NFL game summary for 10/21/1973:
Miami's "No Name defense" stopped O. J. Simpson's wild rush toward a ground-gaining title and won the battle for first place in the AFC East. O. J., who had seven straight 100-yard plus days dating back to 1972, was held to 55 yards on 14 carries before he left the game with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Bob Griese threw two TD passes to Jim Mandich and the defense sacked the Bills quarterbacks nine times while holding the Bills to one net yard passing. Miami outgained Buffalo 310 yards to 76.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 240.8 (1) | 80.2 (26) | 321.0 (7) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 146.4 (14) | 164.6 (21) | 311.0 (18) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 188.0 (3) | 101.6 (22) | 289.6 (11) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 147.6 (15) | 105.8 (5) | 253.4 (6) | 10 |
Line: Dolphins by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (4-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Miami Dolphins (5-1-0) | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
( 3- 0) BUF John Leypoldt 11 yard field goal
( 3- 3) MIA Garo Yepremian 28 yard field goal
( 3-10) MIA Jim Mandich 2 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-17) MIA Jim Mandich 25 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-24) MIA Mercury Morris 4 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-27) MIA Garo Yepremian 47 yard field goal
( 6-27) BUF John Leypoldt 50 yard field goal
BUF MIA
First Downs: 8 18
Rushes-yards: 32-75 40-183
Yards/rush: 2.3 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-18-60-1 10-21-136-2
Sacked-yards: 9-59 1-9
Net pass yards: 1 127
Net yards/pass: 0.0 5.8
Total net yards: 76 310
Total plays: 59 (54% run) 62 (64% run)
Yards/play: 1.3 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 3-3
Turnovers: 2 5
Penalties-yards: 1-10 4-40
Attendance: 65,241
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 9 for 25 yards (1 int); Dennis Shaw, 3 of 9 for 35 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 10 of 20 for 136 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Earl Morrall, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 14 for 55 yards; Larry Watkins, 10 for 17 yards; Joe Ferguson, 4 for 6 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 2 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 12 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for -17 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 17 for 79 yards; Mercury Morris, 15 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 3 for 19 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 4 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 15 yards; Charlie Leigh, 1 for 5 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 3 for 38 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 7 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Jim Mandich, 4 for 71 yards and 2 TDs; Paul Warfield, 2 for 50 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 8 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 12 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for -5 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 3 for 66 yards; Steve Jones, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 1 for -9 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 3 for 51 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
BUF: Dwight Harrison, 1 for 38 yards; Jim Cheyunski, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Doug Swift, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 5 for 225 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 2 for 88 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/3 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 9 for 25 yards (1 int); Dennis Shaw, 3 of 9 for 35 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 10 of 20 for 136 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Earl Morrall, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 14 for 55 yards; Larry Watkins, 10 for 17 yards; Joe Ferguson, 4 for 6 yards; Steve Jones, 2 for 2 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 12 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for -17 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 17 for 79 yards; Mercury Morris, 15 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 3 for 19 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 4 yards; Paul Warfield, 1 for 15 yards; Charlie Leigh, 1 for 5 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 3 for 38 yards; Bob Chandler, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 7 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 5 yards MIA: Jim Mandich, 4 for 71 yards and 2 TDs; Paul Warfield, 2 for 50 yards; Jim Kiick, 2 for 8 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 12 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for -5 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 3 for 66 yards; Steve Jones, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 1 for -9 yards MIA: Jake Scott, 3 for 51 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
BUF: Dwight Harrison, 1 for 38 yards; Jim Cheyunski, 1 for 0 yards MIA: Doug Swift, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 5 for 225 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 2 for 88 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/3 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2