NFL game summary for 10/05/1975:
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):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 128.5 (15) | 104.5 (21) | 233.0 (22) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 163.0 (19) | 50.0 (1) | 213.0 (4) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 201.0 (2) | 138.5 (14) | 339.5 (8) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 220.0 (25) | 130.0 (10) | 350.0 (21) | 1 |
Line: Jets by 7½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (0-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| New York Jets (2-1-0) | 0 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 36 |
( 0- 6) NYJ Carl Garrett 6 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0-13) NYJ Rich Caster 3 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
( 0-19) NYJ Rich Caster 21 yard pass from Joe Namath (kick failed)
( 0-22) NYJ Pat Leahy 47 yard field goal
( 0-29) NYJ Jerome Barkum 13 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7-29) NE Russ Francis 42 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
( 7-36) NYJ Jerome Barkum 4 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
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
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 8 of 21 for 140 yards (3 int); Steve Grogan, 5 of 11 for 109 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Joe Namath, 15 of 21 for 218 yards and 4 TDs (1 int); J.J. Jones, 2 of 3 for 1 yards
Rushing:
NE: Mack Herron, 10 for 31 yards; Sam Cunningham, 8 for 19 yards; Doug Dressler, 3 for 8 yards; Allen Carter, 2 for 6 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 8 yards NYJ: Carl Garrett, 13 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 11 for 61 yards; John Riggins, 11 for 36 yards; Bob Gresham, 8 for 38 yards; Joe Namath, 2 for -4 yards; J.J. Jones, 1 for 15 yards
Receiving:
NE: Randy Vataha, 4 for 73 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 32 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 30 yards; Allen Carter, 1 for 26 yards; Doug Dressler, 1 for -1 yards NYJ: Rich Caster, 6 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Jerome Barkum, 4 for 47 yards and 2 TDs; John Riggins, 3 for 26 yards; Eddie Bell, 2 for 35 yards; Willie Brister, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Leon McQuay, 3 for 69 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 52 yards; Steve Burks, 1 for 11 yards NYJ: Steve Davis, 2 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Eddie Bell, 2 for 42 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Godwin Turk, 1 for 8 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 3 yards; Roscoe Word, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 228 yards NYJ: Greg Gantt, 4 for 146 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2
NE: Jim Plunkett, 8 of 21 for 140 yards (3 int); Steve Grogan, 5 of 11 for 109 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Joe Namath, 15 of 21 for 218 yards and 4 TDs (1 int); J.J. Jones, 2 of 3 for 1 yards
Rushing:
NE: Mack Herron, 10 for 31 yards; Sam Cunningham, 8 for 19 yards; Doug Dressler, 3 for 8 yards; Allen Carter, 2 for 6 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 8 yards NYJ: Carl Garrett, 13 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 11 for 61 yards; John Riggins, 11 for 36 yards; Bob Gresham, 8 for 38 yards; Joe Namath, 2 for -4 yards; J.J. Jones, 1 for 15 yards
Receiving:
NE: Randy Vataha, 4 for 73 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 32 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 30 yards; Allen Carter, 1 for 26 yards; Doug Dressler, 1 for -1 yards NYJ: Rich Caster, 6 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Jerome Barkum, 4 for 47 yards and 2 TDs; John Riggins, 3 for 26 yards; Eddie Bell, 2 for 35 yards; Willie Brister, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for -2 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Leon McQuay, 3 for 69 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 52 yards; Steve Burks, 1 for 11 yards NYJ: Steve Davis, 2 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Eddie Bell, 2 for 42 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Ron Bolton, 1 for 15 yards NYJ: Godwin Turk, 1 for 8 yards; Phil Wise, 1 for 3 yards; Roscoe Word, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 228 yards NYJ: Greg Gantt, 4 for 146 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2