NFL game summary for 10/17/1976:
Bert Jones' two fourth quarter touchdown passes broke open a 17-13 game, spoiling Jim Ringo's NFL coaching debut and keeping the Colts in the lead in the AFC East. Buffalo's only TD, a 33-yard pass from Joe Ferguson to O. J. Simpson, kept the Bills close through a scoreless third quarter before Jones put the game out of reach with a nine-yard scoring pass to Glenn Doughty.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 168.4 (8) | 203.8 (4) | 372.2 (6) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 106.2 (4) | 180.6 (20) | 286.8 (11) | 14 | |
 | OFFENSE | 139.4 (16) | 160.0 (14) | 299.4 (14) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 190.0 (26) | 164.2 (16) | 354.2 (23) | 16 |
Line: Colts by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (5-1-0) | 3 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Buffalo Bills (2-4-0) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
( 0- 3) BUF George Jakowenko 32 yard field goal
( 3- 3) BAL Toni Linhart 21 yard field goal
(10- 3) BAL Don McCauley 2 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
(10- 6) BUF George Jakowenko 44 yard field goal
(10-13) BUF O.J. Simpson 33 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (George Jakowenko kick)
(17-13) BAL Lydell Mitchell 6 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
(24-13) BAL Glenn Doughty 9 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(31-13) BAL Don McCauley 3 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
BAL BUF
First Downs: 24 17
Rushes-yards: 40-213 32-145
Yards/rush: 5.3 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-22-207-0 13-28-239-0
Sacked-yards: 1-5 5-40
Net pass yards: 202 199
Net yards/pass: 8.8 6.0
Total net yards: 415 344
Total plays: 63 (63% run) 65 (49% run)
Yards/play: 6.6 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 3-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 5-50 14-106
Attendance: 71,009
Passing:
BAL: Bert Jones, 13 of 22 for 207 yards and 2 TDs BUF: Joe Ferguson, 13 of 28 for 239 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 22 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Roosevelt Leaks, 10 for 78 yards; Ron Lee, 3 for 19 yards; Don McCauley, 3 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 2 for 19 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 20 for 88 yards; Jeff Kinney, 8 for 37 yards; Joe Ferguson, 4 for 20 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Glenn Doughty, 6 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Raymond Chester, 3 for 62 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 2 for 13 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD BUF: Bob Chandler, 5 for 79 yards; John Holland, 3 for 51 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 14 yards; Reuben Gant, 1 for 39 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 3 for 61 yards; Ron Lee, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 85 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 42 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 4 for 141 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 5 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 BUF: George Jakowenko, 2/2
BAL: Bert Jones, 13 of 22 for 207 yards and 2 TDs BUF: Joe Ferguson, 13 of 28 for 239 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 22 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Roosevelt Leaks, 10 for 78 yards; Ron Lee, 3 for 19 yards; Don McCauley, 3 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 2 for 19 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 20 for 88 yards; Jeff Kinney, 8 for 37 yards; Joe Ferguson, 4 for 20 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Glenn Doughty, 6 for 96 yards and 1 TD; Raymond Chester, 3 for 62 yards; Lydell Mitchell, 2 for 13 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD BUF: Bob Chandler, 5 for 79 yards; John Holland, 3 for 51 yards; O.J. Simpson, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 14 yards; Reuben Gant, 1 for 39 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Howard Stevens, 3 for 61 yards; Ron Lee, 1 for 14 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 85 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 42 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 4 for 141 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 5 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Toni Linhart, 1/1 BUF: George Jakowenko, 2/2