All NFL game summaries for 01/03/1971:
Johnny Unitas' passing and play calling and the running of rookie Norm Bulaich powered the Colts to their first AFC championship. Bulaich scored twice and Unitas picked up 245 yards on 11 completions. His key completion came in the fourth quarter on a 68-yard touchdown reception by Ray Perkins out of a formation of four wide receivers. George Blanda became the oldest quarterback to perform in a title game when he replaced Oakland's injured Daryle Lamonica in the second period. The 43-year-old veteran threw touchdown passes to Fred Biletnikoff and Warren Wells, but was intercepted three times.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 140.3 (7) | 204.6 (2) | 344.9 (1) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 144.8 (23) | 149.2 (6) | 294.0 (19) | 27 | |
 | OFFENSE | 95.4 (23) | 199.9 (3) | 295.3 (8) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 102.8 (6) | 171.9 (21) | 274.6 (9) | 34 |
Line: Raiders by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland Raiders (9-5-2) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Baltimore Colts (13-2-1) | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 3) BAL Jim O'Brien 16 yard field goal
( 0-10) BAL Norm Bulaich 2 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
( 3-10) OAK George Blanda 48 yard field goal
(10-10) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 38 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)
(10-13) BAL Jim O'Brien 23 yard field goal
(10-20) BAL Norm Bulaich 11 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(17-20) OAK Warren Wells 15 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)
(17-27) BAL Ray Perkins 68 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Jim O'Brien kick)
OAK BAL
First Downs: 16 18
Rushes-yards: 22-107 38-126
Yards/rush: 4.9 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-36-277-3 11-30-245-0
Sacked-yards: 5-48 3-8
Net pass yards: 229 237
Net yards/pass: 5.6 7.2
Total net yards: 336 363
Total plays: 63 (34% run) 71 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.3 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 4 0
Penalties-yards: 2-20 2-10
Attendance: 56,368
Passing:
OAK: George Blanda, 17 of 32 for 271 yards and 2 TDs (3 int); Daryle Lamonica, 1 of 4 for 6 yards BAL: Johnny Unitas, 11 of 30 for 245 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
OAK: Hewritt Dixon, 10 for 51 yards; Charlie Smith, 9 for 44 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 12 yards BAL: Norm Bulaich, 22 for 71 yards and 2 TDs; Tom Nowatzke, 8 for 32 yards; Jerry Hill, 5 for 12 yards; Johnny Unitas, 2 for 9 yards; Sam Havrilak, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
OAK: Warren Wells, 5 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Fred Biletnikoff, 5 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Hewritt Dixon, 3 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 36 yards; Charlie Smith, 2 for 21 yards; Marv Hubbard, 1 for 5 yards BAL: Eddie Hinton, 5 for 115 yards; Roy Jefferson, 3 for 36 yards; Ray Perkins, 2 for 80 yards and 1 TD; John Mackey, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
OAK: George Atkinson, 2 for 37 yards; Rod Sherman, 1 for 23 yards BAL: Jim Duncan, 4 for 105 yards
Punt returns:
OAK: George Atkinson, 2 for 10 yards BAL: Ron Gardin, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
BAL: Jerry Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Ray May, 1 for 0 yards; Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
OAK: Mike Eischeid, 5 for 200 yards BAL: David Lee, 6 for 272 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: George Blanda, 1/1 BAL: Jim O'Brien, 2/4
OAK: George Blanda, 17 of 32 for 271 yards and 2 TDs (3 int); Daryle Lamonica, 1 of 4 for 6 yards BAL: Johnny Unitas, 11 of 30 for 245 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
OAK: Hewritt Dixon, 10 for 51 yards; Charlie Smith, 9 for 44 yards; Marv Hubbard, 3 for 12 yards BAL: Norm Bulaich, 22 for 71 yards and 2 TDs; Tom Nowatzke, 8 for 32 yards; Jerry Hill, 5 for 12 yards; Johnny Unitas, 2 for 9 yards; Sam Havrilak, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
OAK: Warren Wells, 5 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Fred Biletnikoff, 5 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Hewritt Dixon, 3 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 2 for 36 yards; Charlie Smith, 2 for 21 yards; Marv Hubbard, 1 for 5 yards BAL: Eddie Hinton, 5 for 115 yards; Roy Jefferson, 3 for 36 yards; Ray Perkins, 2 for 80 yards and 1 TD; John Mackey, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
OAK: George Atkinson, 2 for 37 yards; Rod Sherman, 1 for 23 yards BAL: Jim Duncan, 4 for 105 yards
Punt returns:
OAK: George Atkinson, 2 for 10 yards BAL: Ron Gardin, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
BAL: Jerry Logan, 1 for 16 yards; Ray May, 1 for 0 yards; Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
OAK: Mike Eischeid, 5 for 200 yards BAL: David Lee, 6 for 272 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: George Blanda, 1/1 BAL: Jim O'Brien, 2/4
Dallas middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan intercepted a John Brodie pass to set up a 13-yard touchdown run by rookie Duane Thomas that broke a 3-3 tie in the third period to springboard the Cowboys to a 17-10 victory over San Francisco and their first NFC championship. Another interception by Mel Renfro paved the way for Dallas' clinching touchdown, a five-yard pass from Craig Morton to Walt Garrison, also in the third period. Thomas rushed 27 times for 143 yards as Dallas scored its seventh consecutive victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 164.3 (1) | 153.5 (16) | 317.8 (4) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 118.3 (10) | 136.6 (3) | 254.9 (4) | 39 | |
 | OFFENSE | 112.9 (17) | 208.8 (1) | 321.6 (2) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 128.5 (18) | 155.2 (9) | 283.7 (13) | 42 |
Line: 49ers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (12-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 3) SF Bruce Gossett 16 yard field goal
( 3- 3) DAL Mike Clark 21 yard field goal
(10- 3) DAL Duane Thomas 13 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
(17- 3) DAL Walt Garrison 5 yard pass from Craig Morton (Mike Clark kick)
(17-10) SF Dick Witcher 26 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
DAL SF
First Downs: 22 15
Rushes-yards: 51-229 19-61
Yards/rush: 4.5 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-22-101-0 19-30-262-2
Sacked-yards: 2-11 2-16
Net pass yards: 90 246
Net yards/pass: 3.8 7.7
Total net yards: 319 307
Total plays: 75 (68% run) 51 (37% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 1-0
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 7-75 5-51
Attendance: 59,625
Passing:
DAL: Craig Morton, 7 of 22 for 101 yards and 1 TD SF: John Brodie, 19 of 40 for 262 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Duane Thomas, 27 for 143 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 17 for 71 yards; Claxton Welch, 5 for 27 yards; Dan Reeves, 2 for -12 yards SF: Ken Willard, 13 for 42 yards; Doug Cunningham, 5 for 14 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 24 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards SF: Gene Washington, 6 for 88 yards; Doug Cunningham, 4 for 34 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 70 yards; Dick Witcher, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 22 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Mark Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 16 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 10 yards SF: Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 66 yards; Bill Tucker, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 8 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Mel Renfro, 1 for 19 yards; Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards SF: Steve Spurrier, 5 for 205 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mike Clark, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2
DAL: Craig Morton, 7 of 22 for 101 yards and 1 TD SF: John Brodie, 19 of 40 for 262 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Duane Thomas, 27 for 143 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 17 for 71 yards; Claxton Welch, 5 for 27 yards; Dan Reeves, 2 for -12 yards SF: Ken Willard, 13 for 42 yards; Doug Cunningham, 5 for 14 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 24 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards SF: Gene Washington, 6 for 88 yards; Doug Cunningham, 4 for 34 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 70 yards; Dick Witcher, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 22 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Mark Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 16 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 10 yards SF: Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 66 yards; Bill Tucker, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 8 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Mel Renfro, 1 for 19 yards; Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards SF: Steve Spurrier, 5 for 205 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mike Clark, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2