NFL game summary for 12/16/1973:
O.J. Simpson smashed Jim Brown's rushing record, set in 1963, and became the first to reach 2,000 yards with 200 yards on 34 carries for a season total of 2,003 yards. Simpson's 332 carries also topped Brown's 305 in 1961 and Buffalo broke Miami's club rushing mark with 3,088 yards, including 304 in this game versus the Jets in the snow. Jim Braxton gained 98 yards for the Bills and scored twice. The only New York scores in retiring coach Weeb Ewbank's last game came on two Joe Namath passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 214.2 (1) | 71.3 (26) | 285.5 (15) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 135.2 (8) | 148.8 (16) | 284.0 (14) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 140.4 (13) | 144.0 (12) | 284.4 (16) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 148.0 (16) | 144.6 (15) | 292.6 (15) | 37 |
Line: Jets by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (9-5-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
| New York Jets (4-10-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7- 7) NYJ Jerome Barkum 48 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
(14- 7) BUF O.J. Simpson 13 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(21- 7) BUF Bill Cahill 51 yard punt return (John Leypoldt kick)
(28- 7) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(31- 7) BUF John Leypoldt 12 yard field goal
(34- 7) BUF John Leypoldt 11 yard field goal
(34-14) NYJ Rich Caster 16 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
BUF NYJ
First Downs: 21 12
Rushes-yards: 62-304 11-39
Yards/rush: 4.9 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 3-5-70-0 13-30-206-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-22
Net pass yards: 70 184
Net yards/pass: 14.0 5.6
Total net yards: 374 223
Total plays: 67 (92% run) 44 (25% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 1-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 2-10 0-0
Attendance: 47,740
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 5 for 70 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 13 of 30 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 34 for 200 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 24 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Watkins, 2 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 7 for 32 yards; Mike Adamle, 3 for 6 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 2 for 55 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 4 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 3 for 58 yards and 1 TD; David Knight, 2 for 23 yards; Emerson Boozer, 2 for 12 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 11 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 51 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Margene Adkins, 4 for 77 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 4 for 21 yards; Bill Cahill, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Rocky Turner, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 2 for 69 yards NYJ: Julian Fagan, 7 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/2
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 3 of 5 for 70 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 13 of 30 for 206 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 34 for 200 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 24 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Watkins, 2 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 7 for 32 yards; Mike Adamle, 3 for 6 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 2 for 55 yards; Jim Braxton, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 4 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 3 for 58 yards and 1 TD; David Knight, 2 for 23 yards; Emerson Boozer, 2 for 12 yards; Eddie Bell, 1 for 11 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 51 yards; Pete Van Valkenberg, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Margene Adkins, 4 for 77 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 4 for 21 yards; Bill Cahill, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Rocky Turner, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 2 for 69 yards NYJ: Julian Fagan, 7 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 2/2