NFL game summary for 09/24/1979:
Brian Sipe threw two first-quarter touchdown passes to lead Cleveland over Dallas. Sipe (15 of 28 for 239 yards) hit Dave Logan with a 23-yard scoring pass and combined with Ozzie Newsome on a 52-yard touchdown to give Cleveland a 14-0 lead. Cleveland increased its advantage to 20-0 when Thom Darden returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys' lone score came late in the first quarter when Roger Staubach hit Tony Hill with a 48-yard pass. Cleveland's defense shut down Dallas by recovering three fumbles, intercepting two passes, and recording four sacks.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 157.7 (7) | 249.7 (2) | 407.3 (2) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 166.7 (22) | 151.3 (12) | 318.0 (17) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 139.7 (17) | 242.3 (3) | 382.0 (3) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 142.7 (15) | 164.3 (14) | 307.0 (13) | 3 |
Line: Cowboys by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (3-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cleveland Browns (4-0-0) | 20 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
( 0- 6) CLE Dave Logan 23 yard pass from Brian Sipe (kick failed) ( 0-13) CLE Ozzie Newsome 52 yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick) ( 0-20) CLE Thom Darden 39 yard interception return (Don Cockroft kick) ( 7-20) DAL Tony Hill 48 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) ( 7-26) CLE Mike Pruitt 2 yard rush (kick failed)
DAL CLE
First Downs: 20 15
Rushes-yards: 30-123 33-82
Yards/rush: 4.1 2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-39-303-2 15-28-239-1
Sacked-yards: 4-32 1-10
Net pass yards: 271 229
Net yards/pass: 6.3 7.9
Total net yards: 394 311
Total plays: 73 (41% run) 62 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.4 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 1-0
Turnovers: 5 1
Penalties-yards: 5-52 2-19
Attendance: 80,123
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 21 of 39 for 303 yards and 1 TD (2 int) CLE: Brian Sipe, 15 of 28 for 239 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 14 for 64 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 13 for 49 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 11 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for -1 yards CLE: Mike Pruitt, 14 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 7 for 24 yards; Greg Pruitt, 6 for 15 yards; Cleo Miller, 2 for 7 yards; Pat Moriarty, 2 for 5 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for 1 yard; Ricky Feacher, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 5 for 109 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 3 for 34 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 29 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 3 for 9 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 21 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 15 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 9 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards CLE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 57 yards; Cleo Miller, 3 for 55 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Dave Logan, 2 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 27 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Ron Springs, 3 for 51 yards; Steve Wilson, 2 for 46 yards CLE: Keith Wright, 2 for 62 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Tony Hill, 2 for 16 yards; Wade Manning, 2 for 4 yards CLE: Keith Wright, 3 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Benny Barnes, 1 for 11 yards CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 39 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 214 yards CLE: Johnny Evans, 8 for 291 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 0/2
DAL: Roger Staubach, 21 of 39 for 303 yards and 1 TD (2 int) CLE: Brian Sipe, 15 of 28 for 239 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 14 for 64 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 13 for 49 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 11 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for -1 yards CLE: Mike Pruitt, 14 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 7 for 24 yards; Greg Pruitt, 6 for 15 yards; Cleo Miller, 2 for 7 yards; Pat Moriarty, 2 for 5 yards; Brian Sipe, 1 for 1 yard; Ricky Feacher, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 5 for 109 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 3 for 34 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 29 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 3 for 9 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 21 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 15 yards; Tony Dorsett, 1 for 9 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards CLE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 57 yards; Cleo Miller, 3 for 55 yards; Ozzie Newsome, 3 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Dave Logan, 2 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Greg Pruitt, 1 for 27 yards; Mike Pruitt, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Ron Springs, 3 for 51 yards; Steve Wilson, 2 for 46 yards CLE: Keith Wright, 2 for 62 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Tony Hill, 2 for 16 yards; Wade Manning, 2 for 4 yards CLE: Keith Wright, 3 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Benny Barnes, 1 for 11 yards CLE: Thom Darden, 2 for 39 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 214 yards CLE: Johnny Evans, 8 for 291 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 0/2