NFL game summary for 12/05/1976:
Brian Sipe's second quarter touchdown pass to Paul Warfield plus two field goals resulting from Houston turnovers gave the Browns a season sweep over the Oilers. Don Cockroft gave Cleveland its winning points in the fourth period, 12 plays after Thom Darden intercepted a Houston pass in the end zone. Dan Pastorini closed the gap to three points with 4:10 remaining but the Browns ran out the clock following Charlie Hall's interception.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 112.2 (26) | 157.5 (13) | 269.8 (20) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 136.5 (12) | 145.8 (9) | 282.3 (10) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 163.5 (9) | 170.3 (9) | 333.8 (9) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 125.4 (5) | 143.9 (8) | 269.3 (7) | 25 |
Line: Browns by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (5-8-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Cleveland Browns (9-4-0) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
( 0- 7) CLE Paul Warfield 37 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick)
( 0-10) CLE Don Cockroft 29 yard field goal
( 3-10) HOU Skip Butler 31 yard field goal
( 3-13) CLE Don Cockroft 46 yard field goal
(10-13) HOU Ken Burrough 54 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
HOU CLE
First Downs: 9 15
Rushes-yards: 23-58 44-176
Yards/rush: 2.5 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-29-152-3 9-22-114-2
Sacked-yards: 3-35 4-25
Net pass yards: 117 89
Net yards/pass: 3.7 3.4
Total net yards: 175 265
Total plays: 55 (41% run) 70 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 5-3
Turnovers: 4 5
Penalties-yards: 5-53 9-89
Attendance: 56,025
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 13 of 19 for 127 yards and 1 TD (1 int); John Hadl, 4 of 10 for 25 yards (2 int) CLE: Brian Sipe, 9 of 22 for 114 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 25 yards; Fred Willis, 7 for 1 yard; Joe Dawkins, 6 for 15 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 11 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 6 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 24 for 74 yards; Cleo Miller, 17 for 99 yards; Brian Sipe, 2 for 0 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 4 for 51 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; John Sawyer, 3 for 14 yards; Fred Willis, 3 for 11 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 3 yards; Earl Thomas, 1 for 1 yard; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for -4 yards CLE: Cleo Miller, 3 for 14 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 29 yards; Dave Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 53 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 43 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 2 for 42 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 31 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 59 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 5 for 58 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 49 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Mike Reinfeldt, 1 for 19 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 39 yards; Charlie Hall, 1 for 12 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 9 for 263 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 146 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/3
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 13 of 19 for 127 yards and 1 TD (1 int); John Hadl, 4 of 10 for 25 yards (2 int) CLE: Brian Sipe, 9 of 22 for 114 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 25 yards; Fred Willis, 7 for 1 yard; Joe Dawkins, 6 for 15 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 11 yards; John Hadl, 1 for 6 yards CLE: Greg Pruitt, 24 for 74 yards; Cleo Miller, 17 for 99 yards; Brian Sipe, 2 for 0 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 4 for 51 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; John Sawyer, 3 for 14 yards; Fred Willis, 3 for 11 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 3 yards; Earl Thomas, 1 for 1 yard; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for -4 yards CLE: Cleo Miller, 3 for 14 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 29 yards; Dave Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 53 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 43 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 2 for 42 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 31 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 59 yards CLE: Steve Holden, 5 for 58 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 49 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Mike Reinfeldt, 1 for 19 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards CLE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 39 yards; Charlie Hall, 1 for 12 yards; Thom Darden, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 9 for 263 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 4 for 146 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 1/1 CLE: Don Cockroft, 2/3