NFL game summary for 10/24/1976:
The Patriots jumped to a 26-9 fourth quarter lead but had to fight off a scoring blitz by the Bills to stay one game behind Baltimore in the AFC East. O. J. Simpson, with two touchdowns and 110 yards to take over second place in NFL career rushing, scored on a two-yard run with 1:07 left, bringing Buffalo within four points of New England.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 215.2 (1) | 166.2 (14) | 381.3 (4) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 137.5 (14) | 179.3 (19) | 316.8 (17) | 17 | |
 | OFFENSE | 140.3 (16) | 166.5 (13) | 306.8 (12) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 193.8 (25) | 170.5 (15) | 364.3 (24) | 18 |
Line: Patriots by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (5-2-0) | 0 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 26 |
| Buffalo Bills (2-5-0) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
( 3- 0) NE John Smith 44 yard field goal ( 3- 3) BUF George Jakowenko 46 yard field goal ( 6- 3) NE John Smith 32 yard field goal (12- 3) NE Russ Francis 9 yard pass from Steve Grogan (kick failed) (19- 3) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (John Smith kick) (19- 9) BUF O.J. Simpson 32 yard rush (kick failed) (26- 9) NE Steve Grogan 10 yard rush (John Smith kick) (26-16) BUF Bob Chandler 4 yard pass from Gary Marangi (George Jakowenko kick) (26-22) BUF O.J. Simpson 2 yard rush (kick failed)
NE BUF
First Downs: 18 21
Rushes-yards: 41-184 42-209
Yards/rush: 4.5 5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-21-122-1 11-29-100-1
Sacked-yards: 3-29 0-0
Net pass yards: 93 100
Net yards/pass: 3.9 3.4
Total net yards: 277 309
Total plays: 65 (63% run) 71 (59% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 6-4
Turnovers: 4 5
Penalties-yards: 8-57 6-68
Attendance: 45,144
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 21 for 122 yards and 1 TD (1 int) BUF: Gary Marangi, 6 of 22 for 61 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Joe Ferguson, 5 of 7 for 39 yards
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 22 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 11 for 40 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 2 for 8 yards; Mike Patrick, 1 for -16 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 25 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Gary Marangi, 8 for 74 yards; Eddie Ray, 6 for 15 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 3 for 43 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 27 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 11 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 46 yards and 1 TD; John Holland, 3 for 34 yards; Eddie Ray, 2 for 11 yards; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 0 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Doug Beaudoin, 2 for 28 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 71 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 109 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 42 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 13 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 16 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Howard, 1 for 15 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 44 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 4 for 154 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 3 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/2 BUF: George Jakowenko, 1/2
NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 21 for 122 yards and 1 TD (1 int) BUF: Gary Marangi, 6 of 22 for 61 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Joe Ferguson, 5 of 7 for 39 yards
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 22 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 11 for 40 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 2 for 8 yards; Mike Patrick, 1 for -16 yards BUF: O.J. Simpson, 25 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Gary Marangi, 8 for 74 yards; Eddie Ray, 6 for 15 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 3 for 43 yards; Russ Francis, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 27 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 11 yards BUF: Bob Chandler, 3 for 46 yards and 1 TD; John Holland, 3 for 34 yards; Eddie Ray, 2 for 11 yards; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 0 yards; O.J. Simpson, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Doug Beaudoin, 2 for 28 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 71 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 109 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 42 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 13 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 16 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Bob Howard, 1 for 15 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 44 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 4 for 154 yards BUF: Marv Bateman, 3 for 135 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/2 BUF: George Jakowenko, 1/2