NFL game summary for 09/15/1974:
The passing of Jim Plunkett and the running of Mack Herron and Sam Cunningham enabled the Patriots to surprise the defending Super Bowl champs 34-24, while the defense held Miami's strong rushing game to 89 yards. Plunkett passed to Reggie Rucker for one TD and ran for another, completing 14 of 24 passes. Herron rushed for 88 yards and one TD and Cunningham ran for 87 yards and also scored once. Larry Csonka scored two Miami TDs but was held to 62 yards on 17 carries.
Line: Dolphins by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Miami Dolphins (0-1-0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
 New England Patriots (1-0-0) | 7 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
( 0- 7) NE Mack Herron 14 yard rush (John Smith kick)
( 7- 7) MIA Larry Csonka 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 7-14) NE Reggie Rucker 13 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
( 7-17) NE John Smith 21 yard field goal
( 7-24) NE Jim Plunkett 5 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(10-24) MIA Garo Yepremian 33 yard field goal
(10-31) NE Sam Cunningham 13 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(17-31) MIA Marlin Briscoe 13 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
(24-31) MIA Larry Csonka 3 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(24-34) NE John Smith 26 yard field goal
MIA NE
First Downs: 18 22
Rushes-yards: 29-89 44-196
Yards/rush: 3.1 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-30-254-1 14-24-177-1
Sacked-yards: 5-33 0-0
Net pass yards: 221 177
Net yards/pass: 6.3 7.4
Total net yards: 310 373
Total plays: 64 (45% run) 68 (64% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 3-25 3-25
Attendance: 51,508
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 19 of 29 for 254 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Marlin Briscoe, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 24 for 177 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 17 for 62 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Kiick, 11 for 10 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 17 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 87 yards and 1 TD; Mack Herron, 18 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 13 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Marlin Briscoe, 9 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Paul Warfield, 5 for 104 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 17 yards; Larry Csonka, 2 for 13 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 7 yards NE: Bob Windsor, 4 for 33 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 57 yards; Reggie Rucker, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 29 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Nat Moore, 5 for 146 yards; Charlie Leigh, 2 for 50 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 70 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 30 yards; Sandy Durko, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Nat Moore, 2 for 15 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 26 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 4 for 118 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 3 for 114 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 2/3
MIA: Bob Griese, 19 of 29 for 254 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Marlin Briscoe, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 14 of 24 for 177 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 17 for 62 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Kiick, 11 for 10 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 17 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 87 yards and 1 TD; Mack Herron, 18 for 88 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 4 for 13 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Marlin Briscoe, 9 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Paul Warfield, 5 for 104 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 17 yards; Larry Csonka, 2 for 13 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 7 yards NE: Bob Windsor, 4 for 33 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 57 yards; Reggie Rucker, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 29 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Nat Moore, 5 for 146 yards; Charlie Leigh, 2 for 50 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 70 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 30 yards; Sandy Durko, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Nat Moore, 2 for 15 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Jake Scott, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 26 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 4 for 118 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 3 for 114 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 2/3