NFL game summary for 10/03/1971:
Detroit's Mike Weger picked a fumble out of the air and ran 52 yards for a touchdown in a wide-open offensive game that produced seven different type scoring plays. Steve Owens had his best day, gaining 98 of Detroit's 223 rushing yards. Cornerback Dick LeBeau had his 58th and 59th lifetime interceptions to gain third place on the all-time pass-stealing list.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 125.5 (13) | 226.0 (3) | 351.5 (3) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 179.0 (22) | 165.5 (15) | 344.5 (22) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 162.0 (6) | 132.5 (22) | 294.5 (13) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 94.0 (10) | 166.5 (16) | 260.5 (7) | 7 |
Line: Lions by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (1-1-1) | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| Detroit Lions (2-1-0) | 14 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 41 |
( 0- 7) DET Mike Weger 52 yard fumble return (Errol Mann kick)
( 0-14) DET Steve Owens 2 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
( 7-14) ATL Jim Mitchell 13 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
(10-14) ATL Bill Bell 36 yard field goal
(10-21) DET Ron Jessie 97 yard kickoff return (Errol Mann kick)
(17-21) ATL Ken Burrow 56 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
(24-21) ATL Art Malone 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
(24-28) DET Larry Walton 56 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(24-35) DET Charlie Sanders 16 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(24-38) DET Errol Mann 18 yard field goal
(31-38) ATL Ken Burrow 25 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
(31-41) DET Errol Mann 13 yard field goal
(38-41) ATL Tom Hayes 20 yard return of blocked punt (Bill Bell kick)
ATL DET
First Downs: 16 23
Rushes-yards: 21-47 57-223
Yards/rush: 2.2 3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-23-309-3 7-12-123-1
Sacked-yards: 2-14 3-28
Net pass yards: 295 95
Net yards/pass: 11.8 6.3
Total net yards: 342 318
Total plays: 46 (45% run) 72 (79% run)
Yards/play: 7.4 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 3-1
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 5-33 8-72
Attendance: 54,418
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 13 of 23 for 309 yards and 3 TDs (3 int) DET: Greg Landry, 7 of 12 for 123 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Cannonball Butler, 10 for 29 yards; Art Malone, 7 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 2 for -3 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 13 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 3 yards DET: Steve Owens, 22 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 19 for 77 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 30 yards; Mel Farr, 6 for 25 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 6 for 190 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 3 for 52 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 7 yards DET: Larry Walton, 2 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Earl McCullouch, 2 for 36 yards; Steve Owens, 2 for 4 yards; Charlie Sanders, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Joe Profit, 4 for 82 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 25 yards; Harmon Wages, 1 for 21 yards DET: Ron Jessie, 3 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Ray Parson, 1 for 15 yards; Craig Cotton, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
ATL: Tom Hayes, 1 for 0 yards DET: Dick LeBeau, 2 for 29 yards; Wayne Rasmussen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: Bill Bell, 1 for 37 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 3 for 52 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 1/1 DET: Errol Mann, 2/2
ATL: Bob Berry, 13 of 23 for 309 yards and 3 TDs (3 int) DET: Greg Landry, 7 of 12 for 123 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Cannonball Butler, 10 for 29 yards; Art Malone, 7 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 2 for -3 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 13 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 3 yards DET: Steve Owens, 22 for 98 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 19 for 77 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 30 yards; Mel Farr, 6 for 25 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 6 for 190 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 3 for 52 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 7 yards DET: Larry Walton, 2 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Earl McCullouch, 2 for 36 yards; Steve Owens, 2 for 4 yards; Charlie Sanders, 1 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Joe Profit, 4 for 82 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 25 yards; Harmon Wages, 1 for 21 yards DET: Ron Jessie, 3 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Ray Parson, 1 for 15 yards; Craig Cotton, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
ATL: Tom Hayes, 1 for 0 yards DET: Dick LeBeau, 2 for 29 yards; Wayne Rasmussen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: Bill Bell, 1 for 37 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 3 for 52 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 1/1 DET: Errol Mann, 2/2