NFL game summary for 12/06/1970:
Larry Csonka had his second successive 100-yard day (21 for 115) to help the Dolphins reverse the Patriots' opening-day decision. Mercury Morris ran the opening kickoff back 96 yards and Lloyd Mumphord scored a 51-yard return following Manny Fernandez's block of a field goal attempt, giving the Dolphins their first two touchdowns without having put the ball in play from scrimmage.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 76.4 (26) | 110.3 (26) | 186.6 (26) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 137.9 (20) | 144.5 (7) | 282.5 (14) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 142.8 (6) | 143.0 (19) | 285.8 (14) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 110.2 (8) | 194.4 (24) | 304.5 (19) | 31 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots (2-10-0) | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Miami Dolphins (8-4-0) | 17 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
( 0- 7) MIA Mercury Morris 96 yard kickoff return (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-14) MIA Lloyd Mumphord 51 yard return of blocked field goal (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-17) MIA Garo Yepremian 15 yard field goal
( 6-17) BOS Jim Nance 10 yard rush (kick failed)
( 6-20) MIA Garo Yepremian 39 yard field goal
( 6-27) MIA Howard Twilley 19 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(13-27) BOS Carl Garrett 6 yard rush (Gino Cappelletti kick)
(13-34) MIA Larry Csonka 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(13-37) MIA Garo Yepremian 30 yard field goal
(20-37) BOS Gayle Knief 22 yard pass from Mike Taliaferro (Gino Cappelletti kick)
BOS MIA
First Downs: 19 18
Rushes-yards: 23-67 40-208
Yards/rush: 2.9 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 22-35-198-0 11-19-102-0
Sacked-yards: 2-22 1-9
Net pass yards: 176 93
Net yards/pass: 4.8 4.7
Total net yards: 243 301
Total plays: 60 (38% run) 60 (66% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 4-2
Turnovers: 0 2
Penalties-yards: 4-67 5-65
Attendance: 51,032
Passing:
BOS: Mike Taliaferro, 12 of 21 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Joe Kapp, 10 of 14 for 103 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; John Stofa, 0 of 4 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BOS: Jim Nance, 11 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 7 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Odell Lawson, 4 for 4 yards; Joe Kapp, 1 for 3 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 21 for 115 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 9 for 63 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 30 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for 2 yards; Barry Pryor, 2 for 0 yards; Stan Mitchell, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
BOS: Ron Sellers, 4 for 45 yards; Jim Nance, 4 for 31 yards; Tom Beer, 3 for 34 yards; Sid Blanks, 3 for 23 yards; Gayle Knief, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Bake Turner, 2 for 25 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 1 yard; Odell Lawson, 1 for 8 yards; Charley Frazier, 1 for 3 yards MIA: Jim Kiick, 4 for 41 yards; Howard Twilley, 3 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Karl Noonan, 2 for 22 yards; Mercury Morris, 2 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BOS: Sid Blanks, 2 for 44 yards; Odell Lawson, 2 for 44 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 30 yards MIA: Mercury Morris, 2 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Hubert Ginn, 1 for 7 yards; Tim Foley, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BOS: Carl Garrett, 1 for 9 yards; Odell Lawson, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 5 for 48 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BOS: Tom Janik, 6 for 263 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
BOS: Gino Cappelletti, 0/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3
BOS: Mike Taliaferro, 12 of 21 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Joe Kapp, 10 of 14 for 103 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; John Stofa, 0 of 4 for 0 yards
Rushing:
BOS: Jim Nance, 11 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 7 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Odell Lawson, 4 for 4 yards; Joe Kapp, 1 for 3 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 21 for 115 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 9 for 63 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 30 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for 2 yards; Barry Pryor, 2 for 0 yards; Stan Mitchell, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
BOS: Ron Sellers, 4 for 45 yards; Jim Nance, 4 for 31 yards; Tom Beer, 3 for 34 yards; Sid Blanks, 3 for 23 yards; Gayle Knief, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Bake Turner, 2 for 25 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 1 yard; Odell Lawson, 1 for 8 yards; Charley Frazier, 1 for 3 yards MIA: Jim Kiick, 4 for 41 yards; Howard Twilley, 3 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Karl Noonan, 2 for 22 yards; Mercury Morris, 2 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BOS: Sid Blanks, 2 for 44 yards; Odell Lawson, 2 for 44 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 30 yards MIA: Mercury Morris, 2 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Hubert Ginn, 1 for 7 yards; Tim Foley, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BOS: Carl Garrett, 1 for 9 yards; Odell Lawson, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 5 for 48 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BOS: Tom Janik, 6 for 263 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
BOS: Gino Cappelletti, 0/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3