NFL game summary for 11/03/1974:

The Bills took over undisputed possession of first place in the AFC East with their sixth straight win and a sweep of the important home-and-home series with the Patriots. John Leypoldt's third field goal, a 47-yard boot, proved to be the victory margin in a seesaw battle finally decided when the Bills' Jeff Yeates, aided by Dave Washington, blocked a 46-yard field goal attempt by John Smith with 56 seconds left. Jim Plunkett threw two touchdown passes for the losers and Mack Herron tied a club record with three touchdowns and gained 169 yards on runs, catches and kickoff returns.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Team		Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
Buffalo Bills	OFFENSE	166.4  (5)	111.4  (24)	277.9  (14)	10
	DEFENSE	140.4  (14)	89.6  (1)	230.0  (3)	16
New England Patriots	OFFENSE	174.9  (1)	162.1  (10)	337.0  (5)	14
	DEFENSE	110.0  (4)	182.4  (23)	292.4  (14)	18

Line: Patriots by 3

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Buffalo Bills (7-1-0)	6	13	7	3	29
New England Patriots (6-2-0)	7	14	7	0	28

( 3- 0) BUF John Leypoldt 45 yard field goal
( 3- 7) NE  Mack Herron 43 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
( 6- 7) BUF John Leypoldt 20 yard field goal
( 6-14) NE  Mack Herron 20 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
(12-14) BUF Ahmad Rashad 25 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (kick failed)
(12-21) NE  Sam Cunningham 31 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(19-21) BUF O.J. Simpson 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
(26-21) BUF Dave Washington 72 yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick)
(26-28) NE  Mack Herron 2 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(29-28) BUF John Leypoldt 47 yard field goal

                     BUF             NE
First Downs:         22              20
Rushes-yards:        27-103          38-155
Yards/rush:          3.8             4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-25-247-2     12-28-204-3
Sacked-yards:        3-23            1-4
Net pass yards:      224             200
Net yards/pass:      8.0             6.9
Total net yards:     327             355
Total plays:         55 (49% run)    67 (56% run)  
Yards/play:          5.9             5.3
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             1-0
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     5-37            6-40

Attendance: 58,932

Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 16 of 24 for 247 yards and 1 TD (2 int); O.J. Simpson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
NE: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 28 for 204 yards and 2 TDs (3 int)

Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 19 for 74 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 7 for 14 yards; Joe Ferguson, 1 for 15 yards
NE: Sam Cunningham, 18 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Mack Herron, 17 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 9 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for -8 yards

Receiving:
BUF: Ahmad Rashad, 8 for 115 yards and 1 TD; J.D. Hill, 4 for 67 yards; Paul Seymour, 2 for 35 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 30 yards
NE: Mack Herron, 4 for 77 yards and 2 TDs; Randy Vataha, 2 for 40 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 34 yards; Bob Adams, 1 for 24 yards; John Tanner, 1 for 21 yards; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 6 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 2 yards

Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 4 for 152 yards
NE: Eddie Hinton, 3 for 83 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 46 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 23 yards; Joe Wilson, 1 for 18 yards

Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 2 for 24 yards

Interceptions:
BUF: Dave Washington, 1 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Merv Krakau, 1 for 37 yards; Robert James, 1 for 0 yards
NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 27 yards; Ron Bolton, 1 for 8 yards

Punting:
NE: Bruce Barnes, 2 for 76 yards

Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 3/4
NE: John Smith, 0/2

---