NFL game summary for 10/31/1971:
After the Patriots pulled to within three points in the final period, the 49ers erupted for two touchdowns on a 71-yard pass from John Brodie to Gene Washington and center Forrest Blue's 25-yard dash with a recovered fumble of a punt. The victory lifted San Francisco into first place in the NFC West.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 114.3 (16) | 114.2 (25) | 228.5 (23) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 166.8 (20) | 164.5 (16) | 331.3 (23) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 163.8 (6) | 201.7 (3) | 365.5 (1) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 111.5 (10) | 137.7 (8) | 249.2 (6) | 16 |
Line: 49ers by 21
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| San Francisco 49ers (5-2-0) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 27 |
( 0- 7) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) ( 0-10) SF Bruce Gossett 35 yard field goal ( 0-13) SF Bruce Gossett 41 yard field goal ( 7-13) NE Randy Vataha 23 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick) (10-13) NE Charlie Gogolak 32 yard field goal (10-20) SF Gene Washington 71 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick) (10-27) SF Forrest Blue 25 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick)
NE SF
First Downs: 11 13
Rushes-yards: 31-177 36-71
Yards/rush: 5.7 2.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-20-102-0 10-21-200-3
Sacked-yards: 4-33 2-24
Net pass yards: 69 176
Net yards/pass: 2.9 7.7
Total net yards: 246 247
Total plays: 55 (56% run) 59 (61% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 2-2
Turnovers: 3 5
Penalties-yards: 5-40 6-60
Attendance: 45,092
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 7 of 19 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SF: John Brodie, 10 of 20 for 200 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Steve Spurrier, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 13 for 96 yards; Jim Nance, 7 for 20 yards; Bob Gladieux, 5 for 38 yards; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 22 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 2 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ken Willard, 16 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 15 for 59 yards; John Brodie, 2 for 0 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 2 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 2 yards; Jim McCann, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 2 for 44 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Tom Beer, 2 for 24 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 6 yards SF: Gene Washington, 5 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 20 yards; Doug Cunningham, 2 for 14 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 3 for 52 yards; Ron Gardin, 2 for 39 yards; Halvor Hagen, 1 for 7 yards SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 99 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 5 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 2 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 4 yards; Johnny Fuller, 1 for 13 yards; Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Randy Beverly, 1 for 19 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 14 yards; Larry Carwell, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 233 yards SF: Jim McCann, 4 for 150 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/3
NE: Jim Plunkett, 7 of 19 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SF: John Brodie, 10 of 20 for 200 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Steve Spurrier, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 13 for 96 yards; Jim Nance, 7 for 20 yards; Bob Gladieux, 5 for 38 yards; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 22 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 2 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ken Willard, 16 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 15 for 59 yards; John Brodie, 2 for 0 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 2 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 2 yards; Jim McCann, 1 for -6 yards
Receiving:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 2 for 44 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Tom Beer, 2 for 24 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 6 yards SF: Gene Washington, 5 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 20 yards; Doug Cunningham, 2 for 14 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 3 for 52 yards; Ron Gardin, 2 for 39 yards; Halvor Hagen, 1 for 7 yards SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 99 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 5 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 2 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 4 yards; Johnny Fuller, 1 for 13 yards; Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Randy Beverly, 1 for 19 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 14 yards; Larry Carwell, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 233 yards SF: Jim McCann, 4 for 150 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/3