NFL game summary for 11/07/1971:
The Patriots converted pass interceptions by LBs Steve Kiner and Jim Cheyunski into TDs in the final 5 minutes for a victory over the Oilers. Jim Nance went four yards after Kiner's interception and Carl Garrett plunged 2 for the other, 1:45 later. Dan Pastorini completed 18 of 36 for 260 yards for Houston.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 69.4 (26) | 164.9 (8) | 234.3 (21) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 145.1 (17) | 149.7 (10) | 294.9 (17) | 17 | |
 | OFFENSE | 123.3 (15) | 107.7 (25) | 231.0 (23) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 153.1 (19) | 166.1 (18) | 319.3 (20) | 13 |
Line: Oilers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (1-6-1) | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| New England Patriots (3-5-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
( 0- 7) NE Hubie Bryant 10 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick) ( 3- 7) HOU Mark Moseley 25 yard field goal ( 3-14) NE Jack Maitland 2 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick) ( 6-14) HOU Mark Moseley 41 yard field goal (13-14) HOU Charlie Joiner 28 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Mark Moseley kick) (20-14) HOU Dan Pastorini 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) (20-21) NE Jim Nance 4 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick) (20-28) NE Carl Garrett 2 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick)
HOU NE
First Downs: 16 21
Rushes-yards: 27-71 36-99
Yards/rush: 2.6 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-36-260-3 15-31-205-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-51
Net pass yards: 260 154
Net yards/pass: 7.2 4.4
Total net yards: 331 253
Total plays: 63 (42% run) 71 (50% run)
Yards/play: 5.3 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 8-60 2-20
Attendance: 53,155
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 18 of 36 for 260 yards and 1 TD (3 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 30 for 157 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 1 of 1 for 48 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Robert Holmes, 12 for 29 yards; Woody Campbell, 7 for 19 yards; Dan Pastorini, 5 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Mike Richardson, 3 for 15 yards NE: Jim Nance, 15 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 12 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 5 for 18 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 12 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Jim Beirne, 6 for 97 yards; Alvin Reed, 5 for 91 yards; Robert Holmes, 3 for 20 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Woody Campbell, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 2 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 7 for 77 yards; Hubie Bryant, 5 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Tom Beer, 2 for 36 yards; Eric Crabtree, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 51 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 28 yards NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 57 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 8 yards; Floyd Rice, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Jim Cheyunski, 1 for 24 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 11 yards; Randy Beverly, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 161 yards NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 222 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 2/3 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 0/1
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 18 of 36 for 260 yards and 1 TD (3 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 30 for 157 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 1 of 1 for 48 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Robert Holmes, 12 for 29 yards; Woody Campbell, 7 for 19 yards; Dan Pastorini, 5 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Mike Richardson, 3 for 15 yards NE: Jim Nance, 15 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 12 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 5 for 18 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 12 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Jim Beirne, 6 for 97 yards; Alvin Reed, 5 for 91 yards; Robert Holmes, 3 for 20 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Woody Campbell, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 2 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 7 for 77 yards; Hubie Bryant, 5 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Tom Beer, 2 for 36 yards; Eric Crabtree, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 51 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 28 yards NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 57 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 8 yards; Floyd Rice, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Jim Cheyunski, 1 for 24 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 11 yards; Randy Beverly, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 161 yards NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 222 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 2/3 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 0/1