NFL game summary for 09/21/1975:
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
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Houston Oilers (1-0-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
 New England Patriots (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) HOU Willie Germany 48 yard fumble return (Skip Butler kick)
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
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 of 16 for 53 yards (1 int) NE: Neil Graff, 10 of 18 for 95 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 of 6 for 21 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Don Hardeman, 18 for 96 yards; Fred Willis, 5 for 15 yards; Robert Holmes, 5 for 0 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 6 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for -1 yards NE: Leon McQuay, 20 for 47 yards; Sam Cunningham, 16 for 60 yards; Mack Herron, 8 for 34 yards; Allen Carter, 4 for 15 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 11 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 10 yards; Neil Graff, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 32 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 13 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 5 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 7 for 55 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 27 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 15 yards; Leon McQuay, 1 for 13 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Mark Cotney, 1 for 12 yards NE: Leon McQuay, 1 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 16 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 4 for 38 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Bob Atkins, 1 for 21 yards NE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: David Beverly, 9 for 348 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 321 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1 NE: John Smith, 0/2
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 of 16 for 53 yards (1 int) NE: Neil Graff, 10 of 18 for 95 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 of 6 for 21 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Don Hardeman, 18 for 96 yards; Fred Willis, 5 for 15 yards; Robert Holmes, 5 for 0 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 6 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for -1 yards NE: Leon McQuay, 20 for 47 yards; Sam Cunningham, 16 for 60 yards; Mack Herron, 8 for 34 yards; Allen Carter, 4 for 15 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 11 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 10 yards; Neil Graff, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 3 for 32 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 13 yards; Robert Holmes, 1 for 5 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 7 for 55 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 27 yards; Russ Francis, 1 for 15 yards; Leon McQuay, 1 for 13 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Mark Cotney, 1 for 12 yards NE: Leon McQuay, 1 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 16 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 4 for 38 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Bob Atkins, 1 for 21 yards NE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: David Beverly, 9 for 348 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 321 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1 NE: John Smith, 0/2