NFL game summary for 09/19/1976:
The Patriots' Steve Grogan passed for 166 yards and three touchdowns while rushing nine times for 76 yards and one touchdown. Bob Griese put the Dolphins ahead 7-6 in the second period on a five-yard pass to Andre Tillman, but Grogan brought New England back 1:37 later as he zigzagged his way 13 yards putting the Patriots ahead to stay. Sam Cunningham added 106 yards on the ground while his running mate Andy Johnson caught seven passes for 93 yards including first and third quarter touchdowns. New England's defense minimized Griese's effectiveness with three interceptions and five sacks totaling 52 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 204.0 (6) | 197.0 (11) | 401.0 (7) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 108.0 (7) | 275.0 (25) | 383.0 (20) | 0 | |
 | OFFENSE | 149.0 (11) | 168.0 (15) | 317.0 (15) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 122.0 (15) | 150.0 (13) | 272.0 (10) | 1 |
Line: Dolphins by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (1-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| New England Patriots (1-1-0) | 0 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
( 0- 6) NE Andy Johnson 15 yard pass from Steve Grogan (kick failed)
( 7- 6) MIA Andre Tillman 5 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 7-13) NE Steve Grogan 13 yard rush (John Smith kick)
( 7-20) NE Andy Johnson 29 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
( 7-23) NE John Smith 22 yard field goal
(14-23) MIA Norm Bulaich 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(14-30) NE Russ Francis 4 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
MIA NE
First Downs: 17 23
Rushes-yards: 22-108 51-278
Yards/rush: 4.9 5.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-32-198-3 16-27-166-0
Sacked-yards: 5-52 2-14
Net pass yards: 146 152
Net yards/pass: 3.9 5.2
Total net yards: 254 430
Total plays: 59 (37% run) 80 (63% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 5.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-2
Turnovers: 4 2
Penalties-yards: 7-68 9-70
Attendance: 41,879
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 16 of 26 for 190 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Don Strock, 1 of 6 for 8 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 16 of 27 for 166 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Benny Malone, 7 for 42 yards; Don Nottingham, 7 for 10 yards; Norm Bulaich, 5 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Bob Griese, 2 for 35 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 12 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 106 yards; Andy Johnson, 14 for 35 yards; Steve Grogan, 9 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 7 for 61 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 3 for 54 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 16 yards; Stan Winfrey, 2 for 22 yards; Benny Malone, 2 for 19 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Howard Twilley, 1 for 39 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 18 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 9 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 8 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 6 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 7 for 93 yards and 2 TDs; Marlin Briscoe, 3 for 27 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 8 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 3 for 74 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 29 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 28 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 1 for 25 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 2 for 17 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 33 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 18 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 11 yards; Steve Nelson, 1 for -2 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 6 for 226 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 4 for 184 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/3
MIA: Bob Griese, 16 of 26 for 190 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Don Strock, 1 of 6 for 8 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 16 of 27 for 166 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
MIA: Benny Malone, 7 for 42 yards; Don Nottingham, 7 for 10 yards; Norm Bulaich, 5 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Bob Griese, 2 for 35 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 12 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 21 for 106 yards; Andy Johnson, 14 for 35 yards; Steve Grogan, 9 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 7 for 61 yards
Receiving:
MIA: Nat Moore, 3 for 54 yards; Norm Bulaich, 3 for 16 yards; Stan Winfrey, 2 for 22 yards; Benny Malone, 2 for 19 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Howard Twilley, 1 for 39 yards; Duriel Harris, 1 for 18 yards; Larry Seiple, 1 for 9 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 8 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 6 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 7 for 93 yards and 2 TDs; Marlin Briscoe, 3 for 27 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 8 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 3 for 74 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 29 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 28 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 1 for 25 yards; Ricky Feacher, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Duriel Harris, 2 for 17 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 33 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 18 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 11 yards; Steve Nelson, 1 for -2 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 6 for 226 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 4 for 184 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/3