NFL game summary for 12/12/1971:
The Jets limited New England to a pair of FGs and John Riggins carried for a TD which provided the winning New York margin. Jim Plunkett was dumped 4 times but also carried 7 times for 52 yards to wind up as the Patriots' leading rusher.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 123.2 (15) | 132.1 (22) | 255.2 (20) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 137.7 (17) | 159.4 (17) | 297.1 (16) | 23 | |
 | OFFENSE | 126.0 (14) | 93.3 (26) | 219.3 (26) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 172.0 (25) | 145.8 (8) | 317.8 (21) | 25 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (5-8-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| New York Jets (5-8-0) | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
( 0- 3) NYJ Bobby Howfield 16 yard field goal
( 3- 3) NE Charlie Gogolak 34 yard field goal
( 3-10) NYJ John Riggins 1 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 3-13) NYJ Bobby Howfield 42 yard field goal
( 6-13) NE Charlie Gogolak 47 yard field goal
NE NYJ
First Downs: 16 17
Rushes-yards: 27-100 44-166
Yards/rush: 3.7 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-31-176-1 7-12-95-2
Sacked-yards: 4-26 0-0
Net pass yards: 150 95
Net yards/pass: 4.3 7.9
Total net yards: 250 261
Total plays: 62 (43% run) 56 (78% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 4.7
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 3-2
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 8-75 3-35
Attendance: 63,175
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 18 of 31 for 176 yards (1 int) NYJ: Joe Namath, 7 of 12 for 95 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 33 yards; Jim Plunkett, 7 for 52 yards; Jim Nance, 4 for 14 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 1 yard NYJ: John Riggins, 24 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Emerson Boozer, 18 for 77 yards; Joe Namath, 2 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NE: Jim Nance, 5 for 35 yards; Randy Vataha, 4 for 56 yards; Eric Crabtree, 4 for 39 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 24 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 16 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 6 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 3 for 21 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 37 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 29 yards; Don Maynard, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 37 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 44 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 11 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 0 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 0 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: W.K. Hicks, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 166 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 2 for 90 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 2/2 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/3
NE: Jim Plunkett, 18 of 31 for 176 yards (1 int) NYJ: Joe Namath, 7 of 12 for 95 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 33 yards; Jim Plunkett, 7 for 52 yards; Jim Nance, 4 for 14 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 1 yard NYJ: John Riggins, 24 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Emerson Boozer, 18 for 77 yards; Joe Namath, 2 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NE: Jim Nance, 5 for 35 yards; Randy Vataha, 4 for 56 yards; Eric Crabtree, 4 for 39 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 24 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 16 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 6 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 3 for 21 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 37 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 29 yards; Don Maynard, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 37 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 44 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 11 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 0 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 0 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: W.K. Hicks, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 166 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 2 for 90 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 2/2 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/3