NFL game summary for 11/21/1976:
Steve Grogan threw three touchdown passes and Prentice McCray returned two interceptions for touchdowns for the Patriots' eighth win of the season, their most since 1966. The Jets took a 10-0 lead early in the first quarter on a field goal and Greg Buttle's 23-yard run following a fumble recovery, but Grogan had New England in the lead by the end of the quarter with TD passes of 15 yards to Andy Johnson and 17 yards to Darryl Stingley. McCray's two interception return touchdowns of 63 and 55 yards, a Patriots' record and two of a club record seven interceptions, gave New England a 28-17 lead.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 198.2 (2) | 143.3 (17) | 341.5 (8) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 144.7 (15) | 159.5 (15) | 304.2 (16) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 136.6 (16) | 125.6 (22) | 262.2 (22) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 185.8 (26) | 166.4 (20) | 352.2 (25) | 23 |
Line: Patriots by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (8-3-0) | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
| New York Jets (3-8-0) | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
( 0- 3) NYJ Pat Leahy 19 yard field goal
( 0-10) NYJ Greg Buttle 23 yard fumble return (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7-10) NE Andy Johnson 15 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(14-10) NE Darryl Stingley 17 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(21-10) NE Prentice McCray 63 yard interception return (John Smith kick)
(21-17) NYJ Jerome Barkum 11 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
(28-17) NE Prentice McCray 55 yard interception return (John Smith kick)
(35-17) NE Pete Brock 6 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(38-17) NE John Smith 28 yard field goal
(38-24) NYJ Clark Gaines 26 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)
NE NYJ
First Downs: 13 20
Rushes-yards: 41-154 30-103
Yards/rush: 3.8 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-22-83-1 18-42-214-7
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-30
Net pass yards: 83 184
Net yards/pass: 3.8 4.1
Total net yards: 237 287
Total plays: 63 (65% run) 75 (40% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 4-3
Turnovers: 3 10
Penalties-yards: 7-89 5-49
Attendance: 49,983
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 10 of 21 for 83 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 16 of 36 for 176 yards and 1 TD (5 int); Richard Todd, 2 of 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Don Calhoun, 22 for 109 yards; Andy Johnson, 15 for 44 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for -2 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 3 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 18 for 54 yards; Richard Todd, 4 for 19 yards; Steve Davis, 4 for 4 yards; Louie Giammona, 3 for 26 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NE: Andy Johnson, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 3 for 11 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 27 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Pete Brock, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Clark Gaines, 7 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Louie Giammona, 3 for 24 yards; Lou Piccone, 2 for 29 yards; Howard Satterwhite, 2 for 25 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Ike Forte, 3 for 62 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 22 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 5 for 128 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 25 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 5 for 26 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 0 yards; Prentice McCray, 2 for 118 yards and 2 TDs; Tim Fox, 1 for 20 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 7 yards NYJ: Greg Buttle, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 267 yards NYJ: Duane Carrell, 4 for 179 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1
NE: Steve Grogan, 10 of 21 for 83 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 16 of 36 for 176 yards and 1 TD (5 int); Richard Todd, 2 of 6 for 38 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
NE: Don Calhoun, 22 for 109 yards; Andy Johnson, 15 for 44 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for -2 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 3 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 18 for 54 yards; Richard Todd, 4 for 19 yards; Steve Davis, 4 for 4 yards; Louie Giammona, 3 for 26 yards; Joe Namath, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NE: Andy Johnson, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 3 for 11 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 27 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Pete Brock, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD NYJ: Clark Gaines, 7 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Louie Giammona, 3 for 24 yards; Lou Piccone, 2 for 29 yards; Howard Satterwhite, 2 for 25 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Ike Forte, 3 for 62 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 22 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 5 for 128 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 25 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 5 for 26 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 3 for 0 yards; Prentice McCray, 2 for 118 yards and 2 TDs; Tim Fox, 1 for 20 yards; Bob Howard, 1 for 7 yards NYJ: Greg Buttle, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 267 yards NYJ: Duane Carrell, 4 for 179 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1