NFL game summary for 09/30/1973:
Mercury Morris set a Miami club record by rushing for 197 yards on 15 carries and raced for 3 TDs on runs of 24, 70 and 35 yards. Bob Griese also hit Paul Warfield with a TD pass and Nick Buoniconti rumbled 13 yards for a score after recovering a New England fumble. The Patriots rolled up 356 yards against the Dolphins' defense with John Tarver scoring twice on 2-yard plunges and Reggie Rucker on a 9-yard pass from Jim Plunkett.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 73.5 (26) | 176.0 (10) | 249.5 (20) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 254.5 (26) | 127.5 (9) | 382.0 (24) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 138.0 (13) | 99.0 (23) | 237.0 (23) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 142.5 (13) | 108.5 (5) | 251.0 (9) | 1 |
Line: Dolphins by 20
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (0-3-0) | 0 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 23 |
| Miami Dolphins (2-1-0) | 0 | 20 | 3 | 21 | 44 |
( 0- 3) MIA Garo Yepremian 40 yard field goal
( 0- 6) MIA Garo Yepremian 36 yard field goal
( 0-13) MIA Mercury Morris 24 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-20) MIA Mercury Morris 70 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-20) NE Bill Bell 36 yard field goal
( 3-23) MIA Garo Yepremian 40 yard field goal
( 9-23) NE John Tarver 2 yard rush (kick failed)
(16-23) NE John Tarver 2 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
(16-30) MIA Mercury Morris 35 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(16-37) MIA Paul Warfield 17 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(23-37) NE Reggie Rucker 9 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Bill Bell kick)
(23-44) MIA Nick Buoniconti 13 yard fumble return (Garo Yepremian kick)
NE MIA
First Downs: 21 16
Rushes-yards: 39-143 38-301
Yards/rush: 3.7 7.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-30-230-1 8-12-74-0
Sacked-yards: 2-17 3-21
Net pass yards: 213 53
Net yards/pass: 6.7 3.5
Total net yards: 356 354
Total plays: 71 (54% run) 53 (71% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 6.7
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 1-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 4-36 5-41
Attendance: 62,508
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 30 for 230 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 8 of 12 for 74 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: John Tarver, 17 for 66 yards and 2 TDs; Josh Ashton, 13 for 65 yards; Sam Cunningham, 5 for 9 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for -6 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 18 for 80 yards; Mercury Morris, 15 for 197 yards and 3 TDs; Jim Kiick, 4 for 15 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 3 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 3 for 53 yards; John Tarver, 3 for 29 yards; Bob Adams, 3 for 18 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 46 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 4 yards MIA: Paul Warfield, 2 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Marv Fleming, 2 for 19 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 6 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 12 yards; Howard Twilley, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 60 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 42 yards MIA: Mercury Morris, 2 for 48 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Darryl Stingley, 1 for 16 yards MIA: Dick Anderson, 1 for 2 yards; Charlie Leigh, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Dick Anderson, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
NE: Bruce Barnes, 4 for 144 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 126 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Bill Bell, 1/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3
NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 30 for 230 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 8 of 12 for 74 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: John Tarver, 17 for 66 yards and 2 TDs; Josh Ashton, 13 for 65 yards; Sam Cunningham, 5 for 9 yards; Jim Plunkett, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for -6 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 18 for 80 yards; Mercury Morris, 15 for 197 yards and 3 TDs; Jim Kiick, 4 for 15 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 3 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 3 for 53 yards; John Tarver, 3 for 29 yards; Bob Adams, 3 for 18 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 46 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 4 yards MIA: Paul Warfield, 2 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Marv Fleming, 2 for 19 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 6 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 12 yards; Howard Twilley, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 60 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 42 yards MIA: Mercury Morris, 2 for 48 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Darryl Stingley, 1 for 16 yards MIA: Dick Anderson, 1 for 2 yards; Charlie Leigh, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Dick Anderson, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
NE: Bruce Barnes, 4 for 144 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 126 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Bill Bell, 1/2 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3