NFL game summary for 09/16/1973:
O. J. Simpson set an NFL rushing record of 250 yards on 29 carries and his 80-yard TD proved to be the longest NFL run from scrimmage in 1973. Larry Watkins, O. J.'s running mate, gained 105 yards on 18 carries and their total of 355 yards was the highest ever by two men on the same club. Simpson broke Willie Ellison's record of 247 yards in 1971 with the Rams. Rookie Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks quipped "it looked like a track meet out there."
Line: Bills by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Buffalo Bills (1-0-0) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
 New England Patriots (0-1-0) | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
( 0- 6) NE Sam Cunningham 7 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7- 6) BUF O.J. Simpson 80 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(10- 6) BUF John Leypoldt 48 yard field goal
(17- 6) BUF Larry Watkins 4 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(17-13) NE Mack Herron 10 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
(24-13) BUF O.J. Simpson 22 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(31-13) BUF Larry Watkins 15 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
BUF NE
First Downs: 23 17
Rushes-yards: 51-360 26-107
Yards/rush: 7.1 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-12-116-1 16-27-226-1
Sacked-yards: 2-17 3-36
Net pass yards: 99 190
Net yards/pass: 7.1 6.3
Total net yards: 459 297
Total plays: 65 (78% run) 56 (46% run)
Yards/play: 7.1 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-3
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 11-95 4-40
Attendance: 56,119
Passing:
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 7 of 9 for 109 yards (1 int); Joe Ferguson, 1 of 2 for 10 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 of 1 for -3 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 27 for 226 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 29 for 250 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Watkins, 18 for 105 yards and 2 TDs; Joe Ferguson, 2 for 4 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 1 yard NE: Sam Cunningham, 12 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 9 for 33 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 12 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 44 yards; J.D. Hill, 3 for 37 yards; Larry Watkins, 2 for 38 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -3 yards NE: Bob Adams, 3 for 35 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 29 yards; Reggie Rucker, 3 for 26 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 55 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 26 yards; Bob Windsor, 2 for 26 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 47 yards NE: Mack Herron, 4 for 88 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 1 for 17 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 0 yards NE: Ron Acks, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 2 for 85 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 2 for 79 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/2 NE: Bill Bell, 0/1
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 7 of 9 for 109 yards (1 int); Joe Ferguson, 1 of 2 for 10 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 of 1 for -3 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 27 for 226 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 29 for 250 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Watkins, 18 for 105 yards and 2 TDs; Joe Ferguson, 2 for 4 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 1 yard NE: Sam Cunningham, 12 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 9 for 33 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 12 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 44 yards; J.D. Hill, 3 for 37 yards; Larry Watkins, 2 for 38 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for -3 yards NE: Bob Adams, 3 for 35 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 29 yards; Reggie Rucker, 3 for 26 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 55 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 26 yards; Bob Windsor, 2 for 26 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 47 yards NE: Mack Herron, 4 for 88 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 1 for 17 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Tony Greene, 1 for 0 yards NE: Ron Acks, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 2 for 85 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 2 for 79 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/2 NE: Bill Bell, 0/1