All NFL game summaries for 11/28/1971:

Buffalo ended a 17 game streak without a victory by turning back New England, the club it had last beaten more than a year earlier. Dennis Shaw connected with TD passes twice to J. D. Hill, and O. J. Simpson clinched it with a 7-yard scoring run. Patriots RB Carl Garrett carried 21 times for 127 yards and Jim Plunkett pegged his 15th TD to Ron Sellers.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Even

( 3- 0) NE  Charlie Gogolak 40 yard field goal
( 3- 7) BUF J.D. Hill 11 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick)
( 6- 7) NE  Charlie Gogolak 17 yard field goal
( 6-14) BUF J.D. Hill 47 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick)
( 6-17) BUF John Leypoldt 48 yard field goal
(13-17) NE  Jim Nance 1 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(13-24) BUF O.J. Simpson 7 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(20-24) NE  Ron Sellers 12 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)
(20-27) BUF John Leypoldt 41 yard field goal

                     NE              BUF
First Downs:         15              15
Rushes-yards:        36-189          34-147
Yards/rush:          5.2             4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-22-138-3     9-17-154-0
Sacked-yards:        4-33            3-37
Net pass yards:      105             117
Net yards/pass:      4.0             5.8
Total net yards:     294             264
Total plays:         62 (58% run)    54 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             4.9
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             3-1
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     4-30            4-45

Attendance: 27,166

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Cincinnati set a club record of six interceptions while scoring its first shutout in team history. Linebacker Al Beauchamp picked off a pair of John Hadl passes, returning one for an 18-yard touchdown. Ken Riley also made two interceptions and Fred Willis, rookie running back, scored twice for the second time in as many games.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Bengals by 3

( 0- 7) CIN Fred Willis 2 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-14) CIN Bob Trumpy 10 yard pass from Virgil Carter (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-21) CIN Al Beauchamp 18 yard interception return (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-28) CIN Fred Willis 3 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-31) CIN Horst Muhlmann 40 yard field goal

                     SD              CIN
First Downs:         8               28
Rushes-yards:        16-47           44-173
Yards/rush:          2.9             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     9-27-96-6       26-36-246-1
Sacked-yards:        2-13            1-8
Net pass yards:      83              238
Net yards/pass:      2.9             6.4
Total net yards:     130             411
Total plays:         45 (35% run)    81 (54% run)  
Yards/play:          2.9             5.1
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             1-1
Turnovers:           6               2
Penalties-yards:     4-34            7-101

Attendance: 59,580

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Charlie Durkee kicked five field goals and rookie Bob Gresham ran for 113 yards, while the New Orleans defense had two interceptions and four fumble recoveries. The Saints Doug Wyatt ran 55 yards for a touchdown with his final-period interception.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Packers by 8

( 3- 0) NO  Charlie Durkee 12 yard field goal
( 3- 7) GB  Donny Anderson 3 yard rush (Tim Webster kick)
( 6- 7) NO  Charlie Durkee 12 yard field goal
( 9- 7) NO  Charlie Durkee 35 yard field goal
(12- 7) NO  Charlie Durkee 26 yard field goal
(19- 7) NO  Jim Strong 1 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
(19-14) GB  Dave Hampton 90 yard kickoff return (Tim Webster kick)
(22-14) NO  Charlie Durkee 11 yard field goal
(29-14) NO  Doug Wyatt 55 yard interception return (Charlie Durkee kick)
(29-21) GB  Rich McGeorge 40 yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Tim Webster kick)

                     NO              GB
First Downs:         18              15
Rushes-yards:        50-163          27-95
Yards/rush:          3.3             3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-25-111-0     11-25-177-2
Sacked-yards:        1-1             1-10
Net pass yards:      110             167
Net yards/pass:      4.2             6.4
Total net yards:     273             262
Total plays:         76 (65% run)    53 (50% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             4.9
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             4-4
Turnovers:           0               6
Penalties-yards:     8-71            5-41

Attendance: 48,035

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Cleveland rallied for two third-quarter TDs to register a victory which sent the Browns into the lead again in the AFC's Central Division. Leroy Kelly gained 107 yards on 23 carries and moved into sixth place on the all-time rushing list, hurdling Steve Van Buren and Rick Casares. Safety Ken Houston registered his sixth interception for the Oilers and rookie QB Dan Pastorini rushed for his third TD.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Browns by 6

( 3- 0) CLE Don Cockroft 40 yard field goal
( 3- 3) HOU Mark Moseley 27 yard field goal
( 3-10) HOU Garland Boyette 19 yard fumble return (Mark Moseley kick)
( 6-10) CLE Don Cockroft 35 yard field goal
(13-10) CLE Leroy Kelly 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(13-17) HOU Charlie Joiner 20 yard pass from Woody Campbell (Mark Moseley kick)
(20-17) CLE Bo Scott 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(27-17) CLE Frank Pitts 18 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
(34-17) CLE Bo Scott 4 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(34-24) HOU Dan Pastorini 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(37-24) CLE Don Cockroft 39 yard field goal

                     CLE             HOU
First Downs:         19              10
Rushes-yards:        41-160          20-46
Yards/rush:          3.9             2.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-24-162-2     14-28-193-3
Sacked-yards:        1-11            4-23
Net pass yards:      151             170
Net yards/pass:      6.0             5.3
Total net yards:     311             216
Total plays:         66 (62% run)    52 (38% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             2-2
Turnovers:           4               5
Penalties-yards:     3-15            5-46

Attendance: 37,921

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Clint Jones rushed for 155 yards, tying the club record, and Bill Brown added 85 more as the Vikings ground out 257 yards and matched their previous high point total of the season. Bob Lee was the quarterback for the second straight week. Atlanta's only score against the tough Vikings defense was a 55-yard run by tight end Jim Mitchell after he picked up a fumble by teammate Harmon Wages.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Vikings by 8

( 0- 7) MIN Clint Jones 73 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7- 7) ATL Jim Mitchell 55 yard fumble return (Bill Bell kick)
( 7-10) MIN Fred Cox 19 yard field goal
( 7-17) MIN Bill Brown 23 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-24) MIN Bill Brown 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)

                     ATL             MIN
First Downs:         4               19
Rushes-yards:        22-68           47-257
Yards/rush:          3.1             5.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-23-76-3      10-23-59-2
Sacked-yards:        4-21            1-12
Net pass yards:      55              47
Net yards/pass:      2.0             2.0
Total net yards:     123             304
Total plays:         49 (44% run)    71 (66% run)  
Yards/play:          2.5             4.3
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             3-1
Turnovers:           3               3
Penalties-yards:     6-60            0-0

Attendance: 49,784

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Norm Thompson, Larry Wilson and Larry Stallings intercepted three New York passes in the early minutes of the game and the Cardinals vaulted into a 17-0 lead. Stallings scored on his pass steal, racing 26 yards into the end zone.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Giants by 6

( 7- 0) STL John Gilliam 18 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
(10- 0) STL Jim Bakken 18 yard field goal
(17- 0) STL Larry Stallings 26 yard interception return (Jim Bakken kick)
(17- 7) NYG Bob Tucker 63 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Pete Gogolak kick)
(24- 7) STL John Gilliam 13 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)

                     STL             NYG
First Downs:         21              15
Rushes-yards:        41-207          24-74
Yards/rush:          5.0             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     7-17-137-2      18-34-228-4
Sacked-yards:        0-0             3-17
Net pass yards:      137             211
Net yards/pass:      8.1             5.7
Total net yards:     344             285
Total plays:         58 (70% run)    61 (39% run)  
Yards/play:          5.9             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             3-2
Turnovers:           3               6
Penalties-yards:     6-50            7-65

Attendance: 62,878

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The 49ers got 100-or-more yard performances from RBs Ken Willard (15 for 129) and Vic Washington (27 for 125) to come up with 263 yards rushing in their victory over the Jets. Washington also tallied twice while QB John Brodie carried for a 1-yard score. Joe Namath made his season debut for the Jets after Bob Davis was injured in the second period and threw 2 TD passes to Rich Caster of 57 and 20 yards and a 22-yard scoring pass to Eddie Bell.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: 49ers by 7

( 7- 0) SF  Vic Washington 2 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
(10- 0) SF  Bruce Gossett 25 yard field goal
(17- 0) SF  John Brodie 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
(17- 7) NYJ Rich Caster 57 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(24- 7) SF  Vic Washington 22 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
(24-14) NYJ Rich Caster 20 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(24-21) NYJ Eddie Bell 22 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)

                     SF              NYJ
First Downs:         20              21
Rushes-yards:        45-263          30-118
Yards/rush:          5.8             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     5-13-88-0       12-30-275-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             0-0
Net pass yards:      88              275
Net yards/pass:      6.8             9.2
Total net yards:     351             393
Total plays:         58 (77% run)    60 (50% run)  
Yards/play:          6.1             6.5
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             2-1
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     5-55            8-58

Attendance: 63,936

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Baltimore's rock-ribbed defense limited Oakland to 65 yards rushing and intercepted six passes for a victory which kept the Colts' hopes alive in the AFC's Eastern Division. Jerry Logan intercepted twice while Rick Volk, Mike Curtis, Tom Nowatzke and Billy Newsome each accounted for one. All of the Colts TDs were scored on the ground with Norm Bulaich accounting for a pair. Oakland's Fred Biletnikoff made 7 receptions to move into the AFC lead in that department.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Raiders by 3

( 7- 0) BAL Norm Bulaich 3 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(14- 0) BAL Tom Matte 10 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(17- 0) BAL Jim O'Brien 11 yard field goal
(20- 0) BAL Jim O'Brien 28 yard field goal
(27- 0) BAL Norm Bulaich 1 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(30- 0) BAL Jim O'Brien 45 yard field goal
(30- 7) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 18 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)
(37- 7) BAL Don Nottingham 1 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(37-14) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 4 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)

                     BAL             OAK
First Downs:         19              20
Rushes-yards:        39-210          25-65
Yards/rush:          5.4             2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-16-119-0     22-41-259-6
Sacked-yards:        3-23            1-13
Net pass yards:      96              246
Net yards/pass:      5.1             5.9
Total net yards:     306             311
Total plays:         58 (67% run)    67 (37% run)  
Yards/play:          5.3             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             1-0
Turnovers:           1               6
Penalties-yards:     5-34            5-77

Attendance: 54,689

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Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen started his first game since recovering from preseason left shoulder surgery, but left the game in the second period because of a contusion in the same shoulder area. Billy Kilmer came in and completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Roy Jefferson. Cornerback Mike Bass clinched Washington's first victory in four games with a 38-yard scoring return with an interception.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Redskins by 6

( 3- 0) WAS Curt Knight 40 yard field goal
( 6- 0) WAS Curt Knight 14 yard field goal
(13- 0) WAS Roy Jefferson 27 yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Curt Knight kick)
(13- 6) PHI Tom Bailey 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(20- 6) WAS Mike Bass 38 yard interception return (Curt Knight kick)
(20-13) PHI Steve Zabel 1 yard pass from Pete Liske (Tom Dempsey kick)

                     WAS             PHI
First Downs:         10              16
Rushes-yards:        28-102          27-100
Yards/rush:          3.6             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-19-155-0     13-28-192-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-12
Net pass yards:      155             180
Net yards/pass:      8.2             6.2
Total net yards:     257             280
Total plays:         47 (59% run)    56 (48% run)  
Yards/play:          5.5             5.0
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             0-0
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     7-68            9-79

Attendance: 65,358

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Denver inflicted the first home loss on the Steelers with Floyd Little scoring two TDs and Steve Ramsey winning his first start as the Bronco quarterback. Pittsburgh made up a 10-point half-time deficit behind substitute QB Terry Hanratty before the Broncos marched 74 yards on their only sustained drive for the winning TD. Little carried 5 times on the drive for 56 yards. When the Broncos RB fumbled at the Denver 25 on the first play of the second half, Hanratty hit Preston Pearson with a 8-yard scoring pass 5 plays later.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Steelers by 7

( 7- 0) DEN Floyd Little 3 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(10- 0) DEN Jim Turner 32 yard field goal
(10- 7) PIT Preston Pearson 8 yard pass from Terry Hanratty (Roy Gerela kick)
(10-10) PIT Roy Gerela 19 yard field goal
(17-10) DEN Floyd Little 16 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(19-10) DEN Safety, Bobby Walden tackled in end zone by Fran Lynch
(22-10) DEN Jim Turner 12 yard field goal

                     DEN             PIT
First Downs:         14              12
Rushes-yards:        37-126          33-158
Yards/rush:          3.4             4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-25-161-1     9-29-100-1
Sacked-yards:        2-11            4-33
Net pass yards:      150             67
Net yards/pass:      5.6             2.0
Total net yards:     276             225
Total plays:         64 (57% run)    66 (50% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             3.4
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             5-2
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     2-30            2-15

Attendance: 39,710

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