NFL game summary for 11/14/1971:
Jim Plunkett had his biggest day with four TD passes including an 80-yarder, longest of his career, to enable the Patriots to beat Buffalo. The setback was Buffalo's 16th straight regular season loss. The Bills came to within two points in the final period, slashing a 15-point New England edge.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 95.0 (24) | 144.2 (17) | 239.2 (22) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 203.2 (26) | 165.1 (19) | 368.4 (26) | 12 | |
 | OFFENSE | 120.2 (16) | 113.5 (25) | 233.8 (24) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 142.9 (18) | 177.9 (21) | 320.8 (21) | 16 |
Line: Patriots by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (0-9-0) | 7 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 33 |
| New England Patriots (4-5-0) | 7 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
( 7- 0) BUF Ike Hill 68 yard punt return (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7- 7) NE Randy Vataha 16 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
( 7-14) NE Tom Beer 10 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(14-14) BUF Marlin Briscoe 15 yard pass from James Harris (John Leypoldt kick)
(17-14) BUF John Leypoldt 17 yard field goal
(17-21) NE Carl Garrett 80 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(17-28) NE Roland Moss 10 yard return of blocked punt (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(20-28) BUF John Leypoldt 48 yard field goal
(20-35) NE Eric Crabtree 31 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(23-35) BUF John Leypoldt 17 yard field goal
(30-35) BUF Robert James 0 yard fumble return (John Leypoldt kick)
(33-35) BUF John Leypoldt 12 yard field goal
(33-38) NE Charlie Gogolak 37 yard field goal
BUF NE
First Downs: 15 9
Rushes-yards: 24-89 27-119
Yards/rush: 3.7 4.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-36-174-0 9-16-218-1
Sacked-yards: 4-46 4-38
Net pass yards: 128 180
Net yards/pass: 3.2 9.0
Total net yards: 217 299
Total plays: 64 (37% run) 47 (57% run)
Yards/play: 3.4 6.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-2
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 2-10 6-71
Attendance: 57,446
Passing:
BUF: James Harris, 13 of 32 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Dennis Shaw, 2 of 4 for 14 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 16 for 218 yards and 4 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 16 for 61 yards; Wayne Patrick, 6 for 21 yards; Jim Braxton, 2 for 7 yards NE: Jim Nance, 8 for 26 yards; Carl Garrett, 8 for 21 yards; Bob Gladieux, 4 for 48 yards; Jack Maitland, 4 for 5 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 1 yard; Eric Crabtree, 1 for 18 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Marlin Briscoe, 6 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 9 yards; Wayne Patrick, 2 for 72 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 31 yards; Jan White, 1 for 13 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 5 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 3 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 2 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Eric Crabtree, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 10 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Ike Hill, 3 for 94 yards; Tim Beamer, 2 for 50 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 22 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 13 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 4 for 78 yards; Ron Gardin, 2 for 51 yards; Tom Janik, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Ike Hill, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 48 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Pete Richardson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 9 for 318 yards NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 278 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 4/4 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1
BUF: James Harris, 13 of 32 for 160 yards and 1 TD; Dennis Shaw, 2 of 4 for 14 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 16 for 218 yards and 4 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 16 for 61 yards; Wayne Patrick, 6 for 21 yards; Jim Braxton, 2 for 7 yards NE: Jim Nance, 8 for 26 yards; Carl Garrett, 8 for 21 yards; Bob Gladieux, 4 for 48 yards; Jack Maitland, 4 for 5 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 1 yard; Eric Crabtree, 1 for 18 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Marlin Briscoe, 6 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 9 yards; Wayne Patrick, 2 for 72 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 31 yards; Jan White, 1 for 13 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 5 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 3 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Carl Garrett, 2 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Eric Crabtree, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 10 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 10 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
BUF: Ike Hill, 3 for 94 yards; Tim Beamer, 2 for 50 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 22 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 13 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 4 for 78 yards; Ron Gardin, 2 for 51 yards; Tom Janik, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Ike Hill, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 48 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Pete Richardson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 9 for 318 yards NE: Tom Janik, 7 for 278 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 4/4 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1