NFL game summary for 09/02/1979:
The passing of Norris Weese (13 of 20 for 207 yards and one touchdown) and a tenacious defense combined to give Denver an opening day win. Weese completed passes of 7, 20 and 22 yards in a second-quarter drive that set up Jim Turner's 37-yard field goal. The Broncos took a 10-0 lead in the third quarter when Weese capped an 88-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Dave Preston. The key defensive play came midway through the final quarter when Denver's Louis Wright stopped Cincinnati's Deacon Turner on fourth-and-one at the Denver 1 yard line.
Line: Broncos by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati Bengals (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Denver Broncos (1-0-0) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 3) DEN Jim Turner 37 yard field goal
( 0-10) DEN Dave Preston 6 yard pass from Norris Weese (Jim Turner kick)
CIN DEN
First Downs: 16 22
Rushes-yards: 30-95 40-199
Yards/rush: 3.2 5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-27-148-0 13-21-202-0
Sacked-yards: 2-11 1-2
Net pass yards: 137 200
Net yards/pass: 4.7 9.1
Total net yards: 232 399
Total plays: 59 (50% run) 62 (64% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 6.4
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 0 0
Penalties-yards: 6-35 7-68
Attendance: 74,788
Passing:
CIN: Ken Anderson, 17 of 27 for 148 yards DEN: Norris Weese, 13 of 20 for 202 yards and 1 TD; Dave Preston, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Charles Alexander, 13 for 22 yards; Archie Griffin, 11 for 37 yards; Ken Anderson, 4 for 36 yards; Deacon Turner, 2 for 0 yards DEN: Jim Jensen, 13 for 52 yards; Dave Preston, 10 for 70 yards; Jon Keyworth, 8 for 44 yards; Rob Lytle, 4 for 3 yards; Otis Armstrong, 3 for 14 yards; Norris Weese, 2 for 16 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Don Bass, 5 for 66 yards; Archie Griffin, 5 for 16 yards; Dan Ross, 3 for 43 yards; Charles Alexander, 2 for 19 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 14 yards; Nathan Poole, 1 for -10 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 58 yards; Dave Preston, 4 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Rick Upchurch, 3 for 88 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Jensen, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Ross Browner, 2 for 29 yards; Vaughn Lusby, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 5 for 199 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 108 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2
CIN: Ken Anderson, 17 of 27 for 148 yards DEN: Norris Weese, 13 of 20 for 202 yards and 1 TD; Dave Preston, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Charles Alexander, 13 for 22 yards; Archie Griffin, 11 for 37 yards; Ken Anderson, 4 for 36 yards; Deacon Turner, 2 for 0 yards DEN: Jim Jensen, 13 for 52 yards; Dave Preston, 10 for 70 yards; Jon Keyworth, 8 for 44 yards; Rob Lytle, 4 for 3 yards; Otis Armstrong, 3 for 14 yards; Norris Weese, 2 for 16 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Don Bass, 5 for 66 yards; Archie Griffin, 5 for 16 yards; Dan Ross, 3 for 43 yards; Charles Alexander, 2 for 19 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 14 yards; Nathan Poole, 1 for -10 yards DEN: Riley Odoms, 4 for 58 yards; Dave Preston, 4 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Rick Upchurch, 3 for 88 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Jensen, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Ross Browner, 2 for 29 yards; Vaughn Lusby, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 5 for 199 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 108 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2