NFL game summary for 12/12/1971:
Ken Houston, Oilers' safety, snared his seventh lifetime interception TD on a pass thrown by the Bills' Dennis Shaw to move into an all-time career tie with Erich Barnes and Herb Adderley for most career TDs via interception.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 73.2 (26) | 167.8 (7) | 241.0 (21) | 45 |
| DEFENSE | 129.2 (15) | 143.2 (7) | 272.3 (11) | 30 | |
 | OFFENSE | 95.8 (24) | 135.3 (21) | 231.2 (24) | 42 |
| DEFENSE | 188.9 (26) | 151.2 (13) | 340.1 (26) | 21 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (3-9-1) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Buffalo Bills (1-12-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
( 3- 0) HOU Mark Moseley 44 yard field goal
( 6- 0) HOU Mark Moseley 44 yard field goal
(13- 0) HOU Ken Houston 17 yard interception return (Mark Moseley kick)
(13- 7) BUF O.J. Simpson 6 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(13-14) BUF Haven Moses 14 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick)
(20-14) HOU Robert Holmes 2 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
HOU BUF
First Downs: 16 14
Rushes-yards: 28-92 24-85
Yards/rush: 3.3 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-33-211-0 20-31-233-2
Sacked-yards: 4-35 3-26
Net pass yards: 176 207
Net yards/pass: 4.8 6.1
Total net yards: 268 292
Total plays: 65 (43% run) 58 (41% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-1
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 4-50 4-66
Attendance: 28,107
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 33 for 211 yards BUF: Dennis Shaw, 20 of 29 for 233 yards and 1 TD (2 int); O.J. Simpson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Jim Braxton, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Ward Walsh, 11 for 56 yards; Woody Campbell, 9 for 19 yards; Robert Holmes, 5 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Dickie Post, 2 for -2 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 7 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 12 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 7 for 32 yards; Dennis Shaw, 3 for 21 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 2 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
HOU: Woody Campbell, 6 for 45 yards; Jim Beirne, 4 for 78 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrough, 2 for 19 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 15 yards; Charlie Joiner, 1 for 26 yards BUF: J.D. Hill, 4 for 76 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 4 for 38 yards; Wayne Patrick, 4 for 15 yards; Jim Braxton, 3 for 22 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 12 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Robert Holmes, 1 for 29 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 23 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 31 yards; Ken Houston, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 3 for 29 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Willie Alexander, 1 for 25 yards; Ken Houston, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 225 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 7 for 300 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 2/4
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 33 for 211 yards BUF: Dennis Shaw, 20 of 29 for 233 yards and 1 TD (2 int); O.J. Simpson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Jim Braxton, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
HOU: Ward Walsh, 11 for 56 yards; Woody Campbell, 9 for 19 yards; Robert Holmes, 5 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Dickie Post, 2 for -2 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 7 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 12 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 7 for 32 yards; Dennis Shaw, 3 for 21 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 2 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
HOU: Woody Campbell, 6 for 45 yards; Jim Beirne, 4 for 78 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrough, 2 for 19 yards; Robert Holmes, 2 for 15 yards; Charlie Joiner, 1 for 26 yards BUF: J.D. Hill, 4 for 76 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 4 for 38 yards; Wayne Patrick, 4 for 15 yards; Jim Braxton, 3 for 22 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 12 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Robert Holmes, 1 for 29 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 23 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 31 yards; Ken Houston, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 3 for 29 yards; Ike Hill, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Willie Alexander, 1 for 25 yards; Ken Houston, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 225 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 7 for 300 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 2/4