NFL game summary for 09/24/1972:
O.J. Simpson enjoyed his biggest rushing day, 29 carries for 138 yards, to set the pace for a Bills victory. Jim Braxton scored a pair of fourth-period TDs to give the Bills their edge. Steve Spurrier replaced veteran San Francisco QB John Brodie when Brodie injured his left wrist after five minutes of play.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 117.0 (15) | 178.0 (11) | 295.0 (13) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 87.0 (8) | 171.0 (15) | 258.0 (8) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 80.0 (20) | 207.0 (7) | 287.0 (16) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 191.0 (20) | 102.0 (6) | 293.0 (13) | 1 |
Line: 49ers by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (1-1-0) | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Buffalo Bills (1-1-0) | 0 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
( 3- 0) SF Bruce Gossett 47 yard field goal ( 3- 3) BUF John Leypoldt 32 yard field goal ( 3- 6) BUF John Leypoldt 22 yard field goal (10- 6) SF Ted Kwalick 20 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick) (13- 6) SF Bruce Gossett 20 yard field goal (13-13) BUF Jan White 17 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick) (20-13) SF Larry Schreiber 2 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) (20-20) BUF Jim Braxton 2 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick) (20-27) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
SF BUF
First Downs: 10 17
Rushes-yards: 20-33 43-177
Yards/rush: 1.6 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-30-189-3 8-21-105-1
Sacked-yards: 2-20 5-49
Net pass yards: 169 56
Net yards/pass: 5.3 2.2
Total net yards: 202 233
Total plays: 52 (38% run) 69 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 0-0
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 10-101 8-98
Attendance: 45,845
Passing:
SF: Steve Spurrier, 10 of 25 for 171 yards and 1 TD (2 int); John Brodie, 1 of 5 for 18 yards (1 int) BUF: Dennis Shaw, 8 of 20 for 105 yards and 1 TD (1 int); O.J. Simpson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 9 for 18 yards; Larry Schreiber, 8 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 5 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -2 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 29 for 138 yards; Jim Braxton, 8 for 25 yards and 2 TDs; Dennis Shaw, 6 for 14 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 3 for 89 yards; Ted Kwalick, 3 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 3 for 24 yards; Ken Willard, 2 for 10 yards BUF: J.D. Hill, 2 for 33 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 20 yards; Jan White, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 48 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 4 for 76 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 67 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 3 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Mel Phillips, 1 for 0 yards BUF: John Pitts, 1 for 10 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 4 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 6 for 258 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 8 for 372 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/2 BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/3
SF: Steve Spurrier, 10 of 25 for 171 yards and 1 TD (2 int); John Brodie, 1 of 5 for 18 yards (1 int) BUF: Dennis Shaw, 8 of 20 for 105 yards and 1 TD (1 int); O.J. Simpson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 9 for 18 yards; Larry Schreiber, 8 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 5 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -2 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 29 for 138 yards; Jim Braxton, 8 for 25 yards and 2 TDs; Dennis Shaw, 6 for 14 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 3 for 89 yards; Ted Kwalick, 3 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 3 for 24 yards; Ken Willard, 2 for 10 yards BUF: J.D. Hill, 2 for 33 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 20 yards; Jan White, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Haven Moses, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 48 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 4 for 76 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 27 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 67 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 3 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Mel Phillips, 1 for 0 yards BUF: John Pitts, 1 for 10 yards; Maurice Tyler, 1 for 4 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 6 for 258 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 8 for 372 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/2 BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/3