NFL game summary for 10/18/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 139.8 (9) | 110.2 (28) | 250.0 (27) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 113.5 (8) | 231.2 (22) | 344.7 (17) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 134.8 (14) | 256.3 (3) | 391.2 (4) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 219.5 (28) | 161.3 (4) | 380.8 (25) | 11 |
Line: Patriots by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (4-3-0) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| New England Patriots (2-5-0) | 7 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 38 |
( 0- 7) NE Stanley Morgan 28 yard pass from Andy Johnson (John Smith kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Dave Casper 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Toni Fritsch kick)
(10- 7) HOU Toni Fritsch 42 yard field goal
(10-14) NE Stanley Morgan 42 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(10-17) NE John Smith 21 yard field goal
(10-24) NE Andy Johnson 10 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(10-31) NE Vagas Ferguson 15 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(10-38) NE Steve Grogan 24 yard rush (John Smith kick)
HOU NE
First Downs: 18 21
Rushes-yards: 33-120 41-244
Yards/rush: 3.6 6.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-35-201-4 12-21-192-1
Sacked-yards: 1-12 0-0
Net pass yards: 189 192
Net yards/pass: 5.2 9.1
Total net yards: 309 436
Total plays: 69 (47% run) 62 (66% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 7.0
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 3-3
Turnovers: 4 4
Penalties-yards: 2-30 1-5
Attendance: 60,474
Passing:
HOU: Ken Stabler, 18 of 35 for 201 yards and 1 TD (4 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 19 for 164 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Tony Collins, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 of 1 for 28 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 27 for 86 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 21 yards; Adger Armstrong, 2 for 7 yards; Tim Wilson, 2 for 6 yards NE: Tony Collins, 17 for 89 yards; Vagas Ferguson, 9 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 7 for 30 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 6 for 64 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 48 yards; Mike Barber, 3 for 57 yards; Dave Casper, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 22 yards; Mike Renfro, 2 for 17 yards; Adger Armstrong, 2 for 16 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 4 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Andy Johnson, 3 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 3 for 24 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Willie Tullis, 5 for 113 yards; Carl Roaches, 1 for 16 yards; Daryl Hunt, 1 for 11 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 2 for 36 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 41 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Carter Hartwig, 1 for 31 yards NE: Tim Fox, 1 for 20 yards; John Zamberlin, 1 for 11 yards; Keith Lee, 1 for 0 yards; Rod Shoate, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 160 yards NE: Ken Hartley, 2 for 50 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 1/2
HOU: Ken Stabler, 18 of 35 for 201 yards and 1 TD (4 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 19 for 164 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Tony Collins, 0 of 1 for 0 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 of 1 for 28 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 27 for 86 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 21 yards; Adger Armstrong, 2 for 7 yards; Tim Wilson, 2 for 6 yards NE: Tony Collins, 17 for 89 yards; Vagas Ferguson, 9 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Don Calhoun, 7 for 30 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 6 for 64 yards; Steve Grogan, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 4 for 48 yards; Mike Barber, 3 for 57 yards; Dave Casper, 3 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Ken Burrough, 3 for 22 yards; Mike Renfro, 2 for 17 yards; Adger Armstrong, 2 for 16 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 4 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 4 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Andy Johnson, 3 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 3 for 24 yards; Don Hasselbeck, 2 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Willie Tullis, 5 for 113 yards; Carl Roaches, 1 for 16 yards; Daryl Hunt, 1 for 11 yards NE: Andy Johnson, 2 for 36 yards; Don Calhoun, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 3 for 41 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Carter Hartwig, 1 for 31 yards NE: Tim Fox, 1 for 20 yards; John Zamberlin, 1 for 11 yards; Keith Lee, 1 for 0 yards; Rod Shoate, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 5 for 160 yards NE: Ken Hartley, 2 for 50 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1 NE: John Smith, 1/2