All NFL game summaries for 09/21/1975:

O. J. Simpson got off to a fast start by rushing for 173 yards on 32 carries and scoring two touchdowns in a crushing victory. He also had 68 yards nullified by penalties that kept him from passing the 200 yard mark. Joe Ferguson threw only 13 passes but he completed seven, two for scores to Paul Seymour and Jim Braxton. Ferguson also ran for a touchdown and defensive end Pat Toomay picked off a Joe Namath pass and ran 44 yards for a score. Namath was intercepted four times and sacked twice by the Bills' defense that included rookies Ed Jones and Steve Freeman at the safety posts. John Riggins carried 10 times for 61 yards for the Jets who trailed only 21-14 at the half. Buffalo punter Marv Bateman had a 74-yard boot in game, the longest punt in 1975 in the AFC.

Line: Even

                     NYJ             BUF
First Downs:         17              26
Rushes-yards:        21-111          64-309
Yards/rush:          5.3             4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-36-173-4     7-13-67-0
Sacked-yards:        2-23            2-15
Net pass yards:      150             52
Net yards/pass:      3.9             3.5
Total net yards:     261             361
Total plays:         59 (35% run)    79 (81% run)  
Yards/play:          4.4             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             0-0
Turnovers:           5               0
Penalties-yards:     7-58            9-89

Attendance: 77,837

---

Colts quarterback Bert Jones, whose father, Dub Jones, scored six touchdowns against the Bears in a 1951 game, had a pair of touchdown passes to Glenn Doughty among his 15 completions to make Baltimore coach Ted Marchibroda's debut a success and the first game of Bears' coach Jack Pardee a disappointment. Baltimore's defense had two interceptions and limited Chicago to 121 yards.

Line: Bears by 3

                     BAL             CHI
First Downs:         26              6
Rushes-yards:        49-168          18-47
Yards/rush:          3.4             2.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-24-177-0     8-20-87-2
Sacked-yards:        4-41            2-13
Net pass yards:      136             74
Net yards/pass:      4.9             3.4
Total net yards:     304             121
Total plays:         77 (63% run)    40 (45% run)  
Yards/play:          3.9             3.0
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             0-0
Turnovers:           0               2
Penalties-yards:     7-70            4-49

Attendance: 51,678

---

Ken Anderson's passes helped Cincinnati build up a 24-3 early lead and the Bengals' defense stood off a late Cleveland threat for their fourth straight victory in the all-Ohio series. The Browns were inside the Cincinnati 2 six times in the second half but fumbled poor snaps and the Bengals' defense turned back the threats. Anderson completed 17 of 27 for 287 yards, 203 in the first half and threw a TD pass to Isaac Curtis. Lenvil Elliott ran for 72 yards and one TD and Boobie Clark rushed for 51 yards and one TD as the Bengals wound up with 379 yards total offense. Greg Pruitt topped the Browns with 66 yards and one TD.

Line: Bengals by 10

                     CLE             CIN
First Downs:         17              24
Rushes-yards:        32-105          40-127
Yards/rush:          3.3             3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-22-156-0     17-27-287-0
Sacked-yards:        3-31            3-35
Net pass yards:      125             252
Net yards/pass:      5.0             8.4
Total net yards:     230             379
Total plays:         57 (56% run)    70 (57% run)  
Yards/play:          4.0             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        6-1             2-2
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     2-23            3-20

Attendance: 52,874

---

The Cowboys defense limited the Rams highly-respected offense to only 148 yards (128 rushing, 20 passing) while permitting Los Angeles to drive across midfield only once, and kicker Toni Fritsch made four field goals (25, 39, 19, and 31 yards) as Dallas won its 11th consecutive opening game. Doug Dennison's one-yard touchdown was set up by the first of two interceptions by cornerback Mel Renfro. Robert Newhouse rushed 22 times for 88 yards. Roger Staubach completed 10 passes for 106 yards and rushed for 56 while occasionally operating out of the shotgun formation.

Line: Rams by 6

                     LA              DAL
First Downs:         11              18
Rushes-yards:        33-128          49-197
Yards/rush:          3.9             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     4-17-41-3       10-24-106-0
Sacked-yards:        3-21            4-26
Net pass yards:      20              80
Net yards/pass:      1.0             2.9
Total net yards:     148             277
Total plays:         53 (62% run)    77 (63% run)  
Yards/play:          2.8             3.6
Fumbles-lost:        5-1             1-1
Turnovers:           4               1
Penalties-yards:     4-40            8-64

Attendance: 49,091

---

A wild, free-scoring contest in which the Broncos, trailing 33-24 midway through the last quarter, came to life with two TDs for victory. Bill Van Heusen caught a 10-yard pass from Charley Johnson for the winner after the Broncos scored when Otis Armstrong ran 33 yards before fumbling on the two and Jack Dolbin picked up the loose ball for the TD. Rick Upchurch, rookie from Minnesota, scored on a 13-yard reverse, returned three kickoffs for 88 yards and a punt for 30 yards and caught three passes for 153 yards including a 90-yard TD, for a remarkable record first day effort of 286 yards. The Chiefs, making their debut under coach Paul Wiggin, held an early 10-0 lead and the 33-24 edge in the final period. Johnson threw three TD passes for the Broncos with 12 for 329 yards and Mike Livingston hit with 13 of 27 for 221 yards and two TDs. Jan Stenerud kicked four field goals in six attempts.

Line: Broncos by 7

                     KC              DEN
First Downs:         18              16
Rushes-yards:        40-146          31-127
Yards/rush:          3.6             4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-27-221-0     12-20-329-2
Sacked-yards:        5-55            4-31
Net pass yards:      166             298
Net yards/pass:      5.2             12.4
Total net yards:     312             425
Total plays:         72 (55% run)    55 (56% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             7.7
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             3-2
Turnovers:           2               4
Penalties-yards:     5-57            9-89

Attendance: 51,858

---

An extraordinary performance by the Lions' special teams turned Bart Starr's debut as head coach into a disaster. Detroit blocked three Green Bay punts, an NFL one-game record. Levi Johnson blocked the first-ever NFL punt by Steve Broussard and fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Johnson blocked another punt in the second period and linebacker Larry Ball picked up the ball and raced 34 yards to score. In the third period, Ben Davis smothered another punt which was recovered by Jim Mitchell. Three plays later, Dexter Bussey scored.

Line: Packers by 5

                     DET             GB
First Downs:         10              15
Rushes-yards:        40-117          31-93
Yards/rush:          2.9             3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-12-143-0      13-33-167-2
Sacked-yards:        4-30            6-43
Net pass yards:      113             124
Net yards/pass:      7.1             3.2
Total net yards:     230             217
Total plays:         56 (71% run)    70 (44% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             3.1
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             1-1
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     4-26            6-40

Attendance: 50,781

---

There was nothing spectacular about the Vikings' opening victory as they began a quest for a third consecutive NFC title. The defense kept the 49ers under control with four sacks and recovered three fumbles, including strong safety Terry Brown's pickup and 26-yard return for a touchdown. Brent McClanahan, starting in place of Chuck Foreman, who had just recovered from a sore knee, rushed 61 yards and caught six passes for 73. John Gilliam caught three passes for 43 yards as Fran Tarkenton completed 14 of 26 for 165 yards and a 10-yard touchdown to McClanahan.

Line: Vikings by 7

                     SF              MIN
First Downs:         16              17
Rushes-yards:        28-100          38-126
Yards/rush:          3.6             3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-27-173-0     14-26-165-2
Sacked-yards:        4-28            2-12
Net pass yards:      145             153
Net yards/pass:      4.7             5.5
Total net yards:     245             279
Total plays:         59 (47% run)    66 (57% run)  
Yards/play:          4.2             4.2
Fumbles-lost:        4-3             0-0
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     9-60            6-40

Attendance: 46,479

---

Injured Jim Plunkett watched from the bench as his Patriots and the Houston Oilers struggled in a driving rainstorm with the only score coming on Willie Germany's 48-yard run with a fumble recovery in the first period. New England took the opening kickoff and moved to two quick first downs before Mack Herron fumbled and Germany picked up the loose ball and sprinted into the end zone. Neil Graff made his first start as Patriot QB and completed 10 of 18 for a losing cause. Rookie running back Don Hardeman broke in with a fine performance, gaining 96 yards on 18 carries although he did not start.

Line: Oilers by 3

                     HOU             NE
First Downs:         7               17
Rushes-yards:        33-116          52-179
Yards/rush:          3.5             3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     6-16-53-1       12-24-116-1
Sacked-yards:        0-0             2-16
Net pass yards:      53              100
Net yards/pass:      3.3             3.8
Total net yards:     169             279
Total plays:         49 (67% run)    78 (66% run)  
Yards/play:          3.4             3.6
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             2-2
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     7-37            4-28

Attendance: 51,934

---

Ron Johnson's second touchdown, a three-yard bolt at the end of a 49-yard drive with 45 seconds remaining until halftime, provided the Giants with a 13-7 lead. Philadelphia, sparked by quarterback Roman Gabriel, who relieved Mike Boryla, pulled within 16-14 with 55 seconds remaining, but Craig Morton's 50-yard scoring pass to Ray Rhodes iced the New York victory.

Line: Eagles by 3

                     NYG             PHI
First Downs:         15              24
Rushes-yards:        40-96           32-99
Yards/rush:          2.4             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-28-240-1     28-44-278-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             3-14
Net pass yards:      240             264
Net yards/pass:      8.6             5.6
Total net yards:     336             363
Total plays:         68 (58% run)    79 (40% run)  
Yards/play:          4.9             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             2-1
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     3-13            5-35

Attendance: 60,798

---

Terry Bradshaw started out where he left off in Super Bowl IX by completing 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns while completely dominating the Chargers. J. T. Thomas, Glen Edwards and Donnie Shell each picked off an interception, one each from San Diego's three quarterbacks -- starter Virgil Carter, Dan Fouts and Jesse Freitas. Franco Harris rushed 17 limes for 78 yards and Rocky Bleier, his running mate, 14 for 43. Don Woods, San Diego's rookie star of 1974, gained 35 yards on 13 attempts.

Line: Steelers by 13

                     PIT             SD
First Downs:         24              9
Rushes-yards:        45-205          23-88
Yards/rush:          4.6             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     22-29-246-0     12-23-86-3
Sacked-yards:        1-8             4-28
Net pass yards:      238             58
Net yards/pass:      7.9             2.1
Total net yards:     443             146
Total plays:         75 (60% run)    50 (46% run)  
Yards/play:          5.9             2.9
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             2-1
Turnovers:           2               4
Penalties-yards:     4-31            8-54

Attendance: 35,853

---

Jim Bakken kicked a 25-yard field goal as time ran out to provide the fourth straight opening game victory for the Cardinals, who trailed 13-20 with five minutes left. An eight-yard touchdown pass from Jim Hart to Earl Thomas tied the score, then Hart directed a 72-yard drive in the final 1:49 to set up Bakken's third and decisive field goal. Atlanta's Dave Hampton ran 23 times for 135 yards and two TDs.

Line: Cardinals by 10

                     ATL             STL
First Downs:         19              18
Rushes-yards:        51-236          36-167
Yards/rush:          4.6             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-16-81-1       12-23-150-2
Sacked-yards:        3-23            0-0
Net pass yards:      58              150
Net yards/pass:      3.1             6.5
Total net yards:     294             317
Total plays:         70 (72% run)    59 (61% run)  
Yards/play:          4.2             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             1-1
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     6-40            1-8

Attendance: 42,172

---

The Redskins' Billy Kilmer unleashed four touchdown passes that bombed the Saints and provided coach George Allen with his 10th consecutive opening game victory. Kilmer threw scoring passes of 11 and 5 yards to Charley Taylor, 27 yards to rookie running back Ralph Nelson, and 14 yards to Jerry Smith. Larry Brown, who had not run a single play in preseason, started and rushed 12 times for 57 yards.

Line: Redskins by 14

                     NO              WAS
First Downs:         9               19
Rushes-yards:        21-71           35-136
Yards/rush:          3.4             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-35-153-2     14-26-199-1
Sacked-yards:        2-16            5-20
Net pass yards:      137             179
Net yards/pass:      3.7             5.8
Total net yards:     208             315
Total plays:         58 (36% run)    66 (53% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             4.8
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             0-0
Turnovers:           3               1
Penalties-yards:     3-27            0-0

Attendance: 54,414

---