Don Cockroft 40 yard field goal
( 8- 7) HOU Ronnie Coleman 7 yard pass from John Hadl (Skip Butler kick)
(14- 7) CLE Brian Duncan 10 yard pass from Greg Pruitt (kick failed)
(21- 7) CLE Oscar Roan 23 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
CLE HOU
First Downs: 13 11
Rushes-yards: 44-200 31-125
Yards/rush: 4.5 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-19-68-0 13-21-102-1
Sacked-yards: 1-6 4-39
Net pass yards: 62 63
Net yards/pass: 3.1 2.5
Total net yards: 262 188
Total plays: 64 (68% run) 56 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 4-2
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 5-40 4-30
Attendance: 39,828
Passing:
CLE: Mike Phipps, 7 of 17 for 35 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 of 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Brian Sipe, 1 of 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD HOU: John Hadl, 12 of 20 for 106 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dan Pastorini, 1 of 1 for -4 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 18 for 79 yards; Larry Poole, 10 for 76 yards; Cleo Miller, 8 for 29 yards; Mike Pruitt, 7 for 14 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 12 for 70 yards; Don Hardeman, 12 for 25 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 3 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 12 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 5 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Cleo Miller, 2 for 9 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 9 yards; Greg Pruitt, 2 for -3 yards; Oscar Roan, 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Paul Warfield, 1 for 20 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 24 yards; Mack Alston, 2 for 23 yards; Don Hardeman, 2 for 10 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 10 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 2 for 57 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 18 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 3 for 8 yards; Ricky Feacher, 2 for 9 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Bob Babich, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 271 yards HOU: Skip Butler, 5 for 176 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 32 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1
CLE: Mike Phipps, 7 of 17 for 35 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 of 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Brian Sipe, 1 of 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD HOU: John Hadl, 12 of 20 for 106 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dan Pastorini, 1 of 1 for -4 yards
Rushing:
CLE: Greg Pruitt, 18 for 79 yards; Larry Poole, 10 for 76 yards; Cleo Miller, 8 for 29 yards; Mike Pruitt, 7 for 14 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 12 for 70 yards; Don Hardeman, 12 for 25 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Dawkins, 2 for 3 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 12 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for 5 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
CLE: Cleo Miller, 2 for 9 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 9 yards; Greg Pruitt, 2 for -3 yards; Oscar Roan, 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Paul Warfield, 1 for 20 yards; Brian Duncan, 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 24 yards; Mack Alston, 2 for 23 yards; Don Hardeman, 2 for 10 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 10 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 2 for 57 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 18 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
CLE: Steve Holden, 3 for 8 yards; Ricky Feacher, 2 for 9 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 15 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
CLE: Bob Babich, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 6 for 271 yards HOU: Skip Butler, 5 for 176 yards; John Sawyer, 1 for 32 yards
Field Goals:
CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1