NFL game summary for 12/03/1972:
Bobby Howfield's six successful FGs in seven tries, the last coming on a 42-yarder as time ran out, enabled the Jets to keep their playoff hopes alive. Howfield moved to the front as the NFL scoring leader and it marked the first time in their history that the Jets had won a game solely on kicking.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 86.1 (26) | 172.3 (8) | 258.4 (21) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 158.0 (21) | 172.5 (22) | 330.5 (21) | 23 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.1 (6) | 193.5 (2) | 350.6 (2) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 142.8 (17) | 190.6 (26) | 333.5 (22) | 24 |
Line: Jets by 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (2-9-1) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| New York Jets (7-5-0) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 18 |
( 0- 3) NYJ Bobby Howfield 30 yard field goal
( 3- 3) NO Happy Feller 31 yard field goal
(10- 3) NO Bob Gresham 3 yard rush (Happy Feller kick)
(10- 6) NYJ Bobby Howfield 39 yard field goal
(10- 9) NYJ Bobby Howfield 31 yard field goal
(17- 9) NO Bill Butler 8 yard pass from Archie Manning (Happy Feller kick)
(17-12) NYJ Bobby Howfield 23 yard field goal
(17-15) NYJ Bobby Howfield 33 yard field goal
(17-18) NYJ Bobby Howfield 42 yard field goal
NO NYJ
First Downs: 22 18
Rushes-yards: 33-139 20-64
Yards/rush: 4.2 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-31-204-1 21-40-259-2
Sacked-yards: 2-10 0-0
Net pass yards: 194 259
Net yards/pass: 5.9 6.5
Total net yards: 333 323
Total plays: 66 (50% run) 60 (33% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 5.4
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 9-90 6-62
Attendance: 62,496
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 20 of 31 for 204 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NYJ: Joe Namath, 21 of 40 for 259 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
NO: Bob Gresham, 14 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Jim Strong, 9 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 6 for 18 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 29 yards NYJ: Cliff McClain, 9 for 38 yards; John Riggins, 9 for 20 yards; Steve Harkey, 2 for 6 yards
Receiving:
NO: Bob Newland, 7 for 67 yards; Bill Butler, 5 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 3 for 49 yards; Bob Gresham, 3 for 15 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 10 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 8 yards NYJ: Eddie Bell, 6 for 61 yards; Rich Caster, 5 for 83 yards; Don Maynard, 5 for 66 yards; John Riggins, 4 for 40 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 2 for 46 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 3 for 87 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 10 yards NYJ: Rocky Turner, 1 for 1 yard; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Ernie Jackson, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Earlie Thomas, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 5 for 208 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 2 for 92 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Happy Feller, 1/2 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 6/7
NO: Archie Manning, 20 of 31 for 204 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NYJ: Joe Namath, 21 of 40 for 259 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
NO: Bob Gresham, 14 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Jim Strong, 9 for 33 yards; Archie Manning, 6 for 18 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 29 yards NYJ: Cliff McClain, 9 for 38 yards; John Riggins, 9 for 20 yards; Steve Harkey, 2 for 6 yards
Receiving:
NO: Bob Newland, 7 for 67 yards; Bill Butler, 5 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 3 for 49 yards; Bob Gresham, 3 for 15 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 10 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 8 yards NYJ: Eddie Bell, 6 for 61 yards; Rich Caster, 5 for 83 yards; Don Maynard, 5 for 66 yards; John Riggins, 4 for 40 yards; Cliff McClain, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 2 for 46 yards NYJ: Chris Farasopoulos, 3 for 87 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 10 yards NYJ: Rocky Turner, 1 for 1 yard; Chris Farasopoulos, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Ernie Jackson, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Earlie Thomas, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 5 for 208 yards NYJ: Steve O'Neal, 2 for 92 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Happy Feller, 1/2 NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 6/7