NFL game summary for 12/23/1979:

The Oilers, playing a postseason game at home for the first time in 17 years, advanced to the divisional playoffs by shutting out the Broncos over the last three quarters. Denver marched 80 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead on its first possession, but Earl Campbell's three yard scoring run gave Houston a 10-7 halftime margin. Campbell and Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini both missed second-half action with groin injuries but Rob Carpenter and second year quarterback Gifford Nielsen played well in relief during their initial NFL playoff competition. Linebacker Gregg Bingham's 15-yard interception return set up Toni Fritsch's second field goal -- a 20-yarder -- with 4:18 remaining to give Houston a 13-7 edge. The Oilers' defense, which recorded six sacks overall, held the Broncos on the final two series with Curley Culp's third-down sack and Vernon Perry's fourth-down pass deflection the key plays.

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

Team		Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
Denver Broncos	OFFENSE	127.2  (18)	194.1  (13)	321.4  (12)	40
	DEFENSE	105.8  (1)	197.4  (23)	303.2  (10)	37
Houston Oilers	OFFENSE	160.7  (4)	141.0  (25)	301.7  (22)	32
	DEFENSE	139.1  (17)	172.8  (14)	311.9  (13)	50

Line: Oilers by 7

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Denver Broncos (10-7-0)	7	0	0	0	7
Houston Oilers (12-5-0)	3	7	0	3	13

( 0- 3) HOU Toni Fritsch 31 yard field goal
( 7- 3) DEN Dave Preston 7 yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick)
( 7-10) HOU Earl Campbell 3 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7-13) HOU Toni Fritsch 20 yard field goal

                     DEN             HOU
First Downs:         17              15
Rushes-yards:        32-112          42-135
Yards/rush:          3.5             3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-27-144-1     10-22-158-2
Sacked-yards:        6-40            1-11
Net pass yards:      104             147
Net yards/pass:      3.2             6.4
Total net yards:     216             282
Total plays:         65 (49% run)    65 (64% run)  
Yards/play:          3.3             4.3
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             0-0
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     7-70            2-19

Attendance: 48,776

Passing:
DEN: Craig Morton, 14 of 27 for 144 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 8 of 18 for 149 yards (1 int); Gifford Nielsen, 2 of 4 for 9 yards (1 int)

Rushing:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 12 for 51 yards; Dave Preston, 9 for 24 yards; Larry Canada, 4 for 29 yards; Jim Jensen, 4 for 5 yards; Craig Morton, 2 for 0 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 3 yards
HOU: Rob Carpenter, 16 for 59 yards; Earl Campbell, 16 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Tim Wilson, 8 for 21 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 5 yards

Receiving:
DEN: Dave Preston, 4 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 3 for 47 yards; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 22 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 3 yards; Ron Egloff, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Jensen, 1 for 11 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 4 yards
HOU: Tim Wilson, 4 for 53 yards; Rob Carpenter, 3 for 26 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 41 yards; Mike Barber, 1 for 31 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 7 yards

Kick returns:
DEN: Dave Preston, 3 for 56 yards; Rick Upchurch, 1 for 27 yards
HOU: Carter Hartwig, 1 for 26 yards

Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 2 for 25 yards
HOU: Rich Ellender, 5 for 42 yards

Interceptions:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 12 yards; Bob Swenson, 1 for 0 yards
HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 15 yards

Punting:
DEN: Luke Prestridge, 6 for 266 yards
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 216 yards

Field Goals:
DEN: Fred Steinfort, 0/1
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 2/2

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