NFL game summary for 09/22/1974:
Jim Plunkett threw for three touchdowns and Mack Herron and Sam Cunningham provided 74 and 76 rushing yards, respectively, as the Patriots won their first two games for the first time since 1964. With the score tied at 14-14, the Patriots' defense stopped the Giants four times within the 4-yard line just before halftime. Plunkett's 14-yard pass to Cunningham broke the tie in the third period.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 196.0 (5) | 177.0 (8) | 373.0 (4) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 89.0 (3) | 221.0 (25) | 310.0 (18) | 2 | |
 | OFFENSE | 98.0 (20) | 60.0 (22) | 158.0 (23) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 128.0 (12) | 109.0 (12) | 237.0 (9) | 2 |
Line: Giants by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-0-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| New York Giants (0-2-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
( 0- 7) NYG Ron Johnson 21 yard pass from Norm Snead (Pete Gogolak kick)
( 7- 7) NE Mack Herron 12 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
( 7-14) NYG Joe Dawkins 1 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
(14-14) NE Randy Vataha 38 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
(21-14) NE Sam Cunningham 14 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
(28-14) NE Mack Herron 4 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(28-20) NYG Ron Johnson 9 yard pass from Norm Snead (kick failed)
NE NYG
First Downs: 18 20
Rushes-yards: 35-173 32-54
Yards/rush: 4.9 1.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-17-152-0 28-35-272-1
Sacked-yards: 1-7 2-18
Net pass yards: 145 254
Net yards/pass: 8.1 6.9
Total net yards: 318 308
Total plays: 53 (66% run) 69 (46% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 4.5
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-0
Turnovers: 0 1
Penalties-yards: 6-55 0-0
Attendance: 44,082
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 11 of 17 for 152 yards and 3 TDs NYG: Norm Snead, 28 of 35 for 272 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 76 yards; Mack Herron, 13 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 2 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for -2 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 17 for 27 yards; Joe Dawkins, 10 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Doug Kotar, 5 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Bob Windsor, 1 for 11 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 4 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 10 for 74 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Tucker, 6 for 57 yards; Bob Grim, 4 for 73 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 34 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 29 yards; Ray Rhodes, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 79 yards; Steve Schubert, 2 for 49 yards NYG: Leon McQuay, 4 for 150 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 26 yards NYG: Ray Rhodes, 2 for -3 yards; Pete Athas, 1 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Geddes, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NE: Bruce Barnes, 4 for 151 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 4 for 184 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 0/1
NE: Jim Plunkett, 11 of 17 for 152 yards and 3 TDs NYG: Norm Snead, 28 of 35 for 272 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 76 yards; Mack Herron, 13 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 2 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 3 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for -2 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 17 for 27 yards; Joe Dawkins, 10 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Doug Kotar, 5 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 20 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Bob Windsor, 1 for 11 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 4 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 10 for 74 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Tucker, 6 for 57 yards; Bob Grim, 4 for 73 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 34 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 29 yards; Ray Rhodes, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 79 yards; Steve Schubert, 2 for 49 yards NYG: Leon McQuay, 4 for 150 yards; Doug Kotar, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mack Herron, 2 for 26 yards NYG: Ray Rhodes, 2 for -3 yards; Pete Athas, 1 for 18 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Geddes, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NE: Bruce Barnes, 4 for 151 yards NYG: Dave Jennings, 4 for 184 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 0/1