NFL game summary for 10/11/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.2 (7) | 185.0 (21) | 335.2 (15) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 81.4 (1) | 201.0 (12) | 282.4 (4) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 135.6 (11) | 215.8 (11) | 351.4 (10) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 102.6 (4) | 129.0 (1) | 231.6 (1) | 19 |
Line: Broncos by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (2-4-0) | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Denver Broncos (5-1-0) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 7) DEN Steve Watson 95 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick) ( 0-10) DEN Fred Steinfort 24 yard field goal ( 7-10) DET Billy Sims 48 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick) (14-10) DET Billy Sims 1 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick) (14-17) DEN Steve Watson 40 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick) (21-17) DET Alvin Hall 60 yard interception return (Eddie Murray kick) (21-20) DEN Fred Steinfort 24 yard field goal (21-27) DEN Rick Parros 15 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
DET DEN
First Downs: 18 20
Rushes-yards: 49-262 37-135
Yards/rush: 5.3 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-16-72-1 13-18-283-1
Sacked-yards: 1-9 2-17
Net pass yards: 63 266
Net yards/pass: 3.7 13.3
Total net yards: 325 401
Total plays: 66 (74% run) 57 (64% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 7.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-2
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 8-121 4-25
Attendance: 74,509
Passing:
DET: Jeff Komlo, 7 of 16 for 72 yards (1 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 13 of 18 for 283 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Billy Sims, 28 for 185 yards and 2 TDs; Dexter Bussey, 12 for 49 yards; Jeff Komlo, 4 for 4 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 6 yards; Mark Nichols, 1 for 13 yards; Horace King, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Rick Parros, 20 for 77 yards; Dave Preston, 9 for 41 yards; Tony Reed, 4 for -4 yards; Rob Lytle, 2 for 20 yards; Craig Morton, 2 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DET: Mark Nichols, 2 for 26 yards; Freddie Scott, 2 for 22 yards; Horace King, 1 for 12 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 7 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Steve Watson, 5 for 182 yards and 2 TDs; Haven Moses, 4 for 56 yards; Rick Parros, 2 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 1 for 21 yards; Tony Reed, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Robbie Martin, 3 for 61 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 1 for 31 yards; Mike Harden, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Robbie Martin, 2 for 15 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 3 for 31 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Alvin Hall, 1 for 60 yards and 1 TD DEN: Bob Swenson, 1 for 18 yards
Punting:
DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 299 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 165 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Fred Steinfort, 2/2
DET: Jeff Komlo, 7 of 16 for 72 yards (1 int) DEN: Craig Morton, 13 of 18 for 283 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Billy Sims, 28 for 185 yards and 2 TDs; Dexter Bussey, 12 for 49 yards; Jeff Komlo, 4 for 4 yards; Rick Kane, 3 for 6 yards; Mark Nichols, 1 for 13 yards; Horace King, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Rick Parros, 20 for 77 yards; Dave Preston, 9 for 41 yards; Tony Reed, 4 for -4 yards; Rob Lytle, 2 for 20 yards; Craig Morton, 2 for 1 yard
Receiving:
DET: Mark Nichols, 2 for 26 yards; Freddie Scott, 2 for 22 yards; Horace King, 1 for 12 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 7 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for 5 yards DEN: Steve Watson, 5 for 182 yards and 2 TDs; Haven Moses, 4 for 56 yards; Rick Parros, 2 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 1 for 21 yards; Tony Reed, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Robbie Martin, 3 for 61 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 1 for 31 yards; Mike Harden, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Robbie Martin, 2 for 15 yards DEN: Wade Manning, 3 for 31 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Alvin Hall, 1 for 60 yards and 1 TD DEN: Bob Swenson, 1 for 18 yards
Punting:
DET: Tom Skladany, 6 for 299 yards DEN: Luke Prestridge, 3 for 165 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Fred Steinfort, 2/2