NFL game summary for 10/09/1977:
Bert Jones led the Colts from a 28-10 deficit to their fifth straight win over the Dolphins with four touchdown passes. The win gave Baltimore sole possession of first place in the AFC East. After the Colts took a 7 -0 lead when Lydell Mitchell broke a 64-yard touchdown on the first scrimmage play, Miami jumped to their 28-10 advantage midway through the second period behind two Bennie Malone touchdown runs and a 90-yard kickoff return by Freddie Solomon. Jones (18 of 30 for 205 yards) brought Baltimore within four points of the Dolphins at halftime with TD passes to Glenn Doughty and Raymond Chester and put the Colts in the lead midway through the third quarter on a 34-yard scoring toss to Don McCauley. Mitchell finished with 142 yards on 17 carries, while Malone led Miami rushers with 139 yards on 12 attempts.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 173.7 (5) | 128.3 (20) | 302.0 (10) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 119.0 (9) | 150.7 (16) | 269.7 (12) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 171.0 (7) | 145.3 (14) | 316.3 (8) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 87.0 (3) | 169.3 (21) | 256.3 (11) | 11 |
Line: Colts by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (3-1-0) | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Baltimore Colts (4-0-0) | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
( 0- 7) BAL Lydell Mitchell 64 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick) ( 7- 7) MIA Freddie Solomon 90 yard kickoff return (Garo Yepremian kick) (14- 7) MIA Benny Malone 52 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) (14-10) BAL Toni Linhart 41 yard field goal (21-10) MIA Leroy Harris 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) (28-10) MIA Benny Malone 66 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) (28-17) BAL Glenn Doughty 3 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) (28-24) BAL Raymond Chester 19 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) (28-31) BAL Don McCauley 34 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) (28-38) BAL Glenn Doughty 5 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) (28-45) BAL Don McCauley 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
MIA BAL
First Downs: 16 19
Rushes-yards: 29-182 35-207
Yards/rush: 6.3 5.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-34-264-2 18-30-205-0
Sacked-yards: 5-51 1-15
Net pass yards: 213 190
Net yards/pass: 5.5 6.1
Total net yards: 395 397
Total plays: 68 (42% run) 66 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.8 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 1-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 5-46 2-15
Attendance: 57,005
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 18 of 32 for 264 yards (1 int); Don Strock, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (1 int) BAL: Bert Jones, 18 of 30 for 205 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Benny Malone, 12 for 139 yards and 2 TDs; Leroy Harris, 7 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 5 for 21 yards; Nat Moore, 3 for 6 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 3 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 17 for 142 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 10 for 22 yards; Don McCauley, 4 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 3 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 4 for 127 yards; Freddie Solomon, 4 for 51 yards; Don Nottingham, 3 for 26 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 34 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 7 yards; Leroy Harris, 1 for -1 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for -1 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 4 for 24 yards and 2 TDs; Raymond Chester, 3 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 3 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 4 for 171 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 1 for 23 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 18 yards BAL: Bruce Laird, 3 for 51 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 25 yards; Ken Huff, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 32 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Howard Stevens, 2 for 13 yards; Ray Oldham, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Stan White, 1 for 19 yards; Bruce Laird, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 4 for 142 yards BAL: David Lee, 6 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/2 BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1
MIA: Bob Griese, 18 of 32 for 264 yards (1 int); Don Strock, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (1 int) BAL: Bert Jones, 18 of 30 for 205 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Benny Malone, 12 for 139 yards and 2 TDs; Leroy Harris, 7 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 5 for 21 yards; Nat Moore, 3 for 6 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 3 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 17 for 142 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 10 for 22 yards; Don McCauley, 4 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 3 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 4 for 127 yards; Freddie Solomon, 4 for 51 yards; Don Nottingham, 3 for 26 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 34 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 21 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 7 yards; Leroy Harris, 1 for -1 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for -1 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 4 for 24 yards and 2 TDs; Raymond Chester, 3 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Ron Lee, 3 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 4 for 171 yards and 1 TD; Gary Davis, 1 for 23 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 18 yards BAL: Bruce Laird, 3 for 51 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 25 yards; Ken Huff, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 32 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Howard Stevens, 2 for 13 yards; Ray Oldham, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Stan White, 1 for 19 yards; Bruce Laird, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 4 for 142 yards BAL: David Lee, 6 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/2 BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1