NFL game summary for 10/02/1977:
The Dolphins rolled up 21 first-quarter points, tying a club record on the way to their third win. Norm Bulaich got the first Miami TD as the Dolphins drove 80 yards with the opening kickoff. On the following series Bob Griese hit Duriel Harris (five catches for 87 yards) with a 16-yard scoring pass. Bennie Malone had a third opening period score on a three-yard run that capped an eight-play, 82-yard drive. Vern Roberson's fourth quarter interception set up Miami's final score, Leroy Harris' two-yard plunge.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 99.5 (22) | 133.5 (13) | 233.0 (20) | 0 |
| DEFENSE | 98.5 (5) | 130.5 (13) | 229.0 (10) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 152.0 (10) | 102.5 (24) | 254.5 (17) | 0 |
| DEFENSE | 144.5 (18) | 157.5 (21) | 302.0 (20) | 5 |
Line: Dolphins by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (2-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Miami Dolphins (3-0-0) | 21 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
( 0- 7) MIA Norm Bulaich 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 0-14) MIA Duriel Harris 16 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 0-21) MIA Benny Malone 3 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick) ( 7-21) HOU Dan Pastorini 2 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick) ( 7-27) MIA Leroy Harris 2 yard rush (kick failed)
HOU MIA
First Downs: 13 29
Rushes-yards: 27-68 51-217
Yards/rush: 2.5 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-31-137-2 13-20-194-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 1-14
Net pass yards: 137 180
Net yards/pass: 4.4 8.6
Total net yards: 205 397
Total plays: 58 (46% run) 72 (70% run)
Yards/play: 3.5 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-2
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 6-47 1-2
Attendance: 46,619
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 16 of 31 for 137 yards (2 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 13 of 20 for 194 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 7 for 20 yards; Rob Carpenter, 6 for 2 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 24 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD MIA: Benny Malone, 19 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Harris, 10 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 8 for 44 yards; Gary Davis, 6 for 8 yards; Norm Bulaich, 5 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Bob Griese, 2 for 8 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Rob Carpenter, 5 for 49 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 26 yards; Tim Wilson, 3 for 17 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 19 yards; Mike Barber, 2 for 13 yards; Eddie Foster, 1 for 13 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 5 for 87 yards and 1 TD; Benny Malone, 2 for 51 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 20 yards; Don Nottingham, 2 for 12 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 13 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 38 yards; Warren Anderson, 2 for 34 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 18 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 2 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Art Stringer, 1 for 20 yards MIA: Curtis Johnson, 1 for 0 yards; Vern Roberson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 223 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 116 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/2
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 16 of 31 for 137 yards (2 int) MIA: Bob Griese, 13 of 20 for 194 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 8 for 17 yards; Don Hardeman, 7 for 20 yards; Rob Carpenter, 6 for 2 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 24 yards; Dan Pastorini, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD MIA: Benny Malone, 19 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Leroy Harris, 10 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Don Nottingham, 8 for 44 yards; Gary Davis, 6 for 8 yards; Norm Bulaich, 5 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Bob Griese, 2 for 8 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Rob Carpenter, 5 for 49 yards; Don Hardeman, 3 for 26 yards; Tim Wilson, 3 for 17 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 19 yards; Mike Barber, 2 for 13 yards; Eddie Foster, 1 for 13 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 5 for 87 yards and 1 TD; Benny Malone, 2 for 51 yards; Andre Tillman, 2 for 20 yards; Don Nottingham, 2 for 12 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 13 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 38 yards; Warren Anderson, 2 for 34 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 18 yards MIA: Duriel Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Freddie Solomon, 2 for 19 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Art Stringer, 1 for 20 yards MIA: Curtis Johnson, 1 for 0 yards; Vern Roberson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 223 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 3 for 116 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 0/2