FOOTBALL AT FENWAY  
The Patriots pass rush stuns
the Buffalo Bills in a 14-3 win

December 4, 1966 ... The Patriots jumped into the driver's seat of the NFL East by dismantling the Buffalo Bills 14-3 at Fenway Park.  The defense paralyzed the Buffalo offensive squad with an overwhelming pass rush and managed to make most of their own scoring chances.  With the win, the Patriots were back in first place and two games away from meeting the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFL Championship Game.  If the do not lose in Houston or New York in the next two weeks, will clinch and have the home field for the championship game.

Jim Nance and Babe Parilli accounted for the Patriots' touchdowns, but it was not the afternoon for the offense.  The game belonged to the defensive units of both teams.  The Bills ran 66 plays all afternoon and never sniffed the Patriots' end zone.  They have the second best rushing offense in the league, but the Pats held the to only 40 yards on the ground.

The third period was the turning point.  The Patriots were leading 7-3, when Buffalo's quarterback, Jack Kemp was hit by Larry Eisenhauer and had to leave the game.  He was followed by their leading rusher, Bobby Burnett, who was knocked cold.  The Bills never got past midfield in the second half until the final three minutes.

The start of the game was a different story.  The Bills, on their second chance with the ball, marched from their own 10-yd line to the Boston five before having to settle for a field goal.  Buffalo was not to score again, as two interceptions and two fumbles, and a fierce pass rush kept closing doors.  Seven times Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica was sacked for losses totaling 52 yards.  Defensive back Tom Hennessey knocked down five passes and came up with a big interception in the end zone early in the game.

The Patriots offense was inconsistent but had the ability to make the big play.  Nance who had 109 yards rushing in 24 carries made the first one.  With a third and two situation on his own 35, Nance rammed over left guard then knocked away to defenders, spun off a third, and the race for the end zone was on.  Jim Whalen through a key block at the 15-yard line, allowing Nance to skip home with the score, putting the Patriots ahead 7-3.  The only other score came in the third period when the Patriots covered 60 yards for their second score with Parilli figuring on the important plays.  With third down and 12 on his own 38, Parilli found Art Graham cutting thru Buffalo's pass defense and connected for a 37-yd completion.  On the next play he lofted one to Joe Bellino in the corner who snatched it out of  the defender's arms and falling on the Buffalo five.  Two plays gained only two yards and on the third, Parilli rolled right and kept the ball, notching the other score himself.  That made it 14-3. 

A little later Kemp was knocked out and Lamonica took over.  He was dumped three times for long losses and fumbled the ball away ion two other occasions.  The Patriots nursed the lead until the final minute when Buffalo's Jim Dunaway blocked Cappy's attempt of a 43-yard field goal.  John Tracey picked it up and dashed for the Patriot's end zone, but was downed at the 40-yd line. With the clock ticking down, the Bills were on the Patriots' door step at the one.  The game was already one but Nick Buoniconti made the stop and the Patriots' kept their 14-3 lead.