NFL game summary for 10/03/1971:
The Colts limited the Patriots to fewer than a hundred combined yards on offense in taking over the lead in the AFC East. Jim O'Brien contributed three long field goals and rookie running back Don Nottingham scored his first TD rushing.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 195.0 (2) | 53.5 (26) | 248.5 (21) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 80.5 (5) | 112.0 (3) | 192.5 (1) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 139.5 (10) | 114.0 (24) | 253.5 (19) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 184.5 (23) | 151.5 (13) | 336.0 (21) | 4 |
Line: Colts by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (2-1-0) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
| New England Patriots (1-2-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
( 7- 0) BAL Tom Matte 2 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(14- 0) BAL Don Nottingham 1 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(14- 3) NE Charlie Gogolak 34 yard field goal
(17- 3) BAL Jim O'Brien 42 yard field goal
(20- 3) BAL Jim O'Brien 41 yard field goal
(23- 3) BAL Jim O'Brien 50 yard field goal
BAL NE
First Downs: 24 9
Rushes-yards: 36-136 24-89
Yards/rush: 3.8 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-24-235-2 9-20-62-1
Sacked-yards: 1-13 0-0
Net pass yards: 222 62
Net yards/pass: 8.9 3.1
Total net yards: 358 151
Total plays: 61 (59% run) 44 (54% run)
Yards/play: 5.9 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 2-10 4-50
Attendance: 61,232
Passing:
BAL: Earl Morrall, 13 of 17 for 162 yards (2 int); Johnny Unitas, 6 of 7 for 73 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 20 for 62 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BAL: Don Nottingham, 16 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Tom Matte, 14 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 5 for 22 yards; Ray Perkins, 1 for 18 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 10 for 39 yards; Jim Plunkett, 6 for 36 yards; Jim Nance, 5 for 15 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Tom Mitchell, 5 for 56 yards; Eddie Hinton, 4 for 81 yards; Tom Matte, 4 for 38 yards; Don Nottingham, 3 for 34 yards; John Mackey, 2 for 18 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 8 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 4 for 13 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 28 yards; Roland Moss, 1 for 9 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Jim Duncan, 1 for 54 yards; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 28 yards NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 45 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 45 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Charlie Stukes, 1 for 0 yards NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 19 yards; John Outlaw, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 2 for 94 yards NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 212 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Jim O'Brien, 3/3 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/3
BAL: Earl Morrall, 13 of 17 for 162 yards (2 int); Johnny Unitas, 6 of 7 for 73 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 20 for 62 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
BAL: Don Nottingham, 16 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Tom Matte, 14 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 5 for 22 yards; Ray Perkins, 1 for 18 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 10 for 39 yards; Jim Plunkett, 6 for 36 yards; Jim Nance, 5 for 15 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Tom Mitchell, 5 for 56 yards; Eddie Hinton, 4 for 81 yards; Tom Matte, 4 for 38 yards; Don Nottingham, 3 for 34 yards; John Mackey, 2 for 18 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 8 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 4 for 13 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 28 yards; Roland Moss, 1 for 9 yards; Tom Beer, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Jim Duncan, 1 for 54 yards; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 28 yards NE: Ron Gardin, 2 for 45 yards; Hubie Bryant, 1 for 45 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Hubie Bryant, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Charlie Stukes, 1 for 0 yards NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for 19 yards; John Outlaw, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 2 for 94 yards NE: Tom Janik, 6 for 212 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Jim O'Brien, 3/3 NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/3