NFL game summary for 09/23/1979:
Joe Ferguson hit Jerry Butler with four touchdown passes as Buffalo upended the Jets. Ferguson had his best passing day as a pro, completing 19 of 30 attempts for 367 yards and a club-record five touchdowns. Butler caught 10 passes and set an NFL rookie receiving record with the four touchdown receptions. Buffalo's defense intercepted three passes and scored a touchdown on a 13-yard fumble return by Fred Smerlas. Tom Newton led New York with touchdown runs of 1 and 51 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 175.7 (5) | 128.0 (21) | 303.7 (16) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 138.7 (16) | 277.7 (28) | 416.3 (28) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 104.7 (25) | 186.7 (11) | 291.3 (19) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 184.7 (24) | 137.7 (8) | 322.3 (16) | 5 |
Line: Bills by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Jets (1-3-0) | 3 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
| Buffalo Bills (2-2-0) | 6 | 13 | 21 | 6 | 46 |
( 0- 3) BUF Nick Mike-Mayer 23 yard field goal ( 3- 3) NYJ Pat Leahy 30 yard field goal ( 3- 6) BUF Nick Mike-Mayer 29 yard field goal (10- 6) NYJ Tom Newton 51 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick) (17- 6) NYJ Tom Newton 1 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick) (17-12) BUF Jerry Butler 5 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (kick failed) (24-12) NYJ Wesley Walker 37 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick) (24-19) BUF Jerry Butler 75 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (24-26) BUF Jerry Butler 74 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (24-33) BUF Jerry Butler 9 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (24-40) BUF Fred Smerlas 13 yard fumble return (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (24-46) BUF Joe Shipp 13 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (kick failed) (31-46) NYJ Mickey Shuler 27 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)
NYJ BUF
First Downs: 22 25
Rushes-yards: 42-265 38-149
Yards/rush: 6.3 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-21-168-3 19-30-367-0
Sacked-yards: 1-17 2-19
Net pass yards: 151 348
Net yards/pass: 6.9 10.9
Total net yards: 416 497
Total plays: 64 (65% run) 70 (54% run)
Yards/play: 6.5 7.1
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 7-43 6-60
Attendance: 68,731
Passing:
NYJ: Richard Todd, 11 of 21 for 168 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 19 of 30 for 367 yards and 5 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Scott Dierking, 17 for 97 yards; Clark Gaines, 13 for 88 yards; Tom Newton, 8 for 68 yards and 2 TDs; Bruce Harper, 4 for 12 yards BUF: Curtis Brown, 15 for 73 yards; Terry Miller, 12 for 40 yards; Roland Hooks, 10 for 24 yards; Jerry Butler, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Mickey Shuler, 3 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Wesley Walker, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 31 yards; Clark Gaines, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Raba, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Jerry Butler, 10 for 255 yards and 4 TDs; Frank Lewis, 3 for 60 yards; Terry Miller, 2 for 26 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Shipp, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Curtis Brown, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 6 for 123 yards; Ken Schroy, 1 for 19 yards; Bob Raba, 1 for 18 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 3 for 68 yards; Terry Miller, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 23 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Jeff Nixon, 1 for 14 yards; Shane Nelson, 1 for 13 yards; Steve Freeman, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 2 for 79 yards BUF: Rusty Jackson, 3 for 104 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2 BUF: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2
NYJ: Richard Todd, 11 of 21 for 168 yards and 2 TDs (3 int) BUF: Joe Ferguson, 19 of 30 for 367 yards and 5 TDs
Rushing:
NYJ: Scott Dierking, 17 for 97 yards; Clark Gaines, 13 for 88 yards; Tom Newton, 8 for 68 yards and 2 TDs; Bruce Harper, 4 for 12 yards BUF: Curtis Brown, 15 for 73 yards; Terry Miller, 12 for 40 yards; Roland Hooks, 10 for 24 yards; Jerry Butler, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
NYJ: Mickey Shuler, 3 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Wesley Walker, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 31 yards; Clark Gaines, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Raba, 1 for 6 yards BUF: Jerry Butler, 10 for 255 yards and 4 TDs; Frank Lewis, 3 for 60 yards; Terry Miller, 2 for 26 yards; Roland Hooks, 2 for 8 yards; Joe Shipp, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Curtis Brown, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 6 for 123 yards; Ken Schroy, 1 for 19 yards; Bob Raba, 1 for 18 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 3 for 68 yards; Terry Miller, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 23 yards BUF: Keith Moody, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Jeff Nixon, 1 for 14 yards; Shane Nelson, 1 for 13 yards; Steve Freeman, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 2 for 79 yards BUF: Rusty Jackson, 3 for 104 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/2 BUF: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2