1974 New England Patriots season
Encyclopedia
The New England Patriots
finished the National Football League
's 1974 season
with a record of seven wins and seven losses, and finished tied for third in the AFC
East
division.
was installing a new offensive system.
The Patriots ended a four-game losing streak to Miami, erupting to a 31–10 third quarter lead and cruising home 34–24. Mack Herron
opened the season for the Patriots with a fourteen-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, while Jim Plunkett
had a touchdown throw to Reggie Rucker
and a five-yard rushing score to go with Sam Cunningham
's 13-yard rushing score.
The Patriots traveled to New Haven, CT to face the Giants. Norm Snead
of the Giants opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown to Ron A. Johnson; the Patriots answered with a 12-yarder from Jim Plunkett
to Mack Herron
, both scores coming in the first quarter. In the second Joe Dawkins
of the Giants punched the ball in from one yard out, and the Patriots tied the game as Plunkett found Randy Vataha
from 38 yards out. New England then took over as Sam Cunningham
caught a 14-yard Plunkett pass and Herron later ran in a four-yard score. Johnson caught another touchdown from Snead in the fourth quarter but the PAT was stopped and the Patriots ended the game 28–20 winners.
The Bills ended the Patriots' five-game winning streak 30–28. O.J. Simpson had one rushing touchdown and a catch from Joe Ferguson
, who also completed touchdown throws to Paul Seymour
. Sam Cunningham
had three rushing scores and Jim Plunkett
fired a 12-yard touchdown bullet to Reggie Rucker
with nine seconds left. The Bills recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the win.
With both teams entering the game at 5–1, turnovers plagued the day at Metropolitan Stadium
. Jim Plunkett
was picked off twice and the Patriots fumbled twice, while Fran Tarkenton
had three picks. The Patriots also had nine penalties eating up 122 yards as the Vikings erased an early 10–0 New England lead and led 14–10 in the final minute; Tarkenton ran in a late touchdown, then threw the ball into the face of Ron Bolton
; a brief brawl ensued and both Bolton and Tarkenton were ejected. But Jim Plunkett
drove the Pats down field and fired a ten-yard game-winning touchdown to Bob Windsor
on the final play; Windsor had to break numerous tackles to reach the endzone and was injured for the season as a result.
The Patriots and Bills squared off in another hard-fought affair as Joe Ferguson
threw for 247 yards and a touchdown to Ahmad Rashad
while O.J. Simpson was held in check until late in the first half with a touchdown. Jim Plunkett
threw two touchdowns to Mack Herron
and Sam Cunningham
rushed in another score for a 21–19 Patriots haltime lead, but the Bills struck first in the third quarter when Dave Washington
picked off Plunket and ran back 72 yards for the score. Another Mack Herron
score and John Leypoldt
's third field goal of the day left the score 29–28 in the final minute when the Patriots drove down field for a field goal, but the kick was blocked by Jeff Yeates
of the Bills, preserving the win.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
finished the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 1974 season
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
with a record of seven wins and seven losses, and finished tied for third in the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
division.
Staff
| New England Patriots 1974 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
|
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Regular season
The Patriots posted their first non-losing season since 1966, finishing 7–7. They erupted to a 5–0 start before losing seven of their last nine games due to injuries and rising strength of opponents as the season went on. A league-wide player strike during training camp and preseason allowed a large number of new players to make the squad, as coach Chuck FairbanksChuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL....
was installing a new offensive system.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Stadium | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–24 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
1–0 | |
| 2 | September 22 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–20 | Yale Bowl Yale Bowl The Yale Bowl is a football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut on the border of West Haven, about 1½ miles west of Yale's main campus. Completed in 1914, the stadium seats 61,446, reduced by renovations from the original capacity of 70,869... |
2–0 | |
| 3 | September 29 | Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 20–14 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
3–0 | |
| 4 | October 6 | Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 42–3 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
4–0 | |
| 5 | October 13 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–0 | Shea Stadium Shea Stadium William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008... |
5–0 | |
| 6 | October 20 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 28–30 | Rich Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL... |
5–1 | |
| 7 | October 27 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 17–14 | Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium was a sports stadium that once stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The area where the stadium once stood is now the site of the Mall of America... |
6–1 | |
| 8 | November 3 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 28–29 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6–2 | |
| 9 | November 10 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 14–21 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6–3 | |
| 10 | November 17 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 16–21 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6–4 | |
| 11 | November 24 | at Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 27–17 | Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road... |
7–4 | |
| 12 | December 1 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 26–41 | Oakland Coliseum | 7–5 | |
| 13 | December 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 17–21 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
7–6 | |
| 14 | December 15 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 27–34 | Miami Orange Bowl Miami Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team... |
7–7 | |
Standings
| AFC East AFC East The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets... |
||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins 1974 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-AFC: Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26:-Notes and references:**... |
11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 327 | 216 |
| Buffalo Bills 1974 Buffalo Bills season The 1974 Buffalo Bills season was the 15th season for the club in pro football and fifth in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Playoffs:-External Links:**-References:* * *... |
9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 264 | 244 |
| New England Patriots | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 348 | 289 |
| New York Jets 1974 New York Jets season The 1974 New York Jets season was the 15th season for the team and the fifth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 4–10 record from 1973 under new head coach Charley Winner. The Jets finished with a record of 7–7.... |
7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 279 | 300 |
| Baltimore Colts 1974 Baltimore Colts season The 1974 Baltimore Colts season was the 22nd season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1974 season with a record of 2 wins and 12 losses, and finished fifth in the AFC East.- Schedule :... |
2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 190 | 329 |
Notable games
- September 15 vs. Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Patriots ended a four-game losing streak to Miami, erupting to a 31–10 third quarter lead and cruising home 34–24. Mack Herron
Mack Herron
Mack W. Herron is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 1973 to 1976, most notably for the New England Patriots...
opened the season for the Patriots with a fourteen-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, while Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
had a touchdown throw to Reggie Rucker
Reggie Rucker
Reginald Joseph Rucker is a former professional American football player. Rucker played in twelve National Football League seasons from 1970–1981, primarily for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for Boston University.Rucker has been a part of the Cleveland media since his retirement...
and a five-yard rushing score to go with Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
's 13-yard rushing score.
- September 22 vs. New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
at YaleYALERapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
:
The Patriots traveled to New Haven, CT to face the Giants. Norm Snead
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest University and was drafted in the first round of...
of the Giants opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown to Ron A. Johnson; the Patriots answered with a 12-yarder from Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
to Mack Herron
Mack Herron
Mack W. Herron is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 1973 to 1976, most notably for the New England Patriots...
, both scores coming in the first quarter. In the second Joe Dawkins
Joe Dawkins
Joseph Dawkins, III born January 27, 1948 in Los Angeles, California is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, and the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin and was drafted in the tenth...
of the Giants punched the ball in from one yard out, and the Patriots tied the game as Plunkett found Randy Vataha
Randy Vataha
Randel Edward "Randy" Vataha, , was a wide receiver who played seven seasons in the NFL.-College career:Vataha, a wide receiver, was one of Jim Plunkett's favorite receiving targets at Stanford...
from 38 yards out. New England then took over as Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
caught a 14-yard Plunkett pass and Herron later ran in a four-yard score. Johnson caught another touchdown from Snead in the fourth quarter but the PAT was stopped and the Patriots ended the game 28–20 winners.
- October 20 at Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Bills ended the Patriots' five-game winning streak 30–28. O.J. Simpson had one rushing touchdown and a catch from Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson
Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
, who also completed touchdown throws to Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour (American football)
Paul Christopher Seymour is a former professional American football player. He played five seasons for the Buffalo Bills.A 6'5", 250 lbs...
. Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
had three rushing scores and Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
fired a 12-yard touchdown bullet to Reggie Rucker
Reggie Rucker
Reginald Joseph Rucker is a former professional American football player. Rucker played in twelve National Football League seasons from 1970–1981, primarily for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for Boston University.Rucker has been a part of the Cleveland media since his retirement...
with nine seconds left. The Bills recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the win.
- October 27 at Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
:
With both teams entering the game at 5–1, turnovers plagued the day at Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium was a sports stadium that once stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The area where the stadium once stood is now the site of the Mall of America...
. Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
was picked off twice and the Patriots fumbled twice, while Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton
Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
had three picks. The Patriots also had nine penalties eating up 122 yards as the Vikings erased an early 10–0 New England lead and led 14–10 in the final minute; Tarkenton ran in a late touchdown, then threw the ball into the face of Ron Bolton
Ron Bolton
Ronald Clifton Bolton was an American football player for the Cleveland Browns. Bolton led the Browns in interceptions in 1980.-External links:*...
; a brief brawl ensued and both Bolton and Tarkenton were ejected. But Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
drove the Pats down field and fired a ten-yard game-winning touchdown to Bob Windsor
Bob Windsor
Robert Edward Windsor is a former tight end in the National Football League.Windsor played a total of nine seasons in the NFL, five with the San Francisco 49ers and four with the New England Patriots...
on the final play; Windsor had to break numerous tackles to reach the endzone and was injured for the season as a result.
- November 3 vs. Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The Patriots and Bills squared off in another hard-fought affair as Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson
Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
threw for 247 yards and a touchdown to Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashād is an American sportscaster and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals...
while O.J. Simpson was held in check until late in the first half with a touchdown. Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
threw two touchdowns to Mack Herron
Mack Herron
Mack W. Herron is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 1973 to 1976, most notably for the New England Patriots...
and Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
rushed in another score for a 21–19 Patriots haltime lead, but the Bills struck first in the third quarter when Dave Washington
Dave Washington
David V. Washington is a former American football linebacker who played for five teams in an eleven year career that lasted from 1970 to 1980 in the National Football League....
picked off Plunket and ran back 72 yards for the score. Another Mack Herron
Mack Herron
Mack W. Herron is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 1973 to 1976, most notably for the New England Patriots...
score and John Leypoldt
John Leypoldt
John Howard Leypoldt was a former American football placekicker who played eight seasons in the National Football League. Leypoldt died of a heart attack at St. Joseph Intercommunity Hospital in Cheektowaga, New York....
's third field goal of the day left the score 29–28 in the final minute when the Patriots drove down field for a field goal, but the kick was blocked by Jeff Yeates
Jeff Yeates
Jeffrey Lee Yeates was an American football defensive lineman in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Boston College....
of the Bills, preserving the win.
Roster
All of the following players appeared in at least one game for the 1974 New England Patriots.| Name | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Plunkett Jim Plunkett James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ... |
Quarterback | |
| Randy Vataha Randy Vataha Randel Edward "Randy" Vataha, , was a wide receiver who played seven seasons in the NFL.-College career:Vataha, a wide receiver, was one of Jim Plunkett's favorite receiving targets at Stanford... |
Wide receiver | |
| Darryl Stingley Darryl Stingley Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley... |
Wide receiver | Lost for the season after just five games |
| Bob Windsor Bob Windsor Robert Edward Windsor is a former tight end in the National Football League.Windsor played a total of nine seasons in the NFL, five with the San Francisco 49ers and four with the New England Patriots... |
Tight end | Suffered season-ending knee injury in win over Vikings |
| John Hannah | Offensive guard (left side) | |
| Leon Gray Leon Gray Leon Gray was an American football tackle in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints. Gray played college football at Jackson State University.-Early life:... |
Offensive tackle (left side) | |
| Sam Cunningham Sam Cunningham Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:... |
Running back | Rushed for 811 yards and nine touchdowns |
See also
- New England Patriots seasonsNew England Patriots seasonsThe New England Patriots are an American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They compete in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference of the National Football League . Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team was founded as one of eight charter members of the...