NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
Buffalo linebacker Dale Farley intercepted a Billy Kilmer pass and returned it 42 yards to the Washington 3-yard line and two plays later Jim Braxton ran over for the deciding touchdown with 42 seconds remaining. Bills runner O. J. Simpson carried 26 times for 101 yards to win the NFL rushing title with a total of 1,251 yards. Washington finished with an 11-3 record and entered the NFC divisional playoffs as Eastern champion.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.8 (10) | 117.0 (23) | 266.8 (19) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 162.2 (22) | 147.2 (9) | 309.3 (19) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 149.9 (8) | 173.5 (8) | 323.4 (5) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 119.2 (5) | 137.1 (6) | 256.2 (4) | 30 |
Line: Redskins by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (4-9-1) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Washington Redskins (11-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
( 7- 0) BUF Alvin Wyatt 49 yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick)
(10- 0) BUF John Leypoldt 23 yard field goal
(10- 7) WAS Herb Mul-Key 8 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(10-14) WAS Bob Brunet 2 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(10-17) WAS Curt Knight 35 yard field goal
(17-17) BUF O.J. Simpson 21 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(24-17) BUF Jim Braxton 4 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
BUF WAS
First Downs: 17 15
Rushes-yards: 45-184 35-133
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-21-107-2 4-15-62-3
Sacked-yards: 3-27 3-24
Net pass yards: 80 38
Net yards/pass: 3.3 2.1
Total net yards: 264 171
Total plays: 69 (65% run) 53 (66% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-0
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 9-122 6-40
Attendance: 53,039
Passing:
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 10 of 21 for 107 yards (2 int) WAS: Billy Kilmer, 4 of 15 for 62 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 26 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 8 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 6 for 28 yards; Dennis Shaw, 5 for 25 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 25 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Harraway, 6 for 13 yards; Bob Brunet, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Charley Taylor, 1 for 17 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Jan White, 4 for 49 yards; Bob Chandler, 2 for 23 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 22 yards; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 7 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 6 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 2 for 28 yards; Roy Jefferson, 1 for 17 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 3 for 55 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 2 for 36 yards; Bob Brunet, 1 for 16 yards; Rusty Tillman, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Linzy Cole, 1 for -3 yards WAS: Ted Vactor, 2 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Dale Farley, 1 for 42 yards; Robert James, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Pat Fischer, 1 for 0 yards; Brig Owens, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 6 for 204 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 6 for 223 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1 WAS: Curt Knight, 1/2
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 10 of 21 for 107 yards (2 int) WAS: Billy Kilmer, 4 of 15 for 62 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 26 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 8 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Patrick, 6 for 28 yards; Dennis Shaw, 5 for 25 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 25 for 95 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Harraway, 6 for 13 yards; Bob Brunet, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Charley Taylor, 1 for 17 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Jan White, 4 for 49 yards; Bob Chandler, 2 for 23 yards; J.D. Hill, 2 for 22 yards; Wayne Patrick, 1 for 7 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 6 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 2 for 28 yards; Roy Jefferson, 1 for 17 yards; Mack Alston, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Tony Greene, 3 for 55 yards WAS: Herb Mul-Key, 2 for 36 yards; Bob Brunet, 1 for 16 yards; Rusty Tillman, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Linzy Cole, 1 for -3 yards WAS: Ted Vactor, 2 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Dale Farley, 1 for 42 yards; Robert James, 1 for 0 yards WAS: Pat Fischer, 1 for 0 yards; Brig Owens, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 6 for 204 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 6 for 223 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1 WAS: Curt Knight, 1/2