NFL game summary for 10/31/1976:
Dolphins' defensive tackle Don Reese sacked Steve Grogan at the Miami 40 for a 16-yard loss in the fourth quarter, snuffing out a possible game tying scoring drive. Bob Griese threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jim Mandich in the second quarter which proved to be the margin of victory. Miami evened its record at 4-4 to keep its playoff hopes alive and dropped the Patriots two games behind Baltimore in the AFC East.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 210.7 (1) | 155.7 (15) | 366.4 (6) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 147.7 (16) | 168.0 (17) | 315.7 (17) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 172.7 (6) | 156.9 (14) | 329.6 (10) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 159.4 (21) | 233.3 (28) | 392.7 (27) | 12 |
Line: Patriots by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (5-3-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Miami Dolphins (4-4-0) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 7) MIA Jim Mandich 16 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-10) MIA Garo Yepremian 47 yard field goal
( 3-10) NE John Smith 43 yard field goal
NE MIA
First Downs: 11 18
Rushes-yards: 27-130 37-157
Yards/rush: 4.8 4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-31-112-1 12-22-132-0
Sacked-yards: 1-16 3-32
Net pass yards: 96 100
Net yards/pass: 3.0 4.0
Total net yards: 226 257
Total plays: 59 (45% run) 62 (59% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 11-80 5-33
Attendance: 52,863
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 10 of 31 for 112 yards (1 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 12 of 22 for 132 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 79 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 15 yards; Ike Forte, 3 for 10 yards; Jess Phillips, 2 for 17 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 9 yards MIA: Benny Malone, 21 for 119 yards; Don Nottingham, 11 for 29 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for -5 yards; Stan Winfrey, 1 for 7 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 6 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NE: Russ Francis, 4 for 47 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 25 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 28 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for 12 yards MIA: Jim Mandich, 5 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 3 for 32 yards; Freddie Solomon, 2 for 38 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 11 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Jess Phillips, 2 for 54 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 20 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 28 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 47 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 30 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Curtis Johnson, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 8 for 345 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 7 for 267 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 1/1
NE: Steve Grogan, 10 of 31 for 112 yards (1 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 12 of 22 for 132 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 79 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 15 yards; Ike Forte, 3 for 10 yards; Jess Phillips, 2 for 17 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 9 yards MIA: Benny Malone, 21 for 119 yards; Don Nottingham, 11 for 29 yards; Bob Griese, 2 for -5 yards; Stan Winfrey, 1 for 7 yards; Gary Davis, 1 for 6 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NE: Russ Francis, 4 for 47 yards; Sam Cunningham, 3 for 25 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 28 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for 12 yards MIA: Jim Mandich, 5 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Andre Tillman, 3 for 32 yards; Freddie Solomon, 2 for 38 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 11 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Jess Phillips, 2 for 54 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 20 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 28 yards; Nat Moore, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 47 yards MIA: Freddie Solomon, 3 for 30 yards; Nat Moore, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Curtis Johnson, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 8 for 345 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 7 for 267 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 MIA: Garo Yepremian, 1/1