All NFL game summaries for 12/19/1976:

The Steelers scored the most points in their postseason playoff history as quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw three touchdown passes, matching a personal high for a 40-14 win. Bradshaw hit wide receiver Frank Lewis with a 76-yard scoring bomb on the game's third play, then connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on 29- and 11-yard touchdown passes. Running back Franco Harris rushed for 132 yards while Bradshaw completed 14 of 18 attempts for 264 yards to help power Pittsburgh to the most points against Baltimore in 1976. The Colts scored on a 17-yard Bert Jones to Roger Carr pass to close the gap to 9-7 late in the first quarter, but the Steelers moved into their third straight AFC championship game against the Raiders with 24 consecutive points. The Steelers lost both starting running backs, Harris (third quarter rib injury) and Rocky Bleier (first quarter toe injury).

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: n/a

                     PIT             BAL
First Downs:         29              16
Rushes-yards:        40-225          23-71
Yards/rush:          5.6             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     19-24-308-0     11-25-144-2
Sacked-yards:        1-1             5-45
Net pass yards:      307             99
Net yards/pass:      12.3            3.3
Total net yards:     532             170
Total plays:         65 (61% run)    53 (43% run)  
Yards/play:          8.2             3.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             0-0
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     12-88           7-59

Attendance: 60,020

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Los Angeles tied the score at 10-10 on Tom Dempsey's 24-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth period, but disdained the three points, accepting a running-into-the-kicker penalty that gave the Rams a first down on the Dallas three-yard line, and three plays later Lawrence McCutcheon scored the winning touchdown from the one. However, the Rams' defense had to withstand two Dallas threats in the final minutes. Twice the Rams thwarted Roger Staubach passing attempts to gain two yards for a first down from the Rams' 32 with three minutes left. Then, with 1:59 remaining, Cowboy Charlie Waters blocked his second Los Angeles punt of the game and Dallas took possession at the Rams' 17. On first down, Staubach connected with Butch Johnson over the goal line, but Johnson was able to keep only one foot in bounds. Two more Staubach passes fell incomplete. On fourth down Roger hit Billy Joe DuPree for a nine-yard gain to the Los Angeles eight, but short of a first down and the Rams took possession.

Los Angeles ran out the final 1:29 of the game which ended with Rams' punter Rusty Jackson permitting himself to be tackled in the end zone for a safety as time expired. The only fumble recovery of the game was by Rams' defensive end Fred Dryer, and it set up the winning touchdown drive. One play after Cowboy Benny Barnes made his second interception, Dryer fell on a fumble by Cowboy Drew Pearson at the Dallas 39. Ten plays later, McCutcheon scored.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: n/a

                     LA              DAL
First Downs:         17              14
Rushes-yards:        49-120          28-85
Yards/rush:          2.4             3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-21-152-3     15-37-150-3
Sacked-yards:        3-22            4-24
Net pass yards:      130             126
Net yards/pass:      5.4             3.1
Total net yards:     250             211
Total plays:         73 (67% run)    69 (40% run)  
Yards/play:          3.4             3.1
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             3-1
Turnovers:           3               4
Penalties-yards:     8-94            6-34

Attendance: 62,436

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