NFL game summary for 09/18/1977:
Don Hardeman, Dan Pastorini, and rookie Rob Carpenter scored on one-yard runs as the Oilers picked up their third-straight opening day shutout. Curley Culp set up Carpenter's TD run with a 27-yard fumble recovery return. Pastorini passed for 137 yards, completing 20 of 32 attempts, while kick return specialist Billy Johnson returned six punts for 103 yards. He had one return of 71 yards. The Jets' deepest penetration of the game was to the Oilers' 19.
Line: Oilers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Jets (0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Houston Oilers (1-0-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
( 0- 7) HOU Don Hardeman 1 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
( 0-14) HOU Dan Pastorini 1 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
( 0-20) HOU Rob Carpenter 1 yard rush (kick failed)
NYJ HOU
First Downs: 11 19
Rushes-yards: 26-102 33-109
Yards/rush: 3.9 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-26-115-1 20-32-137-0
Sacked-yards: 3-38 1-7
Net pass yards: 77 130
Net yards/pass: 2.7 3.9
Total net yards: 179 239
Total plays: 55 (47% run) 66 (50% run)
Yards/play: 3.3 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 11-90 10-86
Attendance: 39,488
Passing:
NYJ: Richard Todd, 10 of 25 for 115 yards (1 int); Bruce Harper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 20 of 32 for 137 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Charlie White, 13 for 43 yards; Clark Gaines, 5 for 25 yards; Bruce Harper, 4 for 33 yards; Kevin Long, 2 for 10 yards; Tom Newton, 1 for 6 yards; Duane Carrell, 1 for -15 yards HOU: Don Hardeman, 12 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 22 yards; Tim Wilson, 8 for 20 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Rob Carpenter, 2 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NYJ: David Knight, 3 for 40 yards; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 27 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 22 yards; Wesley Walker, 1 for 26 yards; Kevin Long, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Eddie Foster, 4 for 27 yards; Jimmie Giles, 4 for 23 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 57 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 20 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for -3 yards; Tim Wilson, 2 for 2 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 70 yards; Tommy Marvaso, 1 for 16 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 17 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 6 for 103 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 7 for 283 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 192 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 0/3
NYJ: Richard Todd, 10 of 25 for 115 yards (1 int); Bruce Harper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 20 of 32 for 137 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Charlie White, 13 for 43 yards; Clark Gaines, 5 for 25 yards; Bruce Harper, 4 for 33 yards; Kevin Long, 2 for 10 yards; Tom Newton, 1 for 6 yards; Duane Carrell, 1 for -15 yards HOU: Don Hardeman, 12 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 22 yards; Tim Wilson, 8 for 20 yards; Dan Pastorini, 3 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Rob Carpenter, 2 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NYJ: David Knight, 3 for 40 yards; Jerome Barkum, 3 for 27 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 22 yards; Wesley Walker, 1 for 26 yards; Kevin Long, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Eddie Foster, 4 for 27 yards; Jimmie Giles, 4 for 23 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 57 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 3 for 20 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for -3 yards; Tim Wilson, 2 for 2 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 70 yards; Tommy Marvaso, 1 for 16 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 17 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 6 for 103 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Gregg Bingham, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Duane Carrell, 7 for 283 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 192 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Skip Butler, 0/3