NFL game summary for 09/29/1974:
Buffalo gained 223 yards on the ground and none in the air in a game played in driving rain and 45-mile-an-hour gusts. Neither team completed a pass until Joe Namath hit David Knight with 1:50 to go in the last quarter. O. J. Simpson gained 117 yards and Jim Braxton 84, with Braxton scoring the winner on a 21-yard run in the last period. Despite the wind that made punting a disaster, John Leypoldt kicked a FG for Buffalo and Bobby Howfield booted two for the Jets. O. J. Simpson moved into first place among rushers for the first time in 1974 on the strength of his 117-yard performance.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 142.0 (12) | 222.5 (2) | 364.5 (3) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 123.5 (10) | 179.0 (20) | 302.5 (17) | 2 | |
 | OFFENSE | 153.5 (7) | 131.5 (16) | 285.0 (9) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 164.0 (22) | 86.0 (5) | 250.0 (8) | 5 |
Line: Bills by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (1-2-0) | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| Buffalo Bills (2-1-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
( 0- 7) BUF Joe Ferguson 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 0-10) BUF John Leypoldt 21 yard field goal
( 6-10) NYJ John Riggins 13 yard rush (kick failed)
( 9-10) NYJ Bobby Howfield 31 yard field goal
(12-10) NYJ Bobby Howfield 40 yard field goal
(12-16) BUF Jim Braxton 21 yard rush (kick failed)
NYJ BUF
First Downs: 7 17
Rushes-yards: 33-106 61-223
Yards/rush: 3.2 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 2-18-33-3 0-2-0-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 0-0
Net pass yards: 33 0
Net yards/pass: 1.8 0.0
Total net yards: 139 223
Total plays: 51 (64% run) 63 (96% run)
Yards/play: 2.7 3.5
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 4-2
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 6-42 4-36
Attendance: 76,866
Passing:
NYJ: Joe Namath, 2 of 18 for 33 yards (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 0 of 2 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 17 for 69 yards; John Riggins, 15 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 31 for 117 yards; Jim Braxton, 17 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Joe Ferguson, 10 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Larry Watkins, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Willie Brister, 1 for 21 yards; David Knight, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 2 for 59 yards; Burgess Owens, 1 for 18 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 44 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 3 for 29 yards; Lou Piccone, 1 for 13 yards BUF: Donnie Walker, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Rich Lewis, 1 for 33 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 20 yards; Robert James, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Greg Gantt, 7 for 234 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 7 for 220 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/2 BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1
NYJ: Joe Namath, 2 of 18 for 33 yards (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 0 of 2 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Emerson Boozer, 17 for 69 yards; John Riggins, 15 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 31 for 117 yards; Jim Braxton, 17 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Joe Ferguson, 10 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Larry Watkins, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Willie Brister, 1 for 21 yards; David Knight, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 2 for 59 yards; Burgess Owens, 1 for 18 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Wallace Francis, 2 for 44 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Jazz Jackson, 3 for 29 yards; Lou Piccone, 1 for 13 yards BUF: Donnie Walker, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Rich Lewis, 1 for 33 yards; Tony Greene, 1 for 20 yards; Robert James, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Greg Gantt, 7 for 234 yards BUF: Spike Jones, 7 for 220 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Bobby Howfield, 2/2 BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/1