All NFL game summaries for 12/11/1976:
James Harris threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson which opened a 17-point Rams' third quarter and erased a 17-3 Detroit lead. Joe Reed, quarterbacking for the first time in seven games, staked Detroit to a 14-point halftime lead on a four-yard touchdown run and a nine-yard TD pass to Charlie Sanders. Harris, taking over in the first quarter for an injured Pat Haden, started the Rams' scoring barrage by driving 65 yards for a touchdown on the first series of the second half. Jim Youngblood intercepted the second Reed pass of the third quarter, returning it 26 yards to the Lions' three, and Cullen Bryant ran for a score on the next play for the Rams' first and final lead with two seconds left in the period.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 185.5 (3) | 169.9 (9) | 355.4 (5) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 113.3 (2) | 151.5 (14) | 264.8 (6) | 45 | |
 | OFFENSE | 163.2 (9) | 155.2 (13) | 318.5 (13) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 137.2 (10) | 119.5 (3) | 256.8 (3) | 37 |
Line: Rams by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (10-3-1) | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 20 |
| Detroit Lions (6-8-0) | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
( 0- 3) DET Benny Ricardo 19 yard field goal
( 3- 3) LA Tom Dempsey 35 yard field goal
( 3-10) DET Joe Reed 4 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 3-17) DET Charlie Sanders 9 yard pass from Joe Reed (Benny Ricardo kick)
(10-17) LA Harold Jackson 27 yard pass from James Harris (Tom Dempsey kick)
(13-17) LA Tom Dempsey 32 yard field goal
(20-17) LA Cullen Bryant 3 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
LA DET
First Downs: 14 11
Rushes-yards: 40-117 29-91
Yards/rush: 2.9 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-22-132-2 12-21-165-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 5-43
Net pass yards: 132 122
Net yards/pass: 6.0 4.7
Total net yards: 249 213
Total plays: 62 (64% run) 55 (52% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 3.9
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-0
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 4-30 10-75
Attendance: 73,470
Passing:
LA: James Harris, 10 of 17 for 113 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Pat Haden, 2 of 5 for 19 yards DET: Joe Reed, 9 of 13 for 137 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Greg Landry, 3 of 8 for 28 yards
Rushing:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 11 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Lawrence McCutcheon, 9 for 24 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 8 for 19 yards; Rod Phillips, 5 for 17 yards; John Cappelletti, 4 for -2 yards; James Harris, 2 for 14 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 4 yards DET: Lawrence Gaines, 14 for 53 yards; Dexter Bussey, 10 for 14 yards; Joe Reed, 3 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 2 for 11 yards
Receiving:
LA: Bob Klein, 4 for 42 yards; John Cappelletti, 3 for 20 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Terry Nelson, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 9 yards DET: Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 17 yards; Charlie Sanders, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 19 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 57 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 12 yards; David Hill, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Tom Geredine, 4 for 81 yards DET: James Hunter, 2 for 99 yards; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 45 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for -1 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 3 for 51 yards DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 26 yards; Isiah Robertson, 1 for 9 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 0 yards DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 26 yards; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
LA: Rusty Jackson, 5 for 214 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 8 for 291 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Tom Dempsey, 2/4 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
LA: James Harris, 10 of 17 for 113 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Pat Haden, 2 of 5 for 19 yards DET: Joe Reed, 9 of 13 for 137 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Greg Landry, 3 of 8 for 28 yards
Rushing:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 11 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Lawrence McCutcheon, 9 for 24 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 8 for 19 yards; Rod Phillips, 5 for 17 yards; John Cappelletti, 4 for -2 yards; James Harris, 2 for 14 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 4 yards DET: Lawrence Gaines, 14 for 53 yards; Dexter Bussey, 10 for 14 yards; Joe Reed, 3 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 2 for 11 yards
Receiving:
LA: Bob Klein, 4 for 42 yards; John Cappelletti, 3 for 20 yards; Harold Jackson, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Terry Nelson, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 9 yards DET: Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 17 yards; Charlie Sanders, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 19 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 57 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 12 yards; David Hill, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Tom Geredine, 4 for 81 yards DET: James Hunter, 2 for 99 yards; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 45 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for -1 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 3 for 51 yards DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 26 yards; Isiah Robertson, 1 for 9 yards; Rod Perry, 1 for 0 yards DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 26 yards; Charlie Weaver, 1 for 19 yards
Punting:
LA: Rusty Jackson, 5 for 214 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 8 for 291 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Tom Dempsey, 2/4 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1
Terry Bradshaw passed for one touchdown and ran for another while the Pittsburgh defense picked up its fifth shutout of the season as the Steelers clinched their third straight AFC Central title. Mel Blount intercepted Dan Pastorini at the Houston 41 yard line and returned it 28 yards to set up Bradshaw's 21-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann with 2:59 left in the first half. Franco Harris gave Pittsburgh a two touchdown lead on an 11-yard run in the third quarter and, along with Rocky Bleier, rushed for over 100 yards, both going over 1,000 yards for the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 208.7 (1) | 122.3 (21) | 331.0 (9) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 104.9 (1) | 138.5 (7) | 243.5 (1) | 44 | |
 | OFFENSE | 108.1 (26) | 154.4 (14) | 262.5 (24) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 139.5 (12) | 141.5 (8) | 281.0 (10) | 27 |
Line: Steelers by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Houston Oilers (5-9-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) PIT Lynn Swann 21 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(14- 0) PIT Franco Harris 11 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(21- 0) PIT Terry Bradshaw 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
PIT HOU
First Downs: 20 9
Rushes-yards: 53-258 26-93
Yards/rush: 4.9 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-19-76-1 13-29-95-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-30
Net pass yards: 76 65
Net yards/pass: 4.0 2.0
Total net yards: 334 158
Total plays: 72 (73% run) 58 (44% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 2.7
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 10-80 6-50
Attendance: 52,437
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 19 for 76 yards and 1 TD (1 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 13 of 29 for 95 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 23 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 22 for 107 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 4 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 2 for 9 yards; Reggie Harrison, 2 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 14 for 49 yards; Fred Willis, 11 for 49 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 28 yards; Franco Harris, 2 for 12 yards; Larry Brown, 1 for 4 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for -2 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 3 for 44 yards; Billy Johnson, 3 for 19 yards; John Sawyer, 2 for 13 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for -5 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 9 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 8 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Ernest Pough, 1 for 21 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 4 for 53 yards; Lynn Swann, 2 for 4 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 5 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 28 yards HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 7 for 270 yards HOU: Leroy Clark, 10 for 335 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 43 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 19 for 76 yards and 1 TD (1 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 13 of 29 for 95 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 23 for 104 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 22 for 107 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 4 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 2 for 9 yards; Reggie Harrison, 2 for 3 yards HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 14 for 49 yards; Fred Willis, 11 for 49 yards; Billy Johnson, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 28 yards; Franco Harris, 2 for 12 yards; Larry Brown, 1 for 4 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for -2 yards HOU: Ken Burrough, 3 for 44 yards; Billy Johnson, 3 for 19 yards; John Sawyer, 2 for 13 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for -5 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 9 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 8 yards; Fred Willis, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Ernest Pough, 1 for 21 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 4 for 53 yards; Lynn Swann, 2 for 4 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 5 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 28 yards HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 7 for 270 yards HOU: Leroy Clark, 10 for 335 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 43 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1
Fran Tarkenton and Sammy White combined for three touchdowns as the Vikings got their first win ever against the Dolphins and clinched the home field advantage for the playoffs. After Minnesota's defense stopped Miami seven times within the Vikings 7 yard line early in the first quarter, Tarkenton drove Minnesota 99 yards to take a 6-0 lead on a nine-yard pass to White. Matt Blair intercepted a Don Strock pass at the Dolphins' 20 yard line to set up Brent McClanahan's one-yard TD run in the third quarter, and four minutes later Tarkenton hit White with a seven-yard pass for the duo's final score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 136.7 (19) | 205.7 (5) | 342.4 (6) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 157.0 (18) | 110.9 (1) | 267.9 (7) | 30 | |
 | OFFENSE | 158.7 (13) | 164.2 (10) | 322.9 (12) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 168.1 (22) | 191.5 (28) | 359.5 (26) | 26 |
Line: Vikings by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (11-2-1) | 0 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 29 |
| Miami Dolphins (6-8-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
( 6- 0) MIN Sammy White 9 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed)
(12- 0) MIN Sammy White 36 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed)
(15- 0) MIN Fred Cox 30 yard field goal
(22- 0) MIN Brent McClanahan 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(29- 0) MIN Sammy White 7 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(29- 7) MIA Stan Winfrey 2 yard pass from Don Strock (Garo Yepremian kick)
MIN MIA
First Downs: 26 13
Rushes-yards: 46-226 26-55
Yards/rush: 4.9 2.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-25-184-0 12-30-162-2
Sacked-yards: 2-3 3-29
Net pass yards: 181 133
Net yards/pass: 6.7 4.0
Total net yards: 407 188
Total plays: 73 (63% run) 59 (44% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 1-0
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 3-17 2-10
Attendance: 46,543
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 23 for 184 yards and 3 TDs; Bob Lee, 1 of 2 for 0 yards MIA: Don Strock, 9 of 19 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bob Griese, 3 of 11 for 30 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 78 yards; Brent McClanahan, 11 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Robert Miller, 9 for 36 yards; Sammy Johnson, 8 for 45 yards; Ron Groce, 3 for 18 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 15 for 20 yards; Stan Winfrey, 5 for 17 yards; Don Nottingham, 4 for 4 yards; Don Strock, 1 for 11 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Sammy White, 9 for 120 yards and 3 TDs; Stu Voigt, 2 for 25 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 18 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 13 yards; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 8 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 62 yards; Loaird McCreary, 2 for 51 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 21 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 23 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 3 yards; Stan Winfrey, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 1 for 57 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 3 for 48 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 16 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 12 yards; Andre Tillman, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 37 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 14 yards; Autry Beamon, 1 for -1 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Matt Blair, 1 for 20 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 1 for 39 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 5 for 209 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 23 for 184 yards and 3 TDs; Bob Lee, 1 of 2 for 0 yards MIA: Don Strock, 9 of 19 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bob Griese, 3 of 11 for 30 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 14 for 78 yards; Brent McClanahan, 11 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Robert Miller, 9 for 36 yards; Sammy Johnson, 8 for 45 yards; Ron Groce, 3 for 18 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 15 for 20 yards; Stan Winfrey, 5 for 17 yards; Don Nottingham, 4 for 4 yards; Don Strock, 1 for 11 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Sammy White, 9 for 120 yards and 3 TDs; Stu Voigt, 2 for 25 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 18 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 13 yards; Chuck Foreman, 1 for 8 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 5 for 62 yards; Loaird McCreary, 2 for 51 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 21 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 23 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 3 yards; Stan Winfrey, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 1 for 57 yards MIA: Gary Davis, 3 for 48 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 16 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 12 yards; Andre Tillman, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 37 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 14 yards; Autry Beamon, 1 for -1 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Matt Blair, 1 for 20 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 1 for 39 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 5 for 209 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2