NFL game summary for 12/21/1980:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.3 (9) | 197.5 (12) | 330.8 (11) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 119.1 (11) | 168.5 (4) | 287.6 (5) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 84.9 (28) | 219.3 (6) | 304.1 (21) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 191.1 (28) | 191.9 (11) | 383.0 (28) | 23 |
Line: Patriots by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (10-6-0) | 3 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| New Orleans Saints (1-15-0) | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 7) NO Jimmy Rogers 23 yard pass from Jack Holmes (Benny Ricardo kick) ( 0-10) NO Benny Ricardo 30 yard field goal ( 3-10) NE John Smith 22 yard field goal (10-10) NE Russ Francis 39 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (John Smith kick) (17-10) NE Andy Johnson 11 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (John Smith kick) (17-13) NO Benny Ricardo 38 yard field goal (24-13) NE Andy Johnson 6 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (John Smith kick) (24-20) NO Wayne Wilson 1 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick) (24-27) NO Wes Chandler 23 yard pass from Archie Manning (Benny Ricardo kick) (31-27) NE Don Calhoun 22 yard rush (John Smith kick) (38-27) NE Mosi Tatupu 4 yard rush (John Smith kick)
NE NO
First Downs: 27 23
Rushes-yards: 38-240 23-89
Yards/rush: 6.3 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-28-233-1 26-41-367-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 1-8
Net pass yards: 233 359
Net yards/pass: 8.3 8.5
Total net yards: 473 448
Total plays: 66 (57% run) 65 (35% run)
Yards/play: 7.2 6.9
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 8-95 8-69
Attendance: 38,277
Passing:
NE: Matt Cavanaugh, 16 of 28 for 233 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 39 for 301 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 1 of 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chandler, 1 of 1 for 43 yards
Rushing:
NE: Don Calhoun, 16 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Vagas Ferguson, 15 for 82 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 4 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Matt Cavanaugh, 2 for 8 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 16 yards NO: Jack Holmes, 6 for 26 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 11 yards; Archie Manning, 5 for 27 yards; Jimmy Rogers, 4 for 15 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 9 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 63 yards; Andy Johnson, 4 for 44 yards and 2 TDs; Russ Francis, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 2 for 35 yards; Vagas Ferguson, 2 for 23 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 1 for 8 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 6 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 7 for 27 yards; Wes Chandler, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 5 for 94 yards; Jimmy Rogers, 3 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 3 for 28 yards; Ike Harris, 2 for 45 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Horace Ivory, 4 for 126 yards; Allan Clark, 2 for 21 yards NO: Jimmy Rogers, 6 for 118 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Roland James, 3 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Elois Grooms, 1 for 37 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Hubach, 3 for 111 yards NO: Russell Erxleben, 4 for 160 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 NO: Benny Ricardo, 2/2
NE: Matt Cavanaugh, 16 of 28 for 233 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 39 for 301 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 1 of 1 for 23 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chandler, 1 of 1 for 43 yards
Rushing:
NE: Don Calhoun, 16 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Vagas Ferguson, 15 for 82 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 4 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Matt Cavanaugh, 2 for 8 yards; Stanley Morgan, 1 for 16 yards NO: Jack Holmes, 6 for 26 yards; Tony Galbreath, 6 for 11 yards; Archie Manning, 5 for 27 yards; Jimmy Rogers, 4 for 15 yards; Wes Chandler, 1 for 9 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 63 yards; Andy Johnson, 4 for 44 yards and 2 TDs; Russ Francis, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 2 for 35 yards; Vagas Ferguson, 2 for 23 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 1 for 8 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 6 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 7 for 27 yards; Wes Chandler, 6 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Henry Childs, 5 for 94 yards; Jimmy Rogers, 3 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Jack Holmes, 3 for 28 yards; Ike Harris, 2 for 45 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Horace Ivory, 4 for 126 yards; Allan Clark, 2 for 21 yards NO: Jimmy Rogers, 6 for 118 yards; Wayne Wilson, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Roland James, 3 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Elois Grooms, 1 for 37 yards
Punting:
NE: Mike Hubach, 3 for 111 yards NO: Russell Erxleben, 4 for 160 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 1/1 NO: Benny Ricardo, 2/2