NFL game summary for 10/01/1972:
Dan Pastorini passed the Oilers to their first victory, and Skip Butler kicked four FGs to turn back the favored Jets in a game in which the Oilers beat a team with a winning record for the first time at home since 1965. Joe Namath had his 19th 300-or-more yards game, moving him into a third place tie in that category on the all-time NFL list with George Blanda.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 137.0 (13) | 296.0 (1) | 433.0 (1) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 80.0 (4) | 269.5 (25) | 349.5 (22) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 58.5 (26) | 123.0 (20) | 181.5 (25) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 256.5 (26) | 200.0 (22) | 456.5 (26) | 7 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (2-1-0) | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Houston Oilers (1-2-0) | 0 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 26 |
( 7- 0) NYJ Jerome Barkum 25 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(10- 0) NYJ Bobby Howfield 8 yard field goal
(10- 7) HOU Willie Rodgers 1 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
(10-14) HOU Ken Burrough 52 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Skip Butler kick)
(13-14) NYJ Bobby Howfield 32 yard field goal
(13-17) HOU Skip Butler 12 yard field goal
(13-20) HOU Skip Butler 20 yard field goal
(13-23) HOU Skip Butler 20 yard field goal
(20-23) NYJ Rich Caster 4 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(20-26) HOU Skip Butler 12 yard field goal
NYJ HOU
First Downs: 19 19
Rushes-yards: 24-97 42-150
Yards/rush: 4.0 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-38-301-2 14-28-278-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-16
Net pass yards: 301 262
Net yards/pass: 7.9 8.7
Total net yards: 398 412
Total plays: 62 (38% run) 72 (58% run)
Yards/play: 6.4 5.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 2-1
Turnovers: 5 1
Penalties-yards: 4-50 8-68
Attendance: 51,423
Passing:
NYJ: Joe Namath, 18 of 38 for 301 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 26 for 278 yards and 1 TD; Kent Nix, 0 of 2 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 12 for 67 yards; Steve Harkey, 11 for 28 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 19 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Hoyle Granger, 9 for 32 yards; Robert Holmes, 8 for 31 yards; Dan Pastorini, 4 for 16 yards; Al Johnson, 2 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 6 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 4 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 3 for 35 yards; John Riggins, 2 for 31 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 32 yards; Steve Harkey, 1 for 9 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 7 yards HOU: Charlie Joiner, 3 for 71 yards; Alvin Reed, 3 for 66 yards; Hoyle Granger, 3 for 26 yards; Willie Rodgers, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Rhett Dawson, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Beirne, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 39 yards; W.K. Hicks, 1 for 12 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 10 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Benny Johnson, 1 for 34 yards; Bob Atkins, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 125 yards HOU: Skip Butler, 2 for 81 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 56 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 4/4
NYJ: Joe Namath, 18 of 38 for 301 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) HOU: Dan Pastorini, 14 of 26 for 278 yards and 1 TD; Kent Nix, 0 of 2 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 12 for 67 yards; Steve Harkey, 11 for 28 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 19 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Hoyle Granger, 9 for 32 yards; Robert Holmes, 8 for 31 yards; Dan Pastorini, 4 for 16 yards; Al Johnson, 2 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 6 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 4 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 3 for 35 yards; John Riggins, 2 for 31 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 32 yards; Steve Harkey, 1 for 9 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 7 yards HOU: Charlie Joiner, 3 for 71 yards; Alvin Reed, 3 for 66 yards; Hoyle Granger, 3 for 26 yards; Willie Rodgers, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Rhett Dawson, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Beirne, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 39 yards; W.K. Hicks, 1 for 12 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 2 for 10 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Benny Johnson, 1 for 34 yards; Bob Atkins, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 125 yards HOU: Skip Butler, 2 for 81 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 56 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 4/4