Week 1, 1981

played in Buffalo, NY

51 degrees, fair, 1 mph wind

New England Patriots01003-13
Buffalo Bills30714-24

Scoring Summary
1Q: 00:18 BUF - Carson Long 28 field goal
2Q: 10:27 NED - Mike Wilson 13 pass from Steve Bartkowski (Bucky Wallace extra point)
2Q: 00:26 NED - Bucky Wallace 21 field goal
3Q: 04:20 BUF - Walter Payton 5 pass from Richard Todd (Carson Long extra point)
4Q: 11:34 BUF - Walter Payton 8 run (Carson Long extra point)
4Q: 07:19 NED - Bucky Wallace 24 field goal
4Q: 01:05 BUF - Earl Gant 1 run (Carson Long extra point)

Team StatisticsNEDBUF
Record0-11-0
First Downs1422
- by Rushing410
- by Passing812
- by Penalty20
Total Net Yards242362
- Offensive Plays6170
- Yards per Play3.975.17
Net Rushing Yards114151
- Rushing Attempts2734
- Yards per Rush4.224.44
Net Passing Yards128211
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt31 - 21 - 134 - 20 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards151232
- Sacks/Yards Lost3/232/21
- Yards per Pass Play3.765.86
Fumbles/Lost1/12/2
3rd Down Conversions3/136/14
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down7.58.0
4th Down Conversions0/20/0
Penalties/Yards4/296/57
Punt Returns/Yards4/342/13
Kick Returns/Yards1/271/15
Interception Ret./Yards1/271/0
2pt Conversions0/00/0
Red Zone Visits44
- Red Zone TDs/FGs1/23/1
Avg. Drive StartOWN 35OWN 28
Time of Possession29:2530:35

Drive Charts

New England Patriots
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
115:002:18OWN 3939Punt
111:023:15OWN 29626Punt
16:372:17OWN 443-1Punt
10:114:51OWN 151185Touchdown
24:452:09OWN 29422Fumble
21:491:31OWN 30866Field Goal
311:542:22OWN 2934Punt
39:211:24OPP 193-6Missed FG
34:144:14OWN 20843Interception
411:281:48OWN 2035Punt
48:331:19OPP 1033Field Goal
42:060:41OWN 184-8Downs
40:560:33OWN 2049Downs
Buffalo Bills
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
112:421:40OWN 1636Punt
17:471:10OWN 132Punt
14:204:09OWN 241165Field Goal
210:205:35OWN 91162Fumble
22:360:47OWN 4932Punt
20:180:18OWN 201-1Half
315:003:06OWN 18616Punt
39:320:11OWN 1613Fumble
37:573:43OWN 40960Touchdown
415:003:32OWN 10890Touchdown
49:401:07OWN 3232Interception
47:145:08OWN 4737Punt
41:250:29OPP 10310Touchdown
40:230:23OPP 291-2Game

Game MVP: Walter Payton, Buffalo Bills

Rushing Statistics

New EnglandAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Jimmy Rogers14543.861910
Chuck Foreman9546.001510
John Brockington210.50100
Steve Bartkowski252.50300
BuffaloAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Walter Payton14725.141511
Earl Gant11343.09901
Richard Todd5244.801310
Ted McKnight3206.671010
Billy Jackson111.00100

Passing Statistics

New EnglandAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Steve Bartkowski31211513/23121176.1
BuffaloAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Richard Todd34202322/21141177.1

Receiving Statistics

New EnglandCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
RB Chuck Foreman57479.4019180
WR Lamont Marrow353110.330210
WR Stanley Morgan36144.675120
WR Reuben Gant23136.50090
TE Ken Garcia2210.50020
WR Mike Wilson222211.000131
FB John Brockington1133.00030
WR Darryl Stingley1377.00270
RB Jimmy Rogers111212.0012120
TE Lin Dawson1111.00010
BuffaloCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
RB Walter Payton56255.008111
WR Dennis Franklin343712.338280
FB Billy Jackson343411.3314130
WR Archie Griffin262613.0013200
FB Ted McKnight225226.0047410
TE Gary Shirk1199.00090
WR Tony Hill1577.00170
RB Earl Gant111010.0012100
TE Walt Arnold131414.000140
WR George Farmer111818.008180
WR Wally Henry0100.00000

Interception Statistics

New EnglandIntsYardsAvgTD
OLB Kevin McLain12727.000
BuffaloIntsYardsAvgTD
S Bryant Salter100.000

Fumble Statistics

New EnglandFumbRecovForceTD
Jimmy Rogers1000
R.J. Reese0110
Shafer Suggs0100
Milt McColl0010
BuffaloFumbRecovForceTD
Dennis Franklin1000
Richard Todd1000
Tom Toner0100
Jim Collins0010

Punting Statistics

New EnglandPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Rick Engles522044.041.4594
BuffaloPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Pat McInally523346.639.8612

Kicking Statistics

New EnglandFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Bucky Wallace2/30/10/0241/1
BuffaloFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Carson Long1/10/00/0283/3

Punt Return Statistics

New EnglandRetYardsAvgTD
Stanley Morgan4348.50
BuffaloRetYardsAvgTD
Graham Spreen2136.50

Kick Return Statistics

New EnglandRetYardsAvgTD
Edddie Brown12727.00
BuffaloRetYardsAvgTD
Graham Spreen11515.00

Defensive Statistics

New EnglandTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
S Shafer Suggs710.02231
OLB Gary Campbell620.03436
CB Mark Mitchell610.01718
S Sandy Durko500.01919
DT R.J. Reese421.52430
CB Herman Edwards400.02526
DE Al Harris340.52634
OLB Sam Hunt220.0410
S Mike Davis210.03133
OLB Steve Nelson200.03130
ILB Shane Nelson200.022
OLB Milt McColl200.02014
S Edddie Brown110.074
S Steve Luke110.0511
WR Lamont Marrow10---------
CB Luke Szorcsik100.01420
OLB Kevin McLain100.036
DE Jim Young100.094
DE Barney Chavous040.03434
DT Jeff Lloyd020.0116
CB Mike Washington010.02523
BuffaloTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
ILB Jim Collins700.02021
OLB Tom Toner631.01825
OLB Frank LeMaster610.086
DE Andy Dorris431.51922
CB Dwight Harrison410.02330
S Tommy Casanova400.01322
OLB Keena Turner300.01919
DE Walt Patulski200.51922
CB Kenny Johnson220.02127
DT Carl Barisich210.01416
ILB Don Rives210.042
S Bryant Salter210.02129
ILB Don Blackmon200.01419
S Jack Tatum110.01720
CB Graham Spreen110.02228
S Dextor Clinkscale110.0913
WR Archie Griffin10---------
DE Will Wynn010.0812
DT Mike Dawson010.01318

Pass Rush Statistics

New EnglandSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DT R.J. Reese1.500030
DE Al Harris0.500034
OLB Sam Hunt0.011110
DE Barney Chavous0.001034
OLB Steve Nelson0.001030
CB Mike Washington0.001023
BuffaloSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Andy Dorris1.501222
OLB Tom Toner1.000125
DE Walt Patulski0.500022
OLB Keena Turner0.002019
DT Mike Dawson0.001318
DE Will Wynn0.001012

Pass Defense Statistics

New EnglandCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
S Sandy Durko40019
S Shafer Suggs40031
OLB Milt McColl21014
OLB Sam Hunt20010
CB Mark Mitchell20018
CB Luke Szorcsik11020
OLB Kevin McLain1016
OLB Steve Nelson10030
S Steve Luke10011
OLB Gary Campbell10036
ILB Shane Nelson1002
CB Mike Washington01023
S Mike Davis01033
CB Herman Edwards01026
BuffaloCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
OLB Frank LeMaster4006
OLB Tom Toner40025
S Tommy Casanova21022
S Bryant Salter20129
ILB Jim Collins20021
DE Andy Dorris10022
CB Dwight Harrison10030
ILB Don Rives1002
CB Graham Spreen10028
CB Kenny Johnson10027
OLB Keena Turner10019
ILB Don Blackmon10019

Blocking Statistics

New EnglandKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Larry Tearry34122130
Lynn Boden26025031
Irv Pankey14025129
John Brockington1401509
Joe Fields14024030
Wade Griffin13027030
Steve Kenney000818
BuffaloKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Ken Huff57033033
Steve Riley48031133
Reggie McKenzie34227131
Kelvin Clark14026029
Chad Bush110807
Billy Jackson11012013
Don Macek04033027

Special Teams Tackles

New EnglandTacklesSTPlays
Reuben Gant115
Jimmy Rogers111
Vern Holland18
BuffaloTacklesSTPlays
Earl Gant220
George Farmer115
Chad Bush16
Ted McKnight13

Participation

New EnglandRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Gary Campbell------3436171
Barney Chavous------3434169
Al Harris------2634666
Mike Davis------3133165
Steve Nelson------3130364
Steve Bartkowski2734---------61
Joe Fields2430------660
Lynn Boden2531------258
Larry Tearry2230------658
Wade Griffin2730---------57
R.J. Reese------2430256
Shafer Suggs------2231154
Irv Pankey2529---------54
Darryl Stingley2130------152
Herman Edwards------2526---51
Mike Washington------2523250
Lamont Marrow2028---------48
Mike Wilson1417------1344
Mark Mitchell------1718843
Stanley Morgan1422------541
John Brockington159------1640
Sandy Durko------1919240
Luke Szorcsik------1420640
Milt McColl------2014539
Ken Garcia1115------1137
Jimmy Rogers169------1136
Lin Dawson1010------1535
Sam Hunt------4101933
Reuben Gant312------1530
Steve Luke------5111430
Chuck Foreman1118---------29
Steve Kenney88------723
Leonard Mitchell411------823
Cullen Bryant00------2222
John Anderson------115521
Edddie Brown------74920
Jeff Lloyd------116---17
Kevin McLain------36413
Jim Young------94---13
Vern Holland01------89
Shane Nelson------2237
Rick Engles00------55
Garo Yepremian00------44
Larry Lawrence00------33
Bucky Wallace00------33
Joe Gilliam00---------0
BuffaloRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Ken Huff3333------672
Richard Todd3436---------70
Graham Spreen------22281767
Steve Riley3133---------64
Don Macek3327------262
Reggie McKenzie2731---------58
Kenny Johnson------2127957
Dwight Harrison------2330255
Kelvin Clark2629---------55
Bryant Salter------2129353
Walt Arnold1423------1552
Tony Hill2022------951
Keena Turner------19191149
Gary Shirk2318------748
Earl Gant1314------2047
Tom Toner------1825245
Andy Dorris------1922243
Walt Patulski------1922243
Ted McKnight1624------343
Jim Collins------2021243
Walter Payton2120---------41
Jack Tatum------1720239
Dennis Franklin1312------1439
Billy Jackson1213------1439
Don Blackmon------1419538
Tommy Casanova------1322237
Archie Griffin1917------137
Dextor Clinkscale------9131537
Carl Barisich------1416535
Mike Dawson------1318334
Jeff Wright------7111230
Wally Henry1513---------28
Doug McDougald------812626
Frank LeMaster------861125
George Farmer44------1523
Will Wynn------812121
Chad Bush87------621
Len Gotshalk33------612
Steve Courson75---------12
Don Rives------42511
Dave Scott13------610
Todd Thomas19---------10
Carson Long00------66
Pat McInally00------55
Jack Thompson00------11
Dave Mays00---------0

Directional Rushing Statistics

DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left5163.2
Middle15724.8
Right7263.7
None000.0
DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left4225.5
Middle22964.4
Right6366.0
None2-3-1.5

Detailed Passing Statistics

New EnglandAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Steve Bartkowski31211031561
BuffaloAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Richard Todd34203215411

Directional Passing Statistics

DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen33227.3
Short (0-8 Yds)1513624.1
Medium (9-18 Yds)74466.6
Long (19+ Yds)61213.5
DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen546312.6
Short (0-8 Yds)18121005.6
Medium (9-18 Yds)73415.9
Long (19+ Yds)41287.0

Detailed Receiving Statistics

New EnglandTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
RB Chuck Foreman75047018
WR Stanley Morgan63114022
WR Lamont Marrow53031128
WR Reuben Gant32113012
WR Darryl Stingley3117030
TE Ken Garcia2201015
WR Mike Wilson22022017
FB John Brockington110309
RB Jimmy Rogers1101209
TE Lin Dawson1101010
BuffaloTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
RB Walter Payton65025020
WR Archie Griffin62026117
WR Tony Hill5117022
WR Dennis Franklin43037112
FB Billy Jackson43034013
TE Walt Arnold31014023
FB Ted McKnight22052124
TE Gary Shirk1109018
WR Wally Henry1000013
RB Earl Gant11010014
WR George Farmer1101804

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

New EnglandAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Jimmy Rogers382.673.86
Chuck Foreman2105.006.00
BuffaloAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Walter Payton5346.805.14
Earl Gant341.333.09
Ted McKnight199.006.67

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

New EnglandAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Steve Bartkowski32124.004.87
BuffaloAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Richard Todd5151.006.82

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

New EnglandTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR Stanley Morgan21-1-0.502.33
WR Mike Wilson111313.0011.00
BuffaloTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR Tony Hill2000.001.40
RB Walter Payton1155.004.17
WR Wally Henry1000.000.00
TE Walt Arnold1000.004.67

Third Down Rushing Statistics

New EnglandRushesConversions
Steve Bartkowski20
Jimmy Rogers21
BuffaloRushesConversions
Earl Gant32
Walter Payton21

Third Down Passing Statistics

New EnglandAttCompConversions
Steve Bartkowski852
BuffaloAttCompConversions
Richard Todd843

Third Down Receiving Statistics

New EnglandTargCatchConversions
RB Chuck Foreman321
WR Lamont Marrow200
TE Ken Garcia110
WR Stanley Morgan110
WR Mike Wilson111
BuffaloTargCatchConversions
WR Archie Griffin300
RB Walter Payton111
WR Tony Hill100
FB Ted McKnight111
TE Walt Arnold111
WR George Farmer110

SectionAttendance
Stadium49,000 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck15,100 (21,400)
End Zone10,900 (15,400)
Mezzanine6,300 (8,900)
Sideline Seats9,600 (13,600)
Club Seats5,200 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes1,900 (3,300)