The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 48

Page 46 S.F. EXAMINER Nov. 28, 1977 Broncos buck Colts, ride herd on NFL I mm. 'I 17 i i I TfaZfi i i 1 it A 9- DENVER (AP) Can it be true? Do the Denver Broncos really own the best record In the entire National Football League? The same Denver Broncos who didn't have a winning record until their 13th year of existence, and who have never made the playoffs? Once the laughing stock of pro football, nobody Is laughing at the Broncos these days least of all the Baltimore Colts. Denver and Baltimore came Into Mile High Stadium yesterday with the only 9 1 records in the The feature game league.

The Broncos prevailed.stampeding the Colts 27 13 and becoming the first Denver team ever to win 10 games in a season. It left everyone buzzing about the playoffs, everyone except Bfonco Coach Red Miller, who refuses to look that far ahead. Asked what the game meant, Miller responded: "It means we're 101." "You have to give Denver credit," said losing Coach Ted was probably the biggest game they've been in and they played almost errorless football." Linebacker Tom Jackson broke the Colts with a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Craig Morton, who had passed for two early touchdowns, squirmed six yards for an insurance score with one minute left. Jackson's theft came just as the Colts appeared ready to take the lead.

Denver's 140 lead had dwindled to 1413, and Bert Jones was driving Baltimore deep into Denver territory. Jones, who had dazzled Denver with an assortment of well-thrown passes to his running backs, dumped a short pass to Don McCauley on third and seven at the Denver 29 yard line. Jackson, however, stepped in front of the pass and the speedy linebacker was off with a clear field ahead of him. It was the longest interception return Rams 9, Browns 0 CLEVELAND Los Angeles defensive end Jack' Youngblood savored his team's victory over Cleveland, a loss which may have ended Cleveland's hopes of a post-season playoff berth. "I just believe the defense executed the way It should," Youngblood said.

"That's what happens when you execute as perfectly as possible a shutout." John CappellettI rammed across from seven yards out In the first period for the game's only touchdown and Rafael Septien, who missed an extra point, added an 18-yard field goal near the end of the half for all the points the Rams needed to wrap up their fourth straight victory. A shivering crowd of 70,352 huddled quietly In snowy Cleveland Stadium most of the game as the Rams' defense smothered the Browns' offense, holding them to 181 total yards. It was only the fifth shutout suffered by the Browns In 367 regular season NFL games. "The obvious story of this game was no offense," explained Cleveland Coach Forrest Gregg quietly. "It was a hell of a job defensively on the part of the Rams.

"Our defense played well enough to win. But four interceptions, three fumbles and seven offensive holding penalties stopped any momentum we had," the Cleveland coach added. Falcons 17, Buccaneers 0 TAMPA, Fla. "Our game plan was to control the ball and the clock," Atlanta Coach Leeman Bennett said after his Falcons did Just that and whipped punchless 0-25 Tampa Bay, keeping alive Atlanta hopes for a National Football League playoff berth. Atlanta, now 6-5.

needed the 170 victory to slay Just behind Los Angeles in the race for the National Football Conference's Western Division. "I was not comfortable with a 100 halftime lead," said the first-year Falcon coach. "Our defensive play was very good. We got on several fumbles and that set up our offense." Running back Haskel Stanback scored two touchdowns, each on a lyard plunge, to key Atlanta's victory. Kicker Fred Steinfort added a field goal and the two extra points to complete the scoring.

Tampa Bay Coach John McKay zeroed in on his blocking linemen in his post game criticism. "Our offensive line was horrible," he said. "That's our poorest offensive effort in two years." He said the unit offered no protection for club's three best runners. "We refused to block for Ricky Bell. Anthony Davis hurt his shoulder.

And Lewis Carter his wrist," he said. From here, McKay added: "It's back to the practice field on Monday." UH Pholoi Bronc Rick Upchurch outraces Colt Norm Thompson (43) on 41-yard TD pass play, then leaps into Haven Moses' arms in club history. "Jackson played the pass well, and when he got it he took advantage of his good speed," said Marchibroda. McCauley, who led all receivers with 11, catches on the day, said the pass play was a good call but Jackson "was looking for it." "As the game progressed, he (Jones) was gaining confidence in that flat pass," said Jackson, who received the game ball. "I just decided to come underneath.

I don't think Bert ever saw nie." Morton threw TD passes of 41 yards to Rick Upchurch and 19 yards to Jack Dolpin to stake Denver to its early advantage. Toni Linhart kicked a pair of field goals and Lydell Mitchell caught a 15-yard pass from Jones to pull the Colts within one point after three quarters. Lyle Blackwood's interception helped put the Colls in scoring position, but Jackson's play with 7:20 remaining stunned the Colts. In the final minutes, Denver wasted one scoring chance after Lonnie Perrin ran C2 yards to the Colt 14. But cornerback Louis Wright later intercepted a Jones pass and returned 59 yards setting up Morton's score.

"We made too many mistakes to win the game," said Marchibroda "We dropped more passes today than we have in my three years as coach." Bengals 30, Giants 13 Cowboys 14, Redskins 7 Patriots 14, Eagles 6 FOXBORO, Mass. "I knew he was hurting, but he kept getting back up." That was New England tackle Tony McGee's phrase for Ron Jaworski after the Patriots sacked the Philadelphia quarterback eight times in a 14-6 in. "Sacking a quarterback is like scoring a tduch-down," McGee said after dropping Jaworski twice for losses. "That's my gig. That's my pay check.

I don't try to hurt anybody. 1 just like to let them know I was there." Asked here he hurt, Jaworski laughed and said: "Just about everywhere. I've got a real bad Charley horse at halftime I didn't know if I could make it for the second half. In the morning, though, it probably will be my shoulders which hurt most." "It was a good win for us," New England coach Chuck Fairbanks said. "It keeps our (playoff) hopes alive.

We had an especially good defensive game. It was an outstanding pass rush, probably as good as we've ever had." "They're just a better football team than we are," Philadelphia coach Dick Vermeil said. "They're a very physical group. They took away a lot of things we like to do. Give some credit to our defense, though, for keeping us close." Quarterback Steve Grogan passed for' two touchdowns in the first half and the Patriots kept alive faint playoff hopes with the victory.

CINCINNATI Coach Bill Johnson's message to Cincinnati was simple: Heat the bad weather and you beat the New York (liants. "We thought we had to throw early. We knew the weather was going to change," said Johnson after the Bengals rode three first-half touchdown passes by quarterback Ken Anderson to victory in a snowstorm. Anderson uncorked a 58-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Billy Brooks on Cincinnati's first play to trigger the 30-13 romp. The victory kept Cincinnati's title hopes alive.

"Coach told us before the game to put some points on the board early. We haven't forgotten the Pittsburgh game last year," said running back Archie (Iriffin, referring to a fi-3 loss to the Steelers in the nationally-televised "Snow Bow game. Striking quickly, Cincinnati exploded for 20 points in the first quarter and led 27-fi by halftime, when the field was under a blanket of snow. "Once we got the lead, we chose to play it close to the vest," said Johnson. Giants' Coach John McVay said the Bengals delivered the knockout punch in the first quarter.

"We dug a hole deep and wide for ourselves in the first half," said Giants' Coach John McVay. "We gave 'em too much early." Anderson, who had thrown only four TD passes this season, passed only four times in the first half, three going for scoring strikes. McVay praised Anderson for a "miraculous" passing performance under adverse conditions. WASHINGTON It was just a matter of inches, a half-foot perhaps. Dallas gambled, won and virtually assured themselves of the NFC East title.

To set the scene: with the score of their game against Washington tied 7-7 in the fourth period, Dallas had the ball on the Redskins' 2-yard line with fourth down and one yard needed for a first down. "My first inclination was to go for the field goal," said Cowboys' Coach Tom Landry. "I just felt like that-when you get in there, you ought not come out ithout any points. If we come away without any points, then all the momentum is theirs." Landry changed his mind, however, when field goal kicker Efren Herrera told him the ball was only six inches from the first down. "It was only a couple of inches," said Herrera.

"1 knew we could make it and 1 told him (Landry) if you want me to kick it, I'll kick it. So he called in the quarterback." The quarterback, Roger Staubach, also wanted to go for it. "It was the general feeling and my consensus that we go for it," said Landry, with a smile, after pointing out that Dallas had the ball on the 1-yard line in the first quarter but lost the ball on a fumble. Staubach faked right, then went up the middle for the first down against what Landry described as a kind of a defense "with a crack in it. If they had jumped real tight on us, if they had guessed that way with us, they might have stopped us." On the next play, rookie running back Tony Dorsett leaped high over the Washington line for a touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 14-7 victory, a 9-2 record and a two-game lead in the NFC East with three games remaining.

A victory against Philadelphia, San Francisco or Denver would give them the title. Chargers 30, Seahawks 28 SEATTLE Everyone wanted to know what was ing through Dan Fouts' mind. "I wondered how I'd play," Fouts, a former prep student at St. Ignatius High in San Francisco admitted after passing for 199 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown in San Diego's 30-28 victory over Seattle. "But 1 knew if I got the kind of support you need there wouldn't be any problem.

All I can do is keep repeating that we got great pass protection. Once you get that, it's just a matter of pitch and catch," said Fouts, a five-year veteran quarterback from Oregon who rejoined the Chargers last week after a 12rj-day holdout over his contract. San Diego Coach Tommy Prothro, who earlier this season saw his top two quarterbacks felled by injuries, was banking on Fouts against Seattle. "I think a team needs work, hut not one individual," Prothro said. "One person can come in and fit in pretty quick.

He (Fouts) had looked good in practice all week." Seattle Coach Jack Patera was well aware that Fouts might cause the Seahawks some problems. "I think I said early in the week that Fouts was capable of being effective, and he was," Patera said. "I was most impressed with San Diego's defense, especially the pass rush," Patera continued. "I think it was a very good effort for us offensively. The passing game was very effective and this was as good as anyone has moved the ball against San Diego." Fouts hit Charlie Joiner with a 17-yard touchdown pass and defensive end Fred Dean raced 22 yards ith an interception for another fourth quarter score to lead the Chargers' rally.

Oilers 34, Chiefs 20 HOUSTON Houston, armed with Dan Pastorini by air and Rob Carpenter by land, steamrolled Kansas City 34-20 to keep alive slim hopes of a title in the AFC's tough Central Division. Pastorini shook the Chiefs' defense with three touchdown passes and Carpenter left them in ruins with 119 yards rushing as the Oilers improved their record to 6-5 and stayed one game behind division-leading Pittsburgh. PF 245 127 144 198 PF 160 212 140 98 53 PF 265 238 143 131 162 PA 108 83. 174 252 PA 144 234 202 175 192 PA 157 217 155 229 169 60LF TENNIS mmmm racquet bull LADIES CLUBS GALORE WILSON 1200 IROKS One of Carpenter's biggest contributions to the Oiler victory was a 77-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a seven-yard touchdown pass from Pastorini to Ken Burrough. "I just cut back off (rookie guard) George Reihner's good block and that crossed up the defense," the modest rookie runner from Miami of Ohio said.

Vikings 13, Packers 6 GREEN BAY, Wis. Minnesota Coach Bud Grant fully agreed that a deep sideline pass in a swirling snowstorm is a considerable gamble. "Sure it is, but some play like that is going to win the game," Grant said. "Neither team can win with just fumble recoveries." Grant referred to a second-quarter pass from Bob Lee to Sammy White that paid off in a 40-yard touchdown play as the Vikings took the lead to stay. Minnesota held on with a ball control offense led liy Chuck Foreman's 101 yards rushing and an opportunistic defense for a 13-6 victory over Green Bay.

"Even in a snowstorm, you have to throw the ball sometimes," said Lee, who completed five of eight passes for 68 yards. "In bad conditions, the offense often will have an advantage. Defensive players have to react and often slip." "The touchdown pass was called all the way," White said. "If the cornerback goes deep, I have the to go to the sidelines, about three yards from the line of scrimmage. But teams are so used to seeing us run short puts on that play, the cornerback closed up real fast and I just took it up field on him." 8-lrons Grig.

$290. LADIES FREE GIFTWRAP LAY-AWAYS O.K. FREE FITTING PF 227 247 167 208 167 PF 233 221 245 178 PF 249 255 224 1 19 165 PA 111 164 164 293 267 PA 197 191 175 197 PA 167 163 167 228 246 Pastorini also hit Bur-rough with a 48-yard touchdown bomb and threw a three-yard TD pass to fullback Don Hardeman. "I believe our team has really progressed in NFL Standings NATIONAL CONFERENCE WEST Pet. Los Angeles 8 3 0 .727 Atlanta 6 5 0 545 San Francisco 5 6 0 .455 New Orleans 3 8 0 .273 CENTRAL Pet.

Minnesota 7 4 0 .636 Chicago 6 5 0 .545 Detroit 5 6 0 .455 Green Bay 2 9 0 .183 Tampa Bay 0 11 0 .000 EAST Pet. Dallas 9 2 0 .818 St. Louis 7 4 -0 .636 Washington 6 5 0 .545 NY Giants 4 7 0 .364 Philadelphia 3 8 0 .273 AMERICAN CONFERENCE WEST Pet. Denver 10 1 0 .909 Oakland 8 2 0 .800 San Diego 6 5 0 .545 Seattle 3 8 0 .273 KansasCity 2 9 0 .183 CENTRAL Pet. Pittsburgh 7 4 0 -636 Cleveland 6 5 0 .545 Houston 6 5 0 .545 Cincinnati 6 5 0 .545 EAST Pet.

Baltimore 9 2 0 .818 Miami 8 3 0 .727 New England 7 4 0 .636 Buffalo 2 8 0 .200 NY Jets 2 9 0 .183 YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Atlanta 17, Tampa Bay 0 Los Angeles 9. Cleveland 0 Cincinnati 30, NY Giants 13 New England 14, Philadelphia 6 Pittsburgh 23, NY Jets 20 Houston 34, Kansas City 20 Minnesota 13, Green Bay 6 Denver 27, Baltimore 13 Dallas 14, Washington 7 San Diego 30, Seattle 28 San Francisco 20, New Orleans 17 TONIGHT'S GAME Buffalo at Oakland, 6 p.m. SUNDAY'S GAMES Chicago at Tampa Bay Cincinnati at Kansas City Cleveland at San Diego Denver at Houston Detroit at Green Bay New England at Atlanta NY Jets at New Orleans Philadelphia at Dallas Oakland at Los Angeles, 1 p.m. St. Louis at NY Giants San Francisco at Minnesota, 11 a.m.

Seattle at Pittsburgh Washington at Buffalo MONDAY'S GAME Baltimore Miami HOLIDAY GOLF 8-IRONS SPALDING TOP-FLIGHT MAC GREGOR "MT" SPALDING "ELITES" TITLEIST PRO 100 SPALDING EXECUTIVE WILSON 1200 "LITES" BROWNING 440 CLUB SUM SALE LAY-AWAYS $240 Happy Holidays $260 Happy Holidays $290 Happy Holidays $290 Happy Holidays $290 Happy Holidays $300 Happy Holidays $300 Happy Holidays O.K. $129 $139 $144 $149 $188 $209 $209 the last six or seven weeks," Oiler Coach C.A. "Bum" Phillips said. LOTS MORE IN STOCK! LADIES TOO! FREE FITTING FREE LESSON GIFT CERTIFICATE "PRINCE" "THE BIG ONE" "They've done just what they had to do and that's improve from game to game." "It was more of what we were doing to ourselves than what they did," Kansas City Coach Tom Bettis said. "It's a matter of consistency.

When you do the things we did, lapses like that are a lack of concentration. I think the opening kickoff got us started on the wrong foot." $1 Orig. $85 STRUMS Steelers 23, Jets 20 NEW YORK-Terry Bradshaw passed for a pair of touchdowns, then Pittsburgh literally stole first place by beating the New York Jets 23-20. The Steelers intercepted five Jets passes to key the victory which, coupled with Cleveland's loss to Los Angeles, gave Pittsburgh sole possession of first place in the American Conference's Central Division with a 7-4 record. "Fantastic!" Bradshaw said when he heard that the Browns had been beaten and had dropped one game behind the Steelers.

"We're in good shape now We have a nice one coming up with Seattle next week and maybe we have to win only one of two (at Cincinnati and San Diego) after that." Walt Michaels, the Jets' coach, was especially dejected after New York had dropped its seventh straight game. "It was a game of mistakes and could-have-beens," he muttered. "We could have had fewer interceptions. Pittsburgh was ripe to get beaten but we didn't take advantage of them. "Give Pittsburgh credit, but give us credit, too.

We hung in there and played touah. It shows we're growing up." TENNIS RACKET. WMMr ALL SIZES FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER WIN THAN LOSE" ifk I am SAN FRANCISCO 458 Bush Grant 421-1234 44Q Mission First 495-66 1 3 Joe McCabes mm NEW LARGE INDOOR RANGE CLUB FITTING STUDIO! CCWETITIVE CONTRA COSTA 3210 Danville Blvd. OPEN THURS. FRI.

KITES! 5POKT5 What's the score? For latest results call The Examiner KSFO SPORTSDIAL, 478-9560 DOWNTOWN ALAMO 837-8771 3 QPIH 7.DAY5 BIG SELECTION O-..