NFL game summary for 11/06/1977:
Roland Hooks, starting his first game for the injured O.J. Simpson (knee), rushed for 155 yards and the Bills intercepted four Steve Grogan passes to defeat the Patriots 24-14. Hooks set up the Bills' second touchdown with a 66-yard run. Grogan suffered one of his poorest days as a pro, completing only 9 of 27 passes, and the Bills held the Patriots usually high powered running attack to 89 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.9 (15) | 169.4 (8) | 303.3 (11) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 169.3 (26) | 148.4 (15) | 317.7 (22) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 182.1 (3) | 161.1 (10) | 343.3 (3) | 19 |
| DEFENSE | 120.3 (5) | 134.7 (10) | 255.0 (7) | 15 |
Line: Patriots by 18
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (2-6-0) | 14 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| New England Patriots (5-3-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) BUF Reuben Gant 7 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Carson Long kick)
(14- 0) BUF Jim Braxton 2 yard rush (Carson Long kick)
(14- 7) NE Raymond Clayborn 93 yard kickoff return (John Smith kick)
(17- 7) BUF Carson Long 30 yard field goal
(24- 7) BUF Doug Jones 24 yard interception return (Carson Long kick)
(24-14) NE Sam Cunningham 10 yard rush (John Smith kick)
BUF NE
First Downs: 21 14
Rushes-yards: 53-224 24-89
Yards/rush: 4.2 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-22-201-1 9-27-128-4
Sacked-yards: 3-26 1-15
Net pass yards: 175 113
Net yards/pass: 7.0 4.0
Total net yards: 399 202
Total plays: 78 (67% run) 52 (46% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 3.9
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 10-97 6-40
Attendance: 60,263
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 15 of 22 for 201 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 9 of 27 for 128 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 27 for 155 yards; Jim Braxton, 17 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mike Collier, 6 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 25 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 6 for 22 yards; Ike Forte, 3 for 5 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Reuben Gant, 7 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 26 yards; Bob Chandler, 3 for 25 yards; John Kimbrough, 1 for 42 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 11 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 2 for 30 yards; Al Chandler, 2 for 30 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 30 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 22 yards; Steve Burks, 1 for 15 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 22 yards; John Kimbrough, 1 for 20 yards; Mike Franckowiak, 1 for 9 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 133 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: John Kimbrough, 3 for 35 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for -4 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Mario Clark, 2 for 31 yards; Doug Jones, 1 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Steve Freeman, 1 for 4 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 6 for 248 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Carson Long, 1/1
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 15 of 22 for 201 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 9 of 27 for 128 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
BUF: Roland Hooks, 27 for 155 yards; Jim Braxton, 17 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Mike Collier, 6 for 6 yards; Joe Ferguson, 3 for 25 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 14 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 6 for 22 yards; Ike Forte, 3 for 5 yards; Steve Grogan, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Reuben Gant, 7 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Jim Braxton, 3 for 26 yards; Bob Chandler, 3 for 25 yards; John Kimbrough, 1 for 42 yards; Paul Seymour, 1 for 11 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 2 for 30 yards; Al Chandler, 2 for 30 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 30 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 22 yards; Steve Burks, 1 for 15 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 22 yards; John Kimbrough, 1 for 20 yards; Mike Franckowiak, 1 for 9 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 3 for 133 yards and 1 TD; Doug Beaudoin, 1 for 13 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: John Kimbrough, 3 for 35 yards; Keith Moody, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for -4 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Mario Clark, 2 for 31 yards; Doug Jones, 1 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Steve Freeman, 1 for 4 yards NE: Sam Hunt, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
BUF: Marv Bateman, 6 for 248 yards NE: Mike Patrick, 5 for 225 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Carson Long, 1/1