All NFL game summaries for 10/05/1975:

Dave Hampton rushed for 101 yards on a rain-soaked field and rookie quarterback Steve Bartkowski connected on a pair of scoring plays, but it took a lucky bounce to register the second touchdown. Bartkowski found Ken Burrow for a nine-yard, first period score. In the second period, Bartkowski again connected with Burrow for a 15-yard gain to the Atlanta 38, but Burrow fumbled the ball which bounced ahead to the 50. Falcons' tight end Jim Mitchell picked up the loose ball and raced 50 yards to the end zone.

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

Line: Falcons by 8

                     NO              ATL
First Downs:         14              13
Rushes-yards:        31-120          39-137
Yards/rush:          3.9             3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-31-146-2     11-23-119-1
Sacked-yards:        3-21            2-25
Net pass yards:      125             94
Net yards/pass:      3.7             3.8
Total net yards:     245             231
Total plays:         65 (47% run)    64 (60% run)  
Yards/play:          3.8             3.6
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             3-1
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     8-65            7-62

Attendance: 29,444

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O. J. Simpson continued his blazing start with 138 yards and a record of 538 yards for the first three games. It was O. J.'s 27th 100-yard day and his yardage boosted him into fifth place in the all-time NFL standings with 6,844, passing John Henry Johnson. Jim Braxton, O. J.'s running and blocking mate, rushed for 102 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Bills won their third straight and knocked the Broncos from the unbeaten ranks. Buffalo rolled up 436 yards, held Denver to 47 yards rushing and gave up two touchdown passes, one an 80-yard bomb from John Hufnagel to Rick Upchurch. The anticipated duel between O. J. and Otis Armstrong, the 1974 rushing champ, failed to materialize when Armstrong left the game with rib injuries after one play.

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

Line: Bills by 10½

                     DEN             BUF
First Downs:         13              29
Rushes-yards:        15-47           60-293
Yards/rush:          3.1             4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-36-266-3     9-18-143-0
Sacked-yards:        1-8             0-0
Net pass yards:      258             143
Net yards/pass:      7.0             7.9
Total net yards:     305             436
Total plays:         52 (28% run)    78 (76% run)  
Yards/play:          5.9             5.6
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             3-1
Turnovers:           4               1
Penalties-yards:     4-31            6-46

Attendance: 79,798

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Pittsburgh bounced back from a loss to Buffalo and lowered the boom on the Browns with 42 points and 501 yards of total offense, both highs in the regime of head coach Chuck Noll. Terry Bradshaw completed 7 of 8 for 151 yards and one touchdown before he left with a cut finger on his throwing hand in the second quarter. Joe Gilliam followed with 11 of 15 for 221 yards and two touchdowns before he also suffered an injury to a finger on his throwing hand. Lynn Swann caught five for 126 yards and John Stallworth four for 109 while Franco Harris rushed 17 times for 57 yards. Hugh McKinnis scored the Browns' lone touchdown in the final quarter.

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

Line: Steelers by 11

                     PIT             CLE
First Downs:         23              19
Rushes-yards:        40-134          31-122
Yards/rush:          3.4             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-23-372-0     16-31-136-2
Sacked-yards:        1-5             4-37
Net pass yards:      367             99
Net yards/pass:      15.3            2.8
Total net yards:     501             221
Total plays:         64 (62% run)    66 (46% run)  
Yards/play:          7.8             3.3
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             2-0
Turnovers:           0               2
Penalties-yards:     10-90           7-90

Attendance: 73,217

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The Dolphins, unharnessing a ball-control, 281-yard ground attack, scored on five of their first six possessions. Mercury Morris, with 125 yards on 31 carries, and Don Nottingham, who ran 21 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns (a one-yarder and twice from the 11), paced the 414-yard offense. Bob Griese threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Solomon.

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

Line: Dolphins by 10

                     MIA             GB
First Downs:         25              10
Rushes-yards:        58-281          23-104
Yards/rush:          4.8             4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     7-13-133-0      13-19-123-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             2-22
Net pass yards:      133             101
Net yards/pass:      10.2            4.8
Total net yards:     414             205
Total plays:         71 (81% run)    44 (52% run)  
Yards/play:          5.8             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             0-0
Turnovers:           0               0
Penalties-yards:     6-45            6-45

Attendance: 55,396

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The Bengals staged a dramatic goal line stand, stopping four Houston line thrusts after the Oilers gained a first down on the 1, and held on to win on three touchdown passes by Ken Anderson. Billy Johnson staged a spectacular kick return show, running back six punts for 127 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown, and four kickoffs for 136 yards, including a 64-yarder. He also caught two passes for 19 yards for a 282-yard afternoon. Although the Oilers sacked Anderson seven times, the Cincinnati quarterback rallied his club with scoring passes to rookie Stan Fritts and Isaac Curtis in the last quarter. The battle of unbeaten clubs left Cincinnati in command in the AFC Central.

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

Line: Bengals by 3½

                     CIN             HOU
First Downs:         18              13
Rushes-yards:        37-86           34-83
Yards/rush:          2.3             2.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     19-28-210-1     11-23-93-2
Sacked-yards:        7-34            1-0
Net pass yards:      176             93
Net yards/pass:      5.0             3.9
Total net yards:     262             176
Total plays:         72 (51% run)    58 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             3.0
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             3-3
Turnovers:           2               5
Penalties-yards:     7-107           5-49

Attendance: 42,412

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The 49ers scored their first win and handed the Chiefs their third defeat on a 24-yard touchdown pass by Norm Snead, two field goals by Steve Mike-Mayer and a five-yard run by Larry Schreiber. Jan Stenerud's 19-yard field goal gave Kansas City an early lead but the 49ers struck right back with the Snead-to Tom Mitchell 24-yard scoring play. The duel of veteran quarterbacks favored Snead who completed 12 of 20 for 124 yards and a touchdown. Delvin Williams led the rushers with 15 carries for 66 yards and the 49ers' defense sacked Len Dawson six times for 61 yards.

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

Line: 49ers by 1

                     SF              KC
First Downs:         15              13
Rushes-yards:        36-107          30-89
Yards/rush:          3.0             3.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     12-20-124-0     17-27-184-1
Sacked-yards:        2-16            6-61
Net pass yards:      108             123
Net yards/pass:      4.9             3.7
Total net yards:     215             212
Total plays:         58 (62% run)    63 (47% run)  
Yards/play:          3.7             3.4
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             4-3
Turnovers:           2               4
Penalties-yards:     5-41            11-124

Attendance: 54,490

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The Rams were able to move the ball but found themselves trailing the Colts 13-10 in the fourth period, but Lawrence McCutcheon broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown gain and James Harris lofted a pass into the end zone which Ron Johnson pulled in with a diving catch to produce the victory to keep Los Angeles alone atop the NFC West. Harris completed 16 of 22 for 194 yards, a personal high, while also connecting for a 37-yard score with Harold Jackson, whose four receptions for 108 yards marked his second straight 100-yard game.

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

Line: Rams by 13

                     BAL             LA
First Downs:         13              21
Rushes-yards:        28-88           38-153
Yards/rush:          3.1             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-25-155-2     16-22-294-1
Sacked-yards:        1-4             3-23
Net pass yards:      151             271
Net yards/pass:      5.8             10.8
Total net yards:     239             424
Total plays:         54 (51% run)    63 (60% run)  
Yards/play:          4.4             6.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             2-1
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     4-51            9-116

Attendance: 60,011

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The Vikings victimized the Bears for the sixth straight time and moved ahead in this NFC Central series for the first time 14-13-2. Crafty Fran Tarkenton was too much to handle for Chicago's young defense. The Minnesota quarterback threw three touchdowns among his 19 completions for 250 yards, hitting tight end Stu Voigt twice in the end zone from 15 and four yards out, and wide receiver John Gilliam with a nine-yard connection as the Vikes won their third straight. Defensive end Jim Marshall played in his 211th consecutive game, the most ever by a defensive player and the longest streak by a regular performer in NFL history.

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

Line: Vikings by 15½

                     CHI             MIN
First Downs:         10              23
Rushes-yards:        31-103          38-140
Yards/rush:          3.3             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-27-113-1     19-31-250-1
Sacked-yards:        2-24            5-35
Net pass yards:      89              215
Net yards/pass:      3.1             6.0
Total net yards:     192             355
Total plays:         60 (51% run)    74 (51% run)  
Yards/play:          3.2             4.8
Fumbles-lost:        6-1             4-1
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     9-95            5-48

Attendance: 47,578

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Japanese Emperor Hirohito and a sellout crowd saw Joe Namath pitch four touchdown passes while riddling the Patriots' defense by completing 15 of 21 passes for 218 yards before giving way to backup man J. J. Jones. Jim Plunkett returned to action for New England after missing the first two games because of a separated left shoulder but was ineffective, hitting with 8 of 21 passes and being intercepted three times. The Patriots didn't score until rookie Steve Grogan hit rookie Russ Francis on a 42-yard play in the final quarter. Rich Caster caught six passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Jerome Barkum caught four for 47 and two scores.

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

Line: Jets by 7½

                     NE              NYJ
First Downs:         15              24
Rushes-yards:        24-72           46-173
Yards/rush:          3.0             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-32-249-3     17-24-219-1
Sacked-yards:        1-1             1-12
Net pass yards:      248             207
Net yards/pass:      7.5             8.3
Total net yards:     320             380
Total plays:         57 (42% run)    71 (64% run)  
Yards/play:          5.6             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             0-0
Turnovers:           5               1
Penalties-yards:     3-25            8-49

Attendance: 57,365

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Following consecutive losses to the Giants and Bears, the Eagles put together a strong running attack, a pair of Roman Gabriel touchdown passes and a smothering defense to hand the Redskins their initial loss. Tom Sullivan rushed for 95 of Philadelphia's 213 yards on the ground. Gabriel tossed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Harold Carmichael and a 27-yarder to Charlie Smith. Bill Bradley's third and fourth interceptions of the season highlighted the defense which forced six turnovers.

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

Line: Redskins by 9

                     WAS             PHI
First Downs:         10              21
Rushes-yards:        18-66           53-213
Yards/rush:          3.7             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     17-34-135-3     11-20-182-1
Sacked-yards:        2-8             0-0
Net pass yards:      127             182
Net yards/pass:      3.5             9.1
Total net yards:     193             395
Total plays:         54 (33% run)    73 (72% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             4-1
Turnovers:           6               2
Penalties-yards:     8-50            6-59

Attendance: 64,397

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Oakland's defense held San Diego to minus 22 yards passing and George Blanda kicked two field goals of 29 and 35 yards for the Raiders' third straight victory and the Chargers' third defeat. Otis Sistrunk, Tony Cline, Art Thoms and Horace Jones sacked Dan Fouts five times for 51 yards and hurried him into throwing interceptions to Jack Tatum and Skip Thomas. Larry Lawrence started at quarterback for the Raiders but Ken Stabler played the second half despite a knee injury suffered in practice. Pete Banaszak with 76 yards and Mark van Eeghen with 72 led the Raiders' rushing attack. Don Woods had 45 yards on 15 carries for the Chargers.

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

Line: Raiders by 16

                     OAK             SD
First Downs:         17              5
Rushes-yards:        51-192          29-115
Yards/rush:          3.8             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-23-96-1      3-13-29-2
Sacked-yards:        3-24            5-51
Net pass yards:      72              -22
Net yards/pass:      2.8             -1.2
Total net yards:     264             93
Total plays:         77 (66% run)    47 (61% run)  
Yards/play:          3.4             2.0
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             0-0
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     3-25            2-12

Attendance: 31,095

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Terry Metcalf, with 109 yards on 15 carries, and Jim Otis, with 101 on 20 trips, became the first pair in Cardinals' history to rush over 100 yards in the same game as the Big Red ran to a 26-0 halftime lead and were never challenged through the second half. Jim Bakken kicked field goals of 48 and 28 yards to run his consecutive string to six straight without a miss.

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

Line: Cardinals by 7½

                     NYG             STL
First Downs:         19              18
Rushes-yards:        33-126          46-254
Yards/rush:          3.8             5.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     17-24-168-0     8-20-125-1
Sacked-yards:        4-30            0-0
Net pass yards:      138             125
Net yards/pass:      4.9             6.2
Total net yards:     264             379
Total plays:         61 (54% run)    66 (69% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             5.7
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             2-1
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     3-40            7-35

Attendance: 44,919

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