NFL game summary for 09/17/1972:
Highlighted by 246 yards of rushing and TDs by Essex Johnson and Jesse Phillips, the Bengals won their fourth opening game in their five year history. Lemar Parrish returned a punt 51 yards to score and Ken Anderson connected with Bob Trumpy on a touchdown pass. New England scoring was limited to a 45-yard run by Larry Carwell on a blocked field goal.
Line: Bengals by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cincinnati Bengals (1-0-0) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
 New England Patriots (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
( 7- 0) CIN Essex Johnson 14 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick) (10- 0) CIN Horst Muhlmann 38 yard field goal (10- 7) NE Larry Carwell 45 yard return of blocked field goal (Mike Walker kick) (17- 7) CIN Jess Phillips 1 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick) (24- 7) CIN Lemar Parrish 51 yard punt return (Horst Muhlmann kick) (31- 7) CIN Bob Trumpy 11 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)
CIN NE
First Downs: 21 9
Rushes-yards: 47-246 21-54
Yards/rush: 5.2 2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-17-111-0 9-17-117-2
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-34
Net pass yards: 111 83
Net yards/pass: 6.5 4.0
Total net yards: 357 137
Total plays: 64 (73% run) 42 (50% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 3.3
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-1
Turnovers: 0 3
Penalties-yards: 6-60 2-10
Attendance: 60,999
Passing:
CIN: Ken Anderson, 10 of 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 1 of 2 for 9 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 17 for 117 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Essex Johnson, 15 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Paul Robinson, 9 for 56 yards; Doug Dressler, 9 for 47 yards; Fred Willis, 7 for 24 yards; Jess Phillips, 4 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Ken Anderson, 3 for 12 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 12 for 34 yards; Bob Gladieux, 5 for -1 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 20 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
CIN: Chip Myers, 3 for 42 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Doug Dressler, 2 for 14 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for 7 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 17 yards NE: Bob Gladieux, 4 for 30 yards; Bob Windsor, 2 for 30 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 22 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 35 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 28 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 15 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 15 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Tommy Casanova, 2 for 3 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 51 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Neal Craig, 1 for 13 yards; Ken Riley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 198 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 7 for 265 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 1/2
CIN: Ken Anderson, 10 of 15 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 1 of 2 for 9 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 17 for 117 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Essex Johnson, 15 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Paul Robinson, 9 for 56 yards; Doug Dressler, 9 for 47 yards; Fred Willis, 7 for 24 yards; Jess Phillips, 4 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Ken Anderson, 3 for 12 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 12 for 34 yards; Bob Gladieux, 5 for -1 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 20 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
CIN: Chip Myers, 3 for 42 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Doug Dressler, 2 for 14 yards; Fred Willis, 2 for 7 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 17 yards NE: Bob Gladieux, 4 for 30 yards; Bob Windsor, 2 for 30 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 22 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 35 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 28 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 15 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 15 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Tommy Casanova, 2 for 3 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 51 yards and 1 TD NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Neal Craig, 1 for 13 yards; Ken Riley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 198 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 7 for 265 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 1/2