NFL game summary for 10/08/1972:
Jim Braxton scored twice in Buffalo's victory over the Patriots while Dennis Shaw passed for TDs to Bob Chandler and J. D. Hill. New England QB Jim Plunkett departed with 9:00 left to miss a Patriot offensive sequence for the first time in his NFL career. His replacement, Brian Dowling, scored New England's final touchdown.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 94.7 (22) | 173.3 (10) | 268.0 (19) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 188.0 (25) | 180.3 (16) | 368.3 (24) | 2 | |
 | OFFENSE | 125.0 (15) | 124.7 (22) | 249.7 (23) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 127.7 (12) | 150.3 (12) | 278.0 (12) | 9 |
Line: Patriots by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-2-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Buffalo Bills (2-2-0) | 3 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
( 7- 0) NE Josh Ashton 1 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick) ( 7- 3) BUF John Leypoldt 11 yard field goal ( 7-10) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick) ( 7-17) BUF J.D. Hill 36 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick) ( 7-24) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick) ( 7-31) BUF O.J. Simpson 11 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick) ( 7-38) BUF Bob Chandler 43 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick) (14-38) NE Brian Dowling 1 yard rush (Charlie Gogolak kick)
NE BUF
First Downs: 23 19
Rushes-yards: 34-110 45-145
Yards/rush: 3.2 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-39-268-3 9-13-178-0
Sacked-yards: 2-24 2-18
Net pass yards: 244 160
Net yards/pass: 6.0 10.7
Total net yards: 354 305
Total plays: 75 (45% run) 60 (75% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-2
Turnovers: 4 2
Penalties-yards: 4-34 4-35
Attendance: 41,749
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 13 of 30 for 198 yards (3 int); Brian Dowling, 4 of 8 for 70 yards; Pat Studstill, 0 of 1 for 0 yards BUF: Dennis Shaw, 7 of 10 for 125 yards and 2 TDs; O.J. Simpson, 2 of 3 for 53 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 45 yards; Josh Ashton, 13 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Jack Maitland, 4 for 13 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 6 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD BUF: Jim Braxton, 15 for 58 yards and 2 TDs; O.J. Simpson, 13 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 9 for 21 yards; Randy Jackson, 5 for 14 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 12 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 7 for 103 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 29 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 61 yards; Tom Beer, 2 for 40 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 22 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 8 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 5 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 34 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Josh Ashton, 2 for 50 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 25 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Bob Gladieux, 1 for -6 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Ken Lee, 2 for 111 yards; Dave Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 4 for 117 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1
NE: Jim Plunkett, 13 of 30 for 198 yards (3 int); Brian Dowling, 4 of 8 for 70 yards; Pat Studstill, 0 of 1 for 0 yards BUF: Dennis Shaw, 7 of 10 for 125 yards and 2 TDs; O.J. Simpson, 2 of 3 for 53 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 15 for 45 yards; Josh Ashton, 13 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Jack Maitland, 4 for 13 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 6 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD BUF: Jim Braxton, 15 for 58 yards and 2 TDs; O.J. Simpson, 13 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 9 for 21 yards; Randy Jackson, 5 for 14 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 12 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 7 for 103 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 29 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 61 yards; Tom Beer, 2 for 40 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 22 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 8 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 5 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 34 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Josh Ashton, 2 for 50 yards BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 25 yards; J.D. Hill, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Bob Gladieux, 1 for -6 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Ken Lee, 2 for 111 yards; Dave Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 4 for 117 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1