NFL game summary for 09/16/1979:
The Jets, behind Richard Todd's passing and the running of Kevin Long, overcame an early 7-0 deficit to earn their initial 1979 victory. New York registered 17 points after Lions' rookie quarterback Jeff Komlo fired a 12-yard scoring pass to David Hill. Todd (9 of 13 for 208 yards) hit Wesley Walker (six catches for 177 yards) with a 47-yard completion to help set up the first of Long's club record-tying three touchdown runs.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 217.0 (6) | 157.0 (22) | 374.0 (14) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 182.0 (26) | 139.0 (7) | 321.0 (16) | 2 | |
 | OFFENSE | 159.0 (9) | 103.0 (25) | 262.0 (22) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 181.5 (23) | 328.5 (28) | 510.0 (28) | 7 |
Line: Jets by 6½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (0-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| New York Jets (1-2-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
( 7- 0) DET David Hill 12 yard pass from Jeff Komlo (Benny Ricardo kick)
( 7- 7) NYJ Kevin Long 4 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7-14) NYJ Kevin Long 7 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
( 7-17) NYJ Pat Leahy 30 yard field goal
(10-17) DET Benny Ricardo 36 yard field goal
(10-24) NYJ Scott Dierking 2 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(10-31) NYJ Kevin Long 5 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
DET NYJ
First Downs: 12 22
Rushes-yards: 23-53 48-209
Yards/rush: 2.3 4.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-30-178-1 9-13-208-0
Sacked-yards: 1-2 3-30
Net pass yards: 176 178
Net yards/pass: 5.7 11.1
Total net yards: 229 387
Total plays: 54 (42% run) 64 (75% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 1-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 7-51 6-40
Attendance: 49,612
Passing:
DET: Jeff Komlo, 19 of 30 for 178 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NYJ: Richard Todd, 9 of 13 for 208 yards
Rushing:
DET: Bo Robinson, 11 for 23 yards; Jeff Komlo, 3 for 11 yards; Dexter Bussey, 3 for 0 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 2 for 5 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 11 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 4 yards; Horace King, 1 for 2 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for -3 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 19 for 76 yards and 3 TDs; Scott Dierking, 15 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Harper, 7 for 33 yards; Clark Gaines, 6 for 41 yards; Richard Todd, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
DET: Freddie Scott, 7 for 84 yards; David Hill, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Bo Robinson, 4 for 32 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for 9 yards; Horace King, 1 for 3 yards NYJ: Wesley Walker, 6 for 177 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 19 yards; Mickey Shuler, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Rick Kane, 5 for 110 yards NYJ: Ken Schroy, 3 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 41 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Stan Blinka, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DET: Larry Swider, 6 for 226 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 4 for 157 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2
DET: Jeff Komlo, 19 of 30 for 178 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NYJ: Richard Todd, 9 of 13 for 208 yards
Rushing:
DET: Bo Robinson, 11 for 23 yards; Jeff Komlo, 3 for 11 yards; Dexter Bussey, 3 for 0 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 2 for 5 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 11 yards; Freddie Scott, 1 for 4 yards; Horace King, 1 for 2 yards; Rick Kane, 1 for -3 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 19 for 76 yards and 3 TDs; Scott Dierking, 15 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Harper, 7 for 33 yards; Clark Gaines, 6 for 41 yards; Richard Todd, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
DET: Freddie Scott, 7 for 84 yards; David Hill, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Bo Robinson, 4 for 32 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for 9 yards; Horace King, 1 for 3 yards NYJ: Wesley Walker, 6 for 177 yards; Bruce Harper, 2 for 19 yards; Mickey Shuler, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Rick Kane, 5 for 110 yards NYJ: Ken Schroy, 3 for 72 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 0 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 5 for 41 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Stan Blinka, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DET: Larry Swider, 6 for 226 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 4 for 157 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1 NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2