NFL game summary for 11/07/1976:
Sam Cunningham's 141 yards rushing and Mike Haynes's 89-yard punt return touchdown, New England's first in 17 years, led to the Patriots victory and gave them a 2-0 series record against the Bills for the first time since 1965. Haynes's touchdown put New England ahead 13-0 in the second quarter and Cunningham picked up the Patriots' final score in the third quarter on an eight-yard run. New England's defense had four interceptions and picked up four Buffalo fumbles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 159.4 (10) | 148.2 (15) | 307.6 (13) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 187.8 (25) | 149.4 (8) | 337.1 (21) | 26 | |
 | OFFENSE | 200.6 (1) | 148.2 (15) | 348.9 (8) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 148.9 (17) | 159.5 (15) | 308.4 (17) | 22 |
Line: Patriots by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (2-7-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| New England Patriots (6-3-0) | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
( 0- 3) NE John Smith 46 yard field goal
( 0- 6) NE John Smith 33 yard field goal
( 0-13) NE Mike Haynes 89 yard punt return (John Smith kick)
( 3-13) BUF George Jakowenko 31 yard field goal
( 3-20) NE Sam Cunningham 8 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(10-20) BUF Gary Marangi 6 yard rush (George Jakowenko kick)
BUF NE
First Downs: 20 16
Rushes-yards: 42-149 39-172
Yards/rush: 3.5 4.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-34-241-4 8-18-137-2
Sacked-yards: 3-17 2-11
Net pass yards: 224 126
Net yards/pass: 6.1 6.3
Total net yards: 373 298
Total plays: 79 (53% run) 59 (66% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 5-4 4-3
Turnovers: 8 5
Penalties-yards: 5-45 6-60
Attendance: 61,157
Passing:
BUF: Gary Marangi, 15 of 34 for 241 yards (4 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 18 for 137 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 18 for 80 yards; Eddie Ray, 13 for 32 yards; O.J. Simpson, 6 for 8 yards; Gary Marangi, 4 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Kinney, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 141 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 7 for 9 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 19 yards; Ike Forte, 2 for 8 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 7 for 104 yards; Roland Hooks, 3 for 28 yards; Reuben Gant, 2 for 69 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 15 yards; John Holland, 1 for 13 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 12 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 3 for 35 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 50 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 36 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 107 yards; Bo Cornell, 1 for 18 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 1 for 33 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: John Skorupan, 1 for 13 yards; Merv Krakau, 1 for 0 yards NE: Steve Nelson, 1 for 34 yards; Tim Fox, 1 for 29 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 2 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 5 for 234 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 177 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: George Jakowenko, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 2/2
BUF: Gary Marangi, 15 of 34 for 241 yards (4 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 8 of 18 for 137 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 18 for 80 yards; Eddie Ray, 13 for 32 yards; O.J. Simpson, 6 for 8 yards; Gary Marangi, 4 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Kinney, 1 for 3 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 25 for 141 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 7 for 9 yards; Steve Grogan, 3 for 19 yards; Ike Forte, 2 for 8 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Bob Chandler, 7 for 104 yards; Roland Hooks, 3 for 28 yards; Reuben Gant, 2 for 69 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 15 yards; John Holland, 1 for 13 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 12 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 3 for 35 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 50 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 36 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 4 for 107 yards; Bo Cornell, 1 for 18 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 1 for 33 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 4 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: John Skorupan, 1 for 13 yards; Merv Krakau, 1 for 0 yards NE: Steve Nelson, 1 for 34 yards; Tim Fox, 1 for 29 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 2 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 5 for 234 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 177 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: George Jakowenko, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 2/2