NFL game summary for 12/05/1971:
The Patriots closed their home season with an upset victory over the pacemaking Dolphins, highlighted by a pair of TD passes from Jim Plunkett to Randy Vataha and a successful goal line stand against what is regarded as the best rushing attack in the AFC's Eastern Division. Mercury Morris returned the opening kickoff for the Dolphins 94 yards for a TD.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 189.1 (1) | 149.4 (14) | 338.5 (3) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 121.4 (9) | 142.7 (7) | 264.1 (8) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.6 (14) | 123.8 (23) | 250.5 (20) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 141.3 (17) | 164.9 (20) | 306.2 (18) | 18 |
Line: Dolphins by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (9-2-1) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| New England Patriots (5-7-0) | 17 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
( 7- 0) MIA Mercury Morris 94 yard kickoff return (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 7- 7) NE Jim Nance 6 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick) ( 7-14) NE Randy Vataha 26 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick) ( 7-17) NE Charlie Gogolak 37 yard field goal (10-17) MIA Garo Yepremian 26 yard field goal (10-20) NE Charlie Gogolak 35 yard field goal (13-20) MIA Garo Yepremian 30 yard field goal (13-27) NE Randy Vataha 25 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick) (13-34) NE Larry Carwell 53 yard interception return (Charlie Gogolak kick)
MIA NE
First Downs: 12 14
Rushes-yards: 29-98 33-85
Yards/rush: 3.4 2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-22-108-2 16-23-223-0
Sacked-yards: 1-9 0-0
Net pass yards: 99 223
Net yards/pass: 4.3 9.7
Total net yards: 197 308
Total plays: 52 (55% run) 56 (58% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 2-0
Turnovers: 5 0
Penalties-yards: 3-39 5-37
Attendance: 61,457
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 6 of 12 for 70 yards (1 int); George Mira, 3 of 10 for 38 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 23 for 223 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 61 yards; Jim Kiick, 8 for 15 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 8 yards; George Mira, 3 for 0 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for 0 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 14 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 57 yards; Jim Nance, 11 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 1 yard; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 3 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for -2 yards; Eric Crabtree, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Howard Twilley, 3 for 39 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 46 yards; Karl Noonan, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 9 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 8 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for -6 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 7 for 129 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Nance, 3 for 10 yards; Hubie Bryant, 2 for 31 yards; Eric Crabtree, 2 for 30 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 21 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Charlie Leigh, 4 for 99 yards; Hubert Ginn, 2 for 52 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 94 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 30 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 23 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 53 yards and 1 TD; John Outlaw, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 118 yards NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 195 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 2/2
MIA: Bob Griese, 6 of 12 for 70 yards (1 int); George Mira, 3 of 10 for 38 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 23 for 223 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 61 yards; Jim Kiick, 8 for 15 yards; Mercury Morris, 5 for 8 yards; George Mira, 3 for 0 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for 0 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 14 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 57 yards; Jim Nance, 11 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 1 yard; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 3 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for -2 yards; Eric Crabtree, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Howard Twilley, 3 for 39 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 46 yards; Karl Noonan, 1 for 12 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 9 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 8 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for -6 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 7 for 129 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Nance, 3 for 10 yards; Hubie Bryant, 2 for 31 yards; Eric Crabtree, 2 for 30 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 21 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Charlie Leigh, 4 for 99 yards; Hubert Ginn, 2 for 52 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 94 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 30 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 23 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 53 yards and 1 TD; John Outlaw, 1 for 29 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 118 yards NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 195 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 2/2