NFL game summary for 12/08/1974:
The Jets won their fifth straight and made the Bills settle for the wild card berth in the AFC playoffs. Joe Namath rallied the Jets, throwing a touchdown pass to Jerome Barkum with four minutes to play to erase a 10-6 Buffalo lead. Namath also hit Rich Caster for a score. Linebacker Ralph Baker ran 67 yards after picking off a Joe Ferguson pass to clinch the decision.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 154.9 (6) | 107.4 (25) | 262.3 (17) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 133.8 (14) | 111.3 (2) | 245.2 (4) | 29 | |
 | OFFENSE | 116.7 (18) | 170.4 (7) | 287.1 (12) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 169.3 (24) | 135.0 (6) | 304.3 (17) | 19 |
Line: Bills by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (9-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| New York Jets (6-7-0) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 20 |
( 7- 0) BUF J.D. Hill 4 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7- 6) NYJ Rich Caster 19 yard pass from Joe Namath (kick failed)
(10- 6) BUF John Leypoldt 36 yard field goal
(10-13) NYJ Jerome Barkum 36 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
(10-20) NYJ Ralph Baker 67 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick)
BUF NYJ
First Downs: 12 12
Rushes-yards: 38-126 33-95
Yards/rush: 3.3 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-19-103-1 8-19-131-0
Sacked-yards: 2-9 0-0
Net pass yards: 94 131
Net yards/pass: 4.5 6.9
Total net yards: 220 226
Total plays: 59 (64% run) 52 (63% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 5-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 6-35 5-25
Attendance: 31,982
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 5 of 16 for 76 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Gary Marangi, 2 of 3 for 27 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 8 of 19 for 131 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: Don Calhoun, 18 for 71 yards; O.J. Simpson, 15 for 48 yards; Joe Ferguson, 5 for 7 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 14 for 41 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 14 for 41 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 9 yards; Emerson Boozer, 1 for 4 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards; Jazz Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 19 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 10 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 1 for 20 yards NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 2 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 2 for 13 yards; David Knight, 1 for 20 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 3 for 89 yards; Bo Cornell, 1 for 13 yards NYJ: Roscoe Word, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 2 for 64 yards NYJ: Roscoe Word, 4 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Ralph Baker, 1 for 67 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 6 for 260 yards NYJ: Greg Gantt, 6 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/3
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 5 of 16 for 76 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Gary Marangi, 2 of 3 for 27 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 8 of 19 for 131 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
BUF: Don Calhoun, 18 for 71 yards; O.J. Simpson, 15 for 48 yards; Joe Ferguson, 5 for 7 yards NYJ: John Riggins, 14 for 41 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 14 for 41 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 9 yards; Emerson Boozer, 1 for 4 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards; Jazz Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: J.D. Hill, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 19 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 10 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 1 for 20 yards NYJ: Jerome Barkum, 2 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Rich Caster, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John Riggins, 2 for 13 yards; David Knight, 1 for 20 yards; Hank Bjorklund, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Wallace Francis, 3 for 89 yards; Bo Cornell, 1 for 13 yards NYJ: Roscoe Word, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Donnie Walker, 2 for 64 yards NYJ: Roscoe Word, 4 for 28 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Ralph Baker, 1 for 67 yards and 1 TD
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 6 for 260 yards NYJ: Greg Gantt, 6 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: John Leypoldt, 1/3