NFL game summary for 10/03/1976:
Steve Mike-Mayer's fifth consecutive field goal and Cleveland Elam's 31-yard return of a Joe Namath fumble for a TD broke open a scoreless game and kept the 49ers just a half-game behind the Rams in the NFC West. Cedrick Hardman set up Elam's score when he sacked Joe Namath, one of seven sacks of Jets' quarterbacks, and popped the ball loose. Ed Marinaro averted the Jets' second shutout with a one-yard run and his 111-yard performance was the first 100-yard plus game in his NFL career.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 89.3 (27) | 133.0 (20) | 222.3 (26) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 223.0 (26) | 199.3 (25) | 422.3 (27) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 143.3 (15) | 151.7 (17) | 295.0 (17) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 140.7 (17) | 161.7 (13) | 302.3 (13) | 8 |
Line: 49ers by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (0-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| San Francisco 49ers (3-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
( 0- 3) SF Steve Mike-Mayer 31 yard field goal
( 0-10) SF Cleveland Elam 31 yard fumble return (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 0-17) SF Sammy Johnson 1 yard rush (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
( 6-17) NYJ Ed Marinaro 1 yard rush (kick failed)
NYJ SF
First Downs: 19 16
Rushes-yards: 35-170 38-126
Yards/rush: 4.9 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-26-154-0 12-23-121-2
Sacked-yards: 7-73 0-0
Net pass yards: 81 121
Net yards/pass: 2.5 5.3
Total net yards: 251 247
Total plays: 68 (51% run) 61 (62% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 1-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 4-57 3-15
Attendance: 42,961
Passing:
NYJ: Joe Namath, 8 of 17 for 70 yards; Richard Todd, 6 of 9 for 94 yards SF: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 22 for 121 yards (1 int); Scott Bull, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 21 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 12 for 47 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 5 yards SF: Delvin Williams, 18 for 62 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 11 for 41 yards; Sammy Johnson, 5 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Kermit Johnson, 2 for 3 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 8 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 5 for 61 yards; Rich Caster, 4 for 42 yards; David Knight, 2 for 29 yards; Howard Satterwhite, 2 for 26 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 6 yards SF: Delvin Williams, 5 for 55 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 34 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 2 for 4 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 24 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Louie Giammona, 2 for 46 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 2 for 52 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Louie Giammona, 1 for 25 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 3 for 7 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Greg Buttle, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Martin, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 6 for 247 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 5 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 0/1 SF: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/1
NYJ: Joe Namath, 8 of 17 for 70 yards; Richard Todd, 6 of 9 for 94 yards SF: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 22 for 121 yards (1 int); Scott Bull, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 21 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 12 for 47 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 7 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 5 yards SF: Delvin Williams, 18 for 62 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 11 for 41 yards; Sammy Johnson, 5 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Kermit Johnson, 2 for 3 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 8 yards; Willie McGee, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Ed Marinaro, 5 for 61 yards; Rich Caster, 4 for 42 yards; David Knight, 2 for 29 yards; Howard Satterwhite, 2 for 26 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 6 yards SF: Delvin Williams, 5 for 55 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 34 yards; Wilbur Jackson, 2 for 4 yards; Tom Mitchell, 1 for 24 yards; Sammy Johnson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Louie Giammona, 2 for 46 yards SF: Tony Leonard, 2 for 52 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Louie Giammona, 1 for 25 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 3 for 7 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Greg Buttle, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Martin, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 6 for 247 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 5 for 216 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 0/1 SF: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/1