NFL game summary for 09/26/1971:
Forty-niner John Fuller blocked a Saints field goal attempt and teammate Bruce Taylor returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, and Frank Nunley recovered a New Orleans fumble at the one to set up a scoring plunge by Ken Willard in the first two periods to open the gates for San Francisco's first victory. Rookie Vic Washington ran for 82 yards in his first start as a 49er.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 166.0 (5) | 206.0 (11) | 372.0 (4) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 101.0 (7) | 165.0 (15) | 266.0 (12) | 1 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.0 (11) | 154.0 (14) | 276.0 (13) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 118.0 (14) | 144.0 (12) | 262.0 (11) | 1 |
Line: 49ers by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (1-1-0) | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
| New Orleans Saints (1-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
( 7- 0) SF Bruce Taylor 58 yard return of blocked field goal (Bruce Gossett kick) (14- 0) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) (14- 7) NO Danny Abramowicz 25 yard pass from Edd Hargett (Skip Butler kick) (17- 7) SF Bruce Gossett 42 yard field goal (24- 7) SF Vic Washington 34 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) (31- 7) SF Doug Cunningham 7 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) (31-14) NO Danny Abramowicz 40 yard pass from Archie Manning (Skip Butler kick) (38-14) SF Dick Witcher 11 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick) (38-20) NO Danny Abramowicz 10 yard pass from Archie Manning (kick failed)
SF NO
First Downs: 17 16
Rushes-yards: 36-194 28-90
Yards/rush: 5.4 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-22-125-2 14-30-222-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 8-49
Net pass yards: 125 173
Net yards/pass: 5.7 4.6
Total net yards: 319 263
Total plays: 58 (62% run) 66 (42% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-1
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 8-91 5-55
Attendance: 81,595
Passing:
SF: John Brodie, 10 of 22 for 125 yards and 1 TD (2 int) NO: Edd Hargett, 6 of 16 for 67 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Archie Manning, 8 of 14 for 155 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
SF: Ken Willard, 18 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 7 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Doug Cunningham, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD; John Isenbarger, 2 for 22 yards; Larry Schreiber, 2 for 16 yards; Jim McCann, 1 for -9 yards NO: James Ford, 13 for 54 yards; Hoyle Granger, 9 for 39 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 7 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Harris, 1 for 1 yard; Julian Fagan, 1 for -17 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 3 for 43 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 40 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 20 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 2 yards NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 110 yards and 3 TDs; Dave Parks, 3 for 41 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 47 yards; James Ford, 2 for 15 yards; Hoyle Granger, 2 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Ted Kwalick, 2 for 9 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 46 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 25 yards NO: Reynaud Moore, 4 for 101 yards; Virgil Robinson, 2 for 65 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Rosey Taylor, 1 for 0 yards NO: Doug Wyatt, 2 for 29 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 1 for 48 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/3 NO: Skip Butler, 0/2
SF: John Brodie, 10 of 22 for 125 yards and 1 TD (2 int) NO: Edd Hargett, 6 of 16 for 67 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Archie Manning, 8 of 14 for 155 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
SF: Ken Willard, 18 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 7 for 82 yards and 1 TD; Doug Cunningham, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD; John Isenbarger, 2 for 22 yards; Larry Schreiber, 2 for 16 yards; Jim McCann, 1 for -9 yards NO: James Ford, 13 for 54 yards; Hoyle Granger, 9 for 39 yards; Archie Manning, 3 for 7 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Harris, 1 for 1 yard; Julian Fagan, 1 for -17 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 3 for 43 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 40 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 20 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 1 for 9 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 2 yards NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 110 yards and 3 TDs; Dave Parks, 3 for 41 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 47 yards; James Ford, 2 for 15 yards; Hoyle Granger, 2 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Ted Kwalick, 2 for 9 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 46 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 25 yards NO: Reynaud Moore, 4 for 101 yards; Virgil Robinson, 2 for 65 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Rosey Taylor, 1 for 0 yards NO: Doug Wyatt, 2 for 29 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 1 for 48 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 249 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/3 NO: Skip Butler, 0/2