NFL game summary for 09/16/1979:
Steve Grogan and Stanley Morgan combined on a 17-yard touchdown and set up another score as the Patriots won their second game. Don Calhoun's short scoring run came after Grogan (11 of 26 for 176 yards) hit Morgan with a 27-yard completion at the Cincinnati 3. Rookie quarterback Jack Thompson, subbing for the injured Ken Anderson, directed two long second-half Bengal drives (70 and 82 yards) and capped each with touchdown runs.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 197.0 (4) | 223.5 (5) | 420.5 (2) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 103.5 (6) | 118.0 (5) | 221.5 (5) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 114.5 (20) | 169.0 (14) | 283.5 (17) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 204.0 (25) | 223.0 (24) | 427.0 (26) | 2 |
Line: Patriots by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (0-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) NE Stanley Morgan 17 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(14- 0) NE Don Calhoun 3 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(14- 7) CIN Jack Thompson 13 yard rush (Chris Bahr kick)
(17- 7) NE John Smith 39 yard field goal
(20- 7) NE John Smith 39 yard field goal
(20-14) CIN Jack Thompson 1 yard rush (Chris Bahr kick)
NE CIN
First Downs: 18 17
Rushes-yards: 42-165 32-166
Yards/rush: 3.9 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-27-176-0 7-21-83-0
Sacked-yards: 2-9 5-51
Net pass yards: 167 32
Net yards/pass: 5.8 1.2
Total net yards: 332 198
Total plays: 71 (59% run) 58 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 3.4
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 0 1
Penalties-yards: 3-30 3-25
Attendance: 41,805
Passing:
NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 26 for 176 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards CIN: Jack Thompson, 7 of 20 for 83 yards; Ken Anderson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NE: Andy Johnson, 17 for 49 yards; Sam Cunningham, 16 for 61 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 43 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 12 yards and 1 TD CIN: Pete Johnson, 14 for 54 yards; Jack Thompson, 6 for 57 yards and 2 TDs; Archie Griffin, 6 for 29 yards; Charles Alexander, 5 for 21 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 27 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 2 for 76 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 19 yards CIN: Don Bass, 4 for 43 yards; Pete Johnson, 2 for 10 yards; Dan Ross, 1 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 46 yards CIN: Deacon Turner, 5 for 97 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 5 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Vaughn Lusby, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NE: Eddie Hare, 3 for 104 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 6 for 294 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/4 CIN: Chris Bahr, 0/1
NE: Steve Grogan, 11 of 26 for 176 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards CIN: Jack Thompson, 7 of 20 for 83 yards; Ken Anderson, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NE: Andy Johnson, 17 for 49 yards; Sam Cunningham, 16 for 61 yards; Steve Grogan, 6 for 43 yards; Don Calhoun, 3 for 12 yards and 1 TD CIN: Pete Johnson, 14 for 54 yards; Jack Thompson, 6 for 57 yards and 2 TDs; Archie Griffin, 6 for 29 yards; Charles Alexander, 5 for 21 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
NE: Sam Cunningham, 4 for 27 yards; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Harold Jackson, 2 for 76 yards; Andy Johnson, 2 for 19 yards CIN: Don Bass, 4 for 43 yards; Pete Johnson, 2 for 10 yards; Dan Ross, 1 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 46 yards CIN: Deacon Turner, 5 for 97 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Stanley Morgan, 1 for 16 yards; Mike Haynes, 1 for 5 yards; Don Westbrook, 1 for 0 yards CIN: Vaughn Lusby, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
NE: Eddie Hare, 3 for 104 yards CIN: Pat McInally, 6 for 294 yards
Field Goals:
NE: John Smith, 2/4 CIN: Chris Bahr, 0/1