NFL game summary for 11/06/1977:
Rick Upchurch returned five punts for a team-record 167 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown run to spark the Broncos to a decisive 21-7 win. Denver's "Orange Crush" defense bottled up the Steelers almost the entire game, sacking Terry Bradshaw six times and not permitting the Steelers beyond midfield more than three times. The Broncos raced to a 21-0 halftime edge on the strength of rookie Rob Lytle's one-yard touchdown run, Upchurch's punt return, and Craig Morton's 20-yard scoring pass to Haven Moses. The Steelers marched 74 yards in eight plays to score their only touchdown with four minutes left in the game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 168.3 (7) | 176.7 (6) | 345.0 (2) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 113.7 (4) | 104.6 (4) | 218.3 (2) | 21 | |
 | OFFENSE | 142.3 (10) | 144.7 (14) | 287.0 (15) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 109.4 (2) | 143.7 (14) | 253.1 (6) | 24 |
Line: Steelers by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Denver Broncos (7-1-0) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
( 0- 7) DEN Rob Lytle 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
( 0-14) DEN Rick Upchurch 87 yard punt return (Jim Turner kick)
( 0-21) DEN Haven Moses 20 yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick)
( 7-21) PIT John Stallworth 4 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
PIT DEN
First Downs: 19 12
Rushes-yards: 35-119 38-99
Yards/rush: 3.4 2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-27-146-0 6-14-113-0
Sacked-yards: 6-49 5-38
Net pass yards: 97 75
Net yards/pass: 2.9 3.9
Total net yards: 216 174
Total plays: 68 (51% run) 57 (66% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 3.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 2-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 12-86 10-134
Attendance: 74,967
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 13 of 26 for 146 yards and 1 TD; Neil Graff, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DEN: Craig Morton, 5 of 12 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Craig Penrose, 1 of 2 for 12 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 23 for 62 yards; Rocky Bleier, 10 for 38 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 15 yards; Neil Graff, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 13 for 34 yards; Otis Armstrong, 12 for 28 yards; Rob Lytle, 9 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Jim Jensen, 2 for 9 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 2 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 4 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 4 for 29 yards; Lynn Swann, 3 for 32 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 19 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 9 yards DEN: Jim Jensen, 2 for 46 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 33 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Rob Lytle, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Ernest Pough, 2 for 42 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 14 yards; Alvin Maxson, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jim Smith, 5 for 31 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 5 for 167 yards and 1 TD; Chris Pane, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 364 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 7 for 312 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 38 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 13 of 26 for 146 yards and 1 TD; Neil Graff, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DEN: Craig Morton, 5 of 12 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Craig Penrose, 1 of 2 for 12 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 23 for 62 yards; Rocky Bleier, 10 for 38 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 15 yards; Neil Graff, 1 for 4 yards DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 13 for 34 yards; Otis Armstrong, 12 for 28 yards; Rob Lytle, 9 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Jim Jensen, 2 for 9 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 2 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 4 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 4 for 29 yards; Lynn Swann, 3 for 32 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 19 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 9 yards DEN: Jim Jensen, 2 for 46 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 33 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Rob Lytle, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Ernest Pough, 2 for 42 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 14 yards; Alvin Maxson, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jim Smith, 5 for 31 yards DEN: Rick Upchurch, 5 for 167 yards and 1 TD; Chris Pane, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 364 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 7 for 312 yards; Norris Weese, 1 for 38 yards
Field Goals: