NFL game summary for 12/05/1976:
Steve Grogan passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more while Don Calhoun racked up his fourth straight 100-yard performance, rushing for 113, as the Patriots clinched their first spot in the playoffs in 13 years. Grogan gave New England a 13-0 lead in the second quarter on a 12-yard scoring pass to Al Chandler and his 11-yard run into the end zone, but a pair of Rich Szaro field goals brought the Saints within seven in the fourth quarter. Grogan revived the Patriots' offense with his 11th TD run of the season before hitting Ike Forte with a six-yard pass for the final score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.6 (20) | 135.1 (17) | 268.7 (21) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 154.8 (17) | 162.2 (20) | 316.9 (18) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 205.7 (2) | 133.2 (19) | 338.8 (7) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 132.8 (10) | 160.3 (17) | 293.2 (13) | 46 |
Line: Patriots by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (4-9-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| New England Patriots (10-3-0) | 0 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 27 |
( 0- 6) NE Al Chandler 12 yard pass from Steve Grogan (kick failed) ( 0-13) NE Steve Grogan 11 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 3-13) NO Rich Szaro 50 yard field goal ( 6-13) NO Rich Szaro 29 yard field goal ( 6-20) NE Steve Grogan 10 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 6-27) NE Ike Forte 6 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
NO NE
First Downs: 14 21
Rushes-yards: 30-118 42-220
Yards/rush: 3.9 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-31-136-0 9-24-108-0
Sacked-yards: 3-18 0-0
Net pass yards: 118 108
Net yards/pass: 3.5 4.5
Total net yards: 236 328
Total plays: 64 (46% run) 66 (63% run)
Yards/play: 3.7 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 6-55 10-85
Attendance: 53,592
Passing:
NO: Bobby Douglass, 10 of 20 for 61 yards; Bobby Scott, 8 of 11 for 75 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 9 of 23 for 108 yards and 2 TDs; Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 13 for 41 yards; Chuck Muncie, 12 for 36 yards; Mike Strachan, 4 for 36 yards; Bobby Douglass, 1 for 5 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 22 for 113 yards; Andy Johnson, 11 for 73 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 27 yards and 2 TDs; Ike Forte, 3 for 13 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 3 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 8 for 58 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 35 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 24 yards; Tinker Owens, 1 for 16 yards; Henry Childs, 1 for 3 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 2 for 54 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 1 yard; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 16 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for 15 yards; Al Chandler, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Leon McQuay, 2 for 46 yards; Alvin Maxson, 2 for 24 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 12 yards NE: Jess Phillips, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Pete Athas, 2 for 13 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 5 for 46 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 258 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 2/3 NE: John Smith, 0/1
NO: Bobby Douglass, 10 of 20 for 61 yards; Bobby Scott, 8 of 11 for 75 yards NE: Steve Grogan, 9 of 23 for 108 yards and 2 TDs; Andy Johnson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 13 for 41 yards; Chuck Muncie, 12 for 36 yards; Mike Strachan, 4 for 36 yards; Bobby Douglass, 1 for 5 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 22 for 113 yards; Andy Johnson, 11 for 73 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 27 yards and 2 TDs; Ike Forte, 3 for 13 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 3 yards; Darryl Stingley, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
NO: Tony Galbreath, 8 for 58 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 35 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 24 yards; Tinker Owens, 1 for 16 yards; Henry Childs, 1 for 3 yards NE: Darryl Stingley, 2 for 54 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 1 yard; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 16 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for 15 yards; Al Chandler, 1 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Andy Johnson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Leon McQuay, 2 for 46 yards; Alvin Maxson, 2 for 24 yards; Kim Jones, 1 for 12 yards NE: Jess Phillips, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Pete Athas, 2 for 13 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 5 for 46 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NO: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 258 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 6 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Rich Szaro, 2/3 NE: John Smith, 0/1