NFL game summary for 09/21/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 193.5 (1) | 175.0 (20) | 368.5 (7) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 93.0 (4) | 271.0 (25) | 364.0 (21) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.0 (15) | 205.5 (12) | 335.5 (13) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 234.5 (28) | 119.5 (3) | 354.0 (19) | 3 |
Line: Cowboys by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (3-0-0) | 7 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 35 |
| New England Patriots (0-3-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
( 7- 0) DAL Butch Johnson 28 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7- 7) NE Don Calhoun 4 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(10- 7) DAL Rafael Septien 26 yard field goal
(17- 7) DAL Tony Dorsett 75 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(17-14) NE Tony Collins 3 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(17-21) NE Mosi Tatupu 38 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(24-21) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 1 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)
(27-21) DAL Rafael Septien 26 yard field goal
(29-21) DAL Safety, Matt Cavanaugh called for intentional grounding in end zone
(32-21) DAL Rafael Septien 27 yard field goal
(35-21) DAL Rafael Septien 25 yard field goal
DAL NE
First Downs: 22 16
Rushes-yards: 46-237 22-108
Yards/rush: 5.2 4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-34-218-0 14-27-235-4
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-10
Net pass yards: 218 225
Net yards/pass: 6.4 7.8
Total net yards: 455 333
Total plays: 80 (57% run) 51 (43% run)
Yards/play: 5.7 6.5
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 3-3
Turnovers: 1 7
Penalties-yards: 7-75 5-38
Attendance: 60,311
Passing:
DAL: Danny White, 24 of 34 for 218 yards and 2 TDs NE: Matt Cavanaugh, 14 of 26 for 235 yards (4 int); Harold Jackson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 19 for 162 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 14 for 62 yards; James Jones, 6 for 14 yards; Danny White, 5 for -8 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 0 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 8 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Tony Collins, 8 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Mosi Tatupu, 6 for 63 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
DAL: Ron Springs, 11 for 72 yards; Tony Dorsett, 4 for 22 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 49 yards; Butch Johnson, 3 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 1 for 19 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 68 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 3 for 93 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 48 yards; Tony Collins, 3 for 12 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: James Jones, 3 for 39 yards; Timmy Newsome, 1 for 11 yards NE: Tony Collins, 7 for 142 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 7 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: James Jones, 2 for 3 yards NE: Roland James, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Everson Walls, 2 for 55 yards; Guy Brown, 1 for 28 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 15 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 4 for 145 yards NE: Mike Hubach, 2 for 68 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 4/5 NE: John Smith, 0/1
DAL: Danny White, 24 of 34 for 218 yards and 2 TDs NE: Matt Cavanaugh, 14 of 26 for 235 yards (4 int); Harold Jackson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 19 for 162 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 14 for 62 yards; James Jones, 6 for 14 yards; Danny White, 5 for -8 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 0 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 8 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Tony Collins, 8 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Mosi Tatupu, 6 for 63 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
DAL: Ron Springs, 11 for 72 yards; Tony Dorsett, 4 for 22 yards; Tony Hill, 3 for 49 yards; Butch Johnson, 3 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 1 for 19 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 68 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 3 for 93 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 48 yards; Tony Collins, 3 for 12 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: James Jones, 3 for 39 yards; Timmy Newsome, 1 for 11 yards NE: Tony Collins, 7 for 142 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 7 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: James Jones, 2 for 3 yards NE: Roland James, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Everson Walls, 2 for 55 yards; Guy Brown, 1 for 28 yards; Dennis Thurman, 1 for 15 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 4 for 145 yards NE: Mike Hubach, 2 for 68 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 4/5 NE: John Smith, 0/1