NFL game summary for 10/17/1971:
Bob Griese's first three passes were for TDs in a game in which the Dolphins equaled their record point margin. Griese had four TD passes, two to Paul Warfield and two to Howard Twilley, all in the first half.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 143.8 (10) | 105.0 (24) | 248.8 (22) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 154.5 (19) | 133.2 (8) | 287.8 (13) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 159.5 (7) | 146.5 (17) | 306.0 (10) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 145.8 (17) | 124.0 (5) | 269.8 (9) | 6 |
Line: Dolphins by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-3-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Miami Dolphins (3-1-1) | 21 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
( 0- 7) MIA Howard Twilley 22 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 0-14) MIA Paul Warfield 32 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 0-21) MIA Howard Twilley 14 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 3-21) NE Charlie Gogolak 51 yard field goal ( 3-24) MIA Garo Yepremian 34 yard field goal ( 3-31) MIA Paul Warfield 14 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 3-38) MIA Jim Kiick 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 3-41) MIA Garo Yepremian 42 yard field goal
NE MIA
First Downs: 11 19
Rushes-yards: 18-35 34-215
Yards/rush: 1.9 6.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-35-134-2 11-22-244-0
Sacked-yards: 7-52 2-28
Net pass yards: 82 216
Net yards/pass: 2.0 9.0
Total net yards: 117 431
Total plays: 60 (30% run) 58 (58% run)
Yards/play: 1.9 7.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 3-15 5-30
Attendance: 58,822
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 35 for 134 yards (2 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 9 of 14 for 185 yards and 4 TDs; George Mira, 2 of 8 for 59 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 10 for 14 yards; Jim Nance, 3 for 4 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 3 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 14 yards MIA: Jim Kiick, 10 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Hubert Ginn, 8 for 54 yards; Larry Csonka, 6 for 40 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 85 yards; Charlie Leigh, 2 for 6 yards; George Mira, 2 for -9 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
NE: Roland Moss, 3 for 49 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 5 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 26 yards; Ron Sellers, 2 for 26 yards; Bob Gladieux, 2 for 15 yards; Jim Nance, 2 for 13 yards MIA: Howard Twilley, 5 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Paul Warfield, 3 for 68 yards and 2 TDs; Karl Noonan, 2 for 59 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 19 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Ron Gardin, 4 for 84 yards; Bob Gladieux, 2 for 31 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 25 yards MIA: Hubert Ginn, 1 for 30 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 2 for 5 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 5 yards; Curtis Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 8 for 316 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/3
NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 35 for 134 yards (2 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 9 of 14 for 185 yards and 4 TDs; George Mira, 2 of 8 for 59 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 10 for 14 yards; Jim Nance, 3 for 4 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 3 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 14 yards MIA: Jim Kiick, 10 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Hubert Ginn, 8 for 54 yards; Larry Csonka, 6 for 40 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 85 yards; Charlie Leigh, 2 for 6 yards; George Mira, 2 for -9 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
NE: Roland Moss, 3 for 49 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 5 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 26 yards; Ron Sellers, 2 for 26 yards; Bob Gladieux, 2 for 15 yards; Jim Nance, 2 for 13 yards MIA: Howard Twilley, 5 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Paul Warfield, 3 for 68 yards and 2 TDs; Karl Noonan, 2 for 59 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 19 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Ron Gardin, 4 for 84 yards; Bob Gladieux, 2 for 31 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 25 yards MIA: Hubert Ginn, 1 for 30 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 2 for 5 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 5 yards; Curtis Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 8 for 316 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/3