NFL game summary for 11/23/1972:
Errol Mann's third field goal, a 37-yard success, broke a 20-20 tie early in the final period and the Lions went on to score two more touchdowns in winning their ninth straight game against AFC teams. Detroit's Altie Taylor rushed for 123 yards and New York's Cliff McClain 121 and John Riggins 105, marking the second time in NFL history that three players rushed for more than 100 yards in a single game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.9 (10) | 196.4 (2) | 346.3 (1) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 131.1 (12) | 197.2 (26) | 328.3 (22) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 146.1 (11) | 149.0 (16) | 295.1 (16) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 143.6 (17) | 131.8 (4) | 275.4 (11) | 20 |
Line: Lions by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (6-5-0) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Detroit Lions (7-4-0) | 3 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 37 |
( 0- 3) DET Errol Mann 15 yard field goal
( 7- 3) NYJ John Riggins 1 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 7-10) DET Larry Walton 34 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
( 7-17) DET Greg Landry 1 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(10-17) NYJ Bobby Howfield 13 yard field goal
(10-20) DET Errol Mann 21 yard field goal
(13-20) NYJ Bobby Howfield 20 yard field goal
(20-20) NYJ Rich Caster 33 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(20-23) DET Errol Mann 37 yard field goal
(20-30) DET Greg Landry 6 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(20-37) DET Altie Taylor 38 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
NYJ DET
First Downs: 19 19
Rushes-yards: 36-229 41-260
Yards/rush: 6.4 6.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-23-165-1 6-18-125-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 0-0
Net pass yards: 165 125
Net yards/pass: 7.2 6.9
Total net yards: 394 385
Total plays: 59 (61% run) 59 (69% run)
Yards/play: 6.7 6.5
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 6-56 3-34
Attendance: 54,418
Passing:
NYJ: Joe Namath, 9 of 22 for 165 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Cliff McClain, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DET: Greg Landry, 6 of 18 for 125 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 24 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Cliff McClain, 10 for 121 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 1 yard DET: Altie Taylor, 15 for 123 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 9 for 67 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 41 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Owens, 8 for 29 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Eddie Bell, 3 for 19 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 2 for 38 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 44 yards; John Riggins, 1 for 12 yards DET: Larry Walton, 3 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 52 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
NYJ: Phil Wise, 4 for 84 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 3 for 55 yards; Roy Kirksey, 1 for 16 yards DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 60 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Rocky Turner, 3 for 30 yards; W.K. Hicks, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Charlie Weaver, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 106 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 4 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/5 DET: Errol Mann, 3/3
NYJ: Joe Namath, 9 of 22 for 165 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Cliff McClain, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DET: Greg Landry, 6 of 18 for 125 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NYJ: John Riggins, 24 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Cliff McClain, 10 for 121 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 1 yard DET: Altie Taylor, 15 for 123 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 9 for 67 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 41 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Owens, 8 for 29 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Eddie Bell, 3 for 19 yards; Rich Caster, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Don Maynard, 2 for 38 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 44 yards; John Riggins, 1 for 12 yards DET: Larry Walton, 3 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 52 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
NYJ: Phil Wise, 4 for 84 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 3 for 55 yards; Roy Kirksey, 1 for 16 yards DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 60 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Rocky Turner, 3 for 30 yards; W.K. Hicks, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Charlie Weaver, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 3 for 106 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 4 for 164 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/5 DET: Errol Mann, 3/3