NFL game summary for 10/02/1977:
Pat Leahy's 32-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the game broke a 27-27 tie, giving the Jets their initial win and rookie coach Walt Michaels his first NFL victory. Trailing 20-14 after three quarters, the Jets scored 13 points in the first 4:30 of the fourth period on Greg Buttle's 44-yard interception return and a 25-yard pass from Richard Todd to Wesley Walker. Steve Grogan's 22-yard pass to Daryl Stingley concluded a 75-yard drive by the Patriots that tied the score 27-27. Raymond Clayborn set a Patriots' record with a 100-yard kickoff return.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 191.0 (2) | 131.0 (14) | 322.0 (6) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 189.0 (24) | 175.0 (25) | 364.0 (27) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 91.0 (26) | 104.5 (23) | 195.5 (26) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 130.5 (16) | 96.0 (6) | 226.5 (8) | 1 |
Line: Patriots by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (1-2-0) | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| New York Jets (1-2-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 30 |
( 0- 7) NYJ Charlie White 3 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7- 7) NE Don Calhoun 8 yard rush (John Smith kick)
( 7-14) NYJ Richard Todd 7 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(14-14) NE Raymond Clayborn 100 yard kickoff return (John Smith kick)
(17-14) NE John Smith 44 yard field goal
(20-14) NE John Smith 24 yard field goal
(20-21) NYJ Greg Buttle 44 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick)
(20-27) NYJ Wesley Walker 25 yard pass from Richard Todd (kick failed)
(27-27) NE Darryl Stingley 22 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(27-30) NYJ Pat Leahy 32 yard field goal
NE NYJ
First Downs: 20 10
Rushes-yards: 38-125 37-107
Yards/rush: 3.3 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-34-231-3 12-21-154-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 1-10
Net pass yards: 231 144
Net yards/pass: 6.8 6.5
Total net yards: 356 251
Total plays: 72 (52% run) 59 (62% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 0-0
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 10-100 3-25
Attendance: 38,277
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 16 of 34 for 231 yards and 1 TD (3 int) NYJ: Richard Todd, 12 of 21 for 154 yards and 2 TDs (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 65 yards; Don Calhoun, 14 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 7 for 8 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Charlie White, 10 for 31 yards; Bruce Harper, 8 for 33 yards; Kevin Long, 7 for 18 yards; Richard Todd, 7 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Clark Gaines, 5 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 42 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 26 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 58 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 45 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Steve Burks, 2 for 22 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 4 for 19 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Harper, 2 for 12 yards; Charlie White, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; David Knight, 1 for 49 yards; Jerome Barkum, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 4 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 22 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 4 for 103 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 5 for 31 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 45 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 22 yards; Pete Barnes, 1 for 13 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 13 yards NYJ: Artimus Parker, 1 for 45 yards; Greg Buttle, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bob Martin, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 250 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/2 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2
NE: Steve Grogan, 16 of 34 for 231 yards and 1 TD (3 int) NYJ: Richard Todd, 12 of 21 for 154 yards and 2 TDs (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 16 for 65 yards; Don Calhoun, 14 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 7 for 8 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Charlie White, 10 for 31 yards; Bruce Harper, 8 for 33 yards; Kevin Long, 7 for 18 yards; Richard Todd, 7 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Clark Gaines, 5 for 9 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 42 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 26 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 58 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 45 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Steve Burks, 2 for 22 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 4 for 19 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Harper, 2 for 12 yards; Charlie White, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; David Knight, 1 for 49 yards; Jerome Barkum, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Raymond Clayborn, 4 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 22 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 4 for 103 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Mike Haynes, 5 for 31 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 45 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 22 yards; Pete Barnes, 1 for 13 yards; Prentice McCray, 1 for 13 yards NYJ: Artimus Parker, 1 for 45 yards; Greg Buttle, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bob Martin, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Patrick, 7 for 250 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/2 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2