NFL game summary for 10/07/1979:
Quarterback Tom Owen, playing in relief of starter Steve Grogan, rallied New England from a 17-14 third-period deficit for the victory, which gave the Patriots a share of first place in the AFC East. Owen (7 of 13 for 81 yards and one touchdown) capped a 56-yard final-quarter march with a six-yard scoring pass to running back Don Calhoun. The Lions had taken a three-point advantage on defensive end William Gay's fumble recovery in the end zone.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 129.2 (18) | 169.8 (19) | 299.0 (21) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 168.0 (25) | 148.2 (6) | 316.2 (18) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 174.4 (4) | 198.6 (7) | 373.0 (3) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 106.0 (3) | 132.0 (4) | 238.0 (4) | 13 |
Line: Patriots by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (1-5-0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| New England Patriots (4-2-0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
( 0- 7) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (John Smith kick)
( 0-14) NE Don Calhoun 2 yard rush (John Smith kick)
( 3-14) DET Benny Ricardo 26 yard field goal
(10-14) DET Scott Hunter 1 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)
(17-14) DET William Gay 0 yard fumble return (Benny Ricardo kick)
(17-21) NE Don Calhoun 6 yard pass from Tom Owen (John Smith kick)
(17-24) NE John Smith 29 yard field goal
DET NE
First Downs: 9 22
Rushes-yards: 27-55 45-140
Yards/rush: 2.0 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-24-173-2 11-23-154-1
Sacked-yards: 2-17 5-43
Net pass yards: 156 111
Net yards/pass: 6.0 4.0
Total net yards: 211 251
Total plays: 53 (50% run) 73 (61% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 12-107 12-84
Attendance: 60,629
Passing:
DET: Scott Hunter, 6 of 16 for 155 yards (1 int); Jeff Komlo, 2 of 8 for 18 yards (1 int) NE: Tom Owen, 7 of 13 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 3 of 9 for 45 yards (1 int); Don Westbrook, 1 of 1 for 28 yards
Rushing:
DET: Dexter Bussey, 13 for 34 yards; Bo Robinson, 5 for 10 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 2 for 6 yards; Scott Hunter, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Rick Kane, 2 for 3 yards; Jeff Komlo, 1 for 6 yards; Horace King, 1 for 1 yard; Luther Blue, 1 for -8 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 20 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 20 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Mosi Tatupu, 2 for 4 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for 3 yards; Tom Owen, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: David Hill, 3 for 35 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 98 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 30 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 10 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 31 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 59 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 36 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 22 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 18 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 31 yards; Ken Fantetti, 1 for 17 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 34 yards; Don Westbrook, 2 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 25 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Charlie Weaver, 1 for 17 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 33 yards; Tim Fox, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
DET: Larry Swider, 8 for 272 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 7 for 269 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 1/3
DET: Scott Hunter, 6 of 16 for 155 yards (1 int); Jeff Komlo, 2 of 8 for 18 yards (1 int) NE: Tom Owen, 7 of 13 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Steve Grogan, 3 of 9 for 45 yards (1 int); Don Westbrook, 1 of 1 for 28 yards
Rushing:
DET: Dexter Bussey, 13 for 34 yards; Bo Robinson, 5 for 10 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 2 for 6 yards; Scott Hunter, 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Rick Kane, 2 for 3 yards; Jeff Komlo, 1 for 6 yards; Horace King, 1 for 1 yard; Luther Blue, 1 for -8 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 20 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 20 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Mosi Tatupu, 2 for 4 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for 3 yards; Tom Owen, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: David Hill, 3 for 35 yards; Leonard Thompson, 2 for 98 yards; Luther Blue, 2 for 30 yards; Dexter Bussey, 1 for 10 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 31 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 59 yards; Russ Francis, 2 for 36 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 22 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 18 yards; Ken Callicutt, 1 for 31 yards; Ken Fantetti, 1 for 17 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 34 yards; Don Westbrook, 2 for 26 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Leonard Thompson, 2 for 25 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Charlie Weaver, 1 for 17 yards NE: Mike Haynes, 1 for 33 yards; Tim Fox, 1 for 25 yards
Punting:
DET: Larry Swider, 8 for 272 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 7 for 269 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 1/3