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
New Orleans Saints	OFFENSE	86.1  (26)	172.3  (8)	258.4  (21)	30
	DEFENSE	158.0  (21)	172.5  (22)	330.5  (21)	23
New York Jets	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

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