NFL game summary for 12/04/1971:
For the second consecutive game, rookie Ike Thomas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown (101 yards) to send the Cowboys off toward their fifth straight victory. Roger Staubach, who quarterbacked each game in the winning streak, threw three touchdown passes. Dallas used Duane Thomas, who gained 112 yards, and Calvin Hill, who had 62, in the starting backfield for the first time.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 125.6 (15) | 100.1 (26) | 225.7 (26) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 167.8 (24) | 139.0 (6) | 306.8 (19) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 148.1 (9) | 200.5 (2) | 348.5 (1) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 78.4 (2) | 181.4 (25) | 259.7 (6) | 38 |
Line: Cowboys by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (4-8-0) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Dallas Cowboys (9-3-0) | 28 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 52 |
( 0- 7) DAL Ike Thomas 101 yard kickoff return (Mike Clark kick)
( 0-14) DAL Calvin Hill 27 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
( 0-21) DAL Calvin Hill 27 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
( 0-28) DAL Duane Thomas 3 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
( 0-35) DAL Calvin Hill 9 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
( 3-35) NYJ Bobby Howfield 35 yard field goal
( 3-38) DAL Mike Clark 45 yard field goal
( 3-45) DAL Duane Thomas 18 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
(10-45) NYJ George Nock 1 yard pass from Bob Davis (Bobby Howfield kick)
(10-52) DAL Lance Alworth 20 yard pass from Craig Morton (Mike Clark kick)
NYJ DAL
First Downs: 12 26
Rushes-yards: 30-130 37-218
Yards/rush: 4.3 5.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-20-27-3 14-21-243-0
Sacked-yards: 1-8 2-22
Net pass yards: 19 221
Net yards/pass: 0.9 9.6
Total net yards: 149 439
Total plays: 51 (58% run) 60 (61% run)
Yards/play: 2.9 7.3
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 1-1
Turnovers: 6 1
Penalties-yards: 2-20 3-34
Attendance: 66,689
Passing:
NYJ: Bob Davis, 5 of 15 for 7 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Joe Namath, 1 of 5 for 20 yards (1 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 10 of 15 for 168 yards and 3 TDs; Craig Morton, 4 of 6 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 13 for 36 yards; Steve Harkey, 9 for 31 yards; Bob Davis, 3 for 37 yards; Emerson Boozer, 2 for 12 yards; George Nock, 2 for 8 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 6 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 14 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 11 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Joe Williams, 7 for 32 yards; Claxton Welch, 4 for 9 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: John Riggins, 3 for 2 yards; Don Maynard, 1 for 20 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 4 yards; George Nock, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD DAL: Calvin Hill, 4 for 80 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Ditka, 4 for 64 yards; Lance Alworth, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Bob Hayes, 1 for 19 yards; Duane Thomas, 1 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Billy Truax, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 4 for 65 yards; Vern Studdard, 3 for 73 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 37 yards; George Nock, 1 for 7 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 41 yards; Ike Thomas, 1 for 101 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 35 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Herb Adderley, 2 for 56 yards; Mel Renfro, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 124 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 2 for 46 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 1/1 DAL: Mike Clark, 1/2
NYJ: Bob Davis, 5 of 15 for 7 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Joe Namath, 1 of 5 for 20 yards (1 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 10 of 15 for 168 yards and 3 TDs; Craig Morton, 4 of 6 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 13 for 36 yards; Steve Harkey, 9 for 31 yards; Bob Davis, 3 for 37 yards; Emerson Boozer, 2 for 12 yards; George Nock, 2 for 8 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 6 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 14 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 11 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Joe Williams, 7 for 32 yards; Claxton Welch, 4 for 9 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: John Riggins, 3 for 2 yards; Don Maynard, 1 for 20 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 4 yards; George Nock, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD DAL: Calvin Hill, 4 for 80 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Ditka, 4 for 64 yards; Lance Alworth, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Bob Hayes, 1 for 19 yards; Duane Thomas, 1 for 18 yards and 1 TD; Billy Truax, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 4 for 65 yards; Vern Studdard, 3 for 73 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 37 yards; George Nock, 1 for 7 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 41 yards; Ike Thomas, 1 for 101 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 35 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Herb Adderley, 2 for 56 yards; Mel Renfro, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 124 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 2 for 46 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 1/1 DAL: Mike Clark, 1/2