NFL game summary for 11/28/1976:
Don Calhoun rushed for 177 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season, and Mike Haynes returned one punt for a touchdown and set up a score with another return as the Patriots picked up their first victory over the Broncos since 1968. Steve Grogan accounted for the first two New England touchdowns on a one-yard run and a three-yard pass to Al Chandler while Haynes returned a punt 62 yards for the next TD and set up Andy Johnson's one-yard scoring run for a 31-0 halftime lead with a 36-yard punt return. The Patriots' defense sacked Steve Ramsey nine times and picked off three of his passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 131.8 (20) | 161.4 (10) | 293.2 (17) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 109.3 (2) | 159.8 (17) | 269.1 (7) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 194.2 (2) | 137.8 (16) | 332.0 (8) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 140.9 (14) | 161.7 (19) | 302.6 (16) | 43 |
Line: Patriots by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (7-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| New England Patriots (9-3-0) | 7 | 24 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
( 0- 7) NE Steve Grogan 1 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 0-10) NE John Smith 49 yard field goal ( 0-17) NE Al Chandler 3 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 0-24) NE Mike Haynes 62 yard punt return (John Smith kick) ( 0-31) NE Andy Johnson 1 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 7-31) DEN Jon Keyworth 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) ( 7-38) NE Ike Forte 3 yard rush (John Smith kick) (14-38) DEN Riley Odoms 11 yard pass from Craig Penrose (Jim Turner kick)
DEN NE
First Downs: 12 25
Rushes-yards: 13-44 62-332
Yards/rush: 3.4 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-34-204-3 8-14-84-1
Sacked-yards: 9-59 1-2
Net pass yards: 145 82
Net yards/pass: 3.4 5.5
Total net yards: 189 414
Total plays: 56 (23% run) 77 (80% run)
Yards/play: 3.4 5.4
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 6-52 3-25
Attendance: 61,128
Passing:
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 11 of 28 for 124 yards (3 int); Craig Penrose, 4 of 6 for 80 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 14 for 84 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 5 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 4 for 15 yards; Otis Armstrong, 4 for 14 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 25 for 177 yards; Andy Johnson, 17 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 9 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 6 for 23 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 6 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 5 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 3 for 12 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 60 yards; Jack Dolbin, 2 for 38 yards; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 14 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 7 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 2 for 12 yards; Al Chandler, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 44 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 18 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 7 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 73 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 28 yards; Glenn Hyde, 1 for 17 yards NE: Jess Phillips, 2 for 44 yards; Dick Conn, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 0 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Tom Jackson, 1 for 34 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 38 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 28 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 170 yards; Norris Weese, 3 for 116 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 2 for 57 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/4
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 11 of 28 for 124 yards (3 int); Craig Penrose, 4 of 6 for 80 yards and 1 TD NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 14 for 84 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 5 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 4 for 15 yards; Otis Armstrong, 4 for 14 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 25 for 177 yards; Andy Johnson, 17 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 9 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 6 for 23 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 6 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Riley Odoms, 5 for 73 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 3 for 12 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 60 yards; Jack Dolbin, 2 for 38 yards; Jon Keyworth, 2 for 14 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 7 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 2 for 12 yards; Al Chandler, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 44 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 18 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 7 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for -3 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 73 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 28 yards; Glenn Hyde, 1 for 17 yards NE: Jess Phillips, 2 for 44 yards; Dick Conn, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 0 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 99 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Tom Jackson, 1 for 34 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 38 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 28 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 5 for 170 yards; Norris Weese, 3 for 116 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 2 for 57 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/4