NFL game summary for 10/17/1971:
Making his first start at QB, Bob Davis led the Jets to a victory in which they scored more points than in four previous games combined. Emerson Boozer carried 31 times for 116 yards and Rich Caster and John Riggins caught TD passes. Haven Moses, Buffalo wide receiver, caught 6 passes for 151 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 64.2 (24) | 131.0 (21) | 195.2 (25) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 198.2 (26) | 170.2 (17) | 368.5 (24) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 102.0 (18) | 72.8 (26) | 174.8 (26) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 185.2 (25) | 138.0 (10) | 323.2 (22) | 7 |
Line: Jets by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (0-5-0) | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| New York Jets (2-3-0) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
( 0- 7) NYJ Emerson Boozer 2 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick) ( 0-14) NYJ Rich Caster 11 yard pass from Bob Davis (Bobby Howfield kick) ( 7-14) BUF Marlin Briscoe 12 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (Grant Guthrie kick) (10-14) BUF Grant Guthrie 51 yard field goal (10-21) NYJ Cliff McClain 1 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick) (17-21) BUF O.J. Simpson 3 yard rush (Grant Guthrie kick) (17-28) NYJ John Riggins 32 yard pass from Bob Davis (Bobby Howfield kick)
BUF NYJ
First Downs: 14 20
Rushes-yards: 23-83 52-191
Yards/rush: 3.6 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-33-198-2 7-12-140-0
Sacked-yards: 1-10 1-0
Net pass yards: 188 140
Net yards/pass: 5.5 10.8
Total net yards: 271 331
Total plays: 57 (40% run) 65 (80% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 7-43 5-35
Attendance: 61,948
Passing:
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 10 of 29 for 162 yards and 1 TD (1 int); James Harris, 0 of 3 for 0 yards (1 int); Marlin Briscoe, 1 of 1 for 36 yards NYJ: Bob Davis, 7 of 12 for 140 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 18 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 4 for 12 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 31 for 116 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 9 for 32 yards; Cliff McClain, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Steve Harkey, 3 for 10 yards; Bob Davis, 2 for 7 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Haven Moses, 6 for 151 yards; Wayne Patrick, 3 for 15 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 20 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD NYJ: John Riggins, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 1 for 44 yards; Pete Lammons, 1 for 13 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Tim Beamer, 1 for 44 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 43 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Vern Studdard, 2 for 35 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Vern Studdard, 2 for 3 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Phil Wise, 1 for 33 yards; John Dockery, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 4 for 191 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 5 for 170 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Grant Guthrie, 1/1 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 0/1
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 10 of 29 for 162 yards and 1 TD (1 int); James Harris, 0 of 3 for 0 yards (1 int); Marlin Briscoe, 1 of 1 for 36 yards NYJ: Bob Davis, 7 of 12 for 140 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 18 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 4 for 12 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 31 for 116 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 9 for 32 yards; Cliff McClain, 7 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Steve Harkey, 3 for 10 yards; Bob Davis, 2 for 7 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Haven Moses, 6 for 151 yards; Wayne Patrick, 3 for 15 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 20 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD NYJ: John Riggins, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 1 for 44 yards; Pete Lammons, 1 for 13 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Tim Beamer, 1 for 44 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 43 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Vern Studdard, 2 for 35 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Vern Studdard, 2 for 3 yards; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Phil Wise, 1 for 33 yards; John Dockery, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 4 for 191 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 5 for 170 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Grant Guthrie, 1/1 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 0/1