NFL game summary for 10/10/1971:
Jim Nance rushed past the 5,000 yard-mark and into 15th position among the all-time performers, while rookie QB Jim Plunkett fired TD passes to Ron Sellers and rookie Randy Vataha in the Patriots' victory in a downpour. Carl Garrett rushed 111 yards for New England on 15 carries, topping the 100 figure in a game for the first time. The Jets lost half their defensive line to injuries when John Elliott and Gerry Philbin were sidelined, Elliott for the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 98.3 (19) | 94.3 (26) | 192.7 (25) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 178.0 (22) | 140.7 (8) | 318.7 (20) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.7 (13) | 96.7 (25) | 219.3 (24) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 168.3 (21) | 175.0 (17) | 343.3 (23) | 6 |
Line: Jets by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (1-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots (2-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 20 |
( 0- 6) NE Randy Vataha 15 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (pass failed)
( 0-13) NE Ron Sellers 6 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
( 0-20) NE Jim Nance 50 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick)
NYJ NE
First Downs: 11 15
Rushes-yards: 33-113 36-207
Yards/rush: 3.4 5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 4-25-20-0 10-22-141-0
Sacked-yards: 2-12 1-11
Net pass yards: 8 130
Net yards/pass: 0.3 5.7
Total net yards: 121 337
Total plays: 60 (55% run) 59 (61% run)
Yards/play: 2.0 5.7
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 5-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 5-49 8-102
Attendance: 61,357
Passing:
NYJ: Al Woodall, 4 of 24 for 20 yards; Steve O'Neal, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 10 of 22 for 141 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 22 for 93 yards; Emerson Boozer, 6 for 9 yards; Al Woodall, 4 for 11 yards; George Nock, 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Nance, 20 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 15 for 111 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: John Riggins, 2 for -9 yards; Pete Lammons, 1 for 19 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 10 yards NE: Ron Sellers, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 2 for 45 yards; Jim Nance, 2 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 25 yards; Steve Harkey, 1 for 2 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 0 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 13 yards; Rickie Harris, 2 for 5 yards; Ron Gardin, 1 for 5 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 10 for 378 yards NE: Tom Janik, 8 for 328 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 0/2
NYJ: Al Woodall, 4 of 24 for 20 yards; Steve O'Neal, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 10 of 22 for 141 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 22 for 93 yards; Emerson Boozer, 6 for 9 yards; Al Woodall, 4 for 11 yards; George Nock, 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Nance, 20 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 15 for 111 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: John Riggins, 2 for -9 yards; Pete Lammons, 1 for 19 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 10 yards NE: Ron Sellers, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 2 for 45 yards; Jim Nance, 2 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 25 yards; Steve Harkey, 1 for 2 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 0 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 13 yards; Rickie Harris, 2 for 5 yards; Ron Gardin, 1 for 5 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 10 for 378 yards NE: Tom Janik, 8 for 328 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 0/2