NFL game summary for 09/09/1979:
The Patriots rolled up 597 yards and set club records for most points, most net yards, and widest margin of victory as they posted their initial win of the season. Quarterback Steve Grogan led the onslaught, completing 13 of 18 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns in limited action. Jets' mistakes (three turnovers and a blocked punt) helped the Patriots build a 35-3 halftime lead as Grogan threw touchdown passes of 44 and 49 yards to Harold Jackson and 37 and 50 yards to Stanley Morgan. Grogan left the game after connecting with Jackson on a 28-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. Jackson and Morgan had three catches each for 121 and 102 yards respectively. The Patriots' defense ensured Ron Erhardt's first pro win by holding New York to 134 yards total offense, sacking Jets' quarterbacks nine times, and collecting six turnovers.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 229.0 (3) | 161.0 (13) | 390.0 (6) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 131.0 (11) | 292.0 (25) | 423.0 (25) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 162.0 (11) | 82.0 (25) | 244.0 (22) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 118.0 (9) | 191.0 (17) | 309.0 (13) | 2 |
Line: Patriots by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (0-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| New England Patriots (1-1-0) | 14 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
( 0- 7) NE Harold Jackson 49 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 0-14) NE Stanley Morgan 37 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 3-14) NYJ Pat Leahy 30 yard field goal ( 3-21) NE Stanley Morgan 50 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 3-28) NE Andy Johnson 2 yard rush (John Smith kick) ( 3-35) NE Harold Jackson 44 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 3-42) NE Harold Jackson 28 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) ( 3-49) NE Don Westbrook 14 yard pass from Tom Owen (John Smith kick) ( 3-56) NE Allan Clark 1 yard rush (John Smith kick)
NYJ NE
First Downs: 12 30
Rushes-yards: 23-89 45-232
Yards/rush: 3.9 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-24-131-3 18-25-375-1
Sacked-yards: 9-86 2-10
Net pass yards: 45 365
Net yards/pass: 1.4 13.5
Total net yards: 134 597
Total plays: 56 (41% run) 72 (62% run)
Yards/play: 2.4 8.3
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 3-2
Turnovers: 6 3
Penalties-yards: 5-45 6-60
Attendance: 53,113
Passing:
NYJ: Richard Todd, 10 of 20 for 118 yards (2 int); Pat Ryan, 2 of 4 for 13 yards (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 18 for 315 yards and 5 TDs; Tom Owen, 4 of 6 for 50 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Matt Cavanaugh, 1 of 1 for 10 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Kevin Long, 10 for 46 yards; Scott Dierking, 6 for 10 yards; Clark Gaines, 4 for 15 yards; Tom Newton, 2 for 18 yards; Richard Todd, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 15 for 81 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 8 for 50 yards; Don Calhoun, 8 for 22 yards; Andy Johnson, 6 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Allan Clark, 4 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 2 for 38 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 17 yards; Matt Cavanaugh, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Tom Newton, 4 for 33 yards; Mickey Shuler, 3 for 48 yards; Kevin Long, 2 for 14 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 1 for 20 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 9 yards; Bruce Harper, 1 for 7 yards NE: Russ Francis, 5 for 82 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 121 yards and 3 TDs; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Carlos Pennywell, 3 for 22 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 27 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 8 for 204 yards; Ken Schroy, 1 for 14 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 15 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Sanford, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
NYJ: Ken Schroy, 1 for 4 yards NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 26 yards; Ray Costict, 1 for 22 yards; Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 285 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 2 for 60 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1
NYJ: Richard Todd, 10 of 20 for 118 yards (2 int); Pat Ryan, 2 of 4 for 13 yards (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 13 of 18 for 315 yards and 5 TDs; Tom Owen, 4 of 6 for 50 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Matt Cavanaugh, 1 of 1 for 10 yards
Rushing:
NYJ: Kevin Long, 10 for 46 yards; Scott Dierking, 6 for 10 yards; Clark Gaines, 4 for 15 yards; Tom Newton, 2 for 18 yards; Richard Todd, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 15 for 81 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 8 for 50 yards; Don Calhoun, 8 for 22 yards; Andy Johnson, 6 for 15 yards and 1 TD; Allan Clark, 4 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 2 for 38 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 17 yards; Matt Cavanaugh, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Tom Newton, 4 for 33 yards; Mickey Shuler, 3 for 48 yards; Kevin Long, 2 for 14 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 1 for 20 yards; Scott Dierking, 1 for 9 yards; Bruce Harper, 1 for 7 yards NE: Russ Francis, 5 for 82 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 121 yards and 3 TDs; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Carlos Pennywell, 3 for 22 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 27 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Sam Cunningham, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 8 for 204 yards; Ken Schroy, 1 for 14 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 15 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Sanford, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
NYJ: Ken Schroy, 1 for 4 yards NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 26 yards; Ray Costict, 1 for 22 yards; Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 7 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 7 for 285 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 2 for 60 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1