NFL game summary for 10/03/1971:
Rocky Thompson's 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Fran Tarkenton's 13 completions on his first 15 passing attempts rocketed the Giants into a 21-3 lead, and a fumble recovery by Willie Williams halted a late St. Louis drive to clinch the victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 85.0 (21) | 154.5 (19) | 239.5 (23) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 125.0 (15) | 262.5 (26) | 387.5 (25) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 117.5 (14) | 180.0 (12) | 297.5 (12) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 133.0 (16) | 93.0 (1) | 226.0 (5) | 1 |
Line: Cardinals by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (2-1-0) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (1-2-0) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
( 0- 3) STL Jim Bakken 14 yard field goal
( 7- 3) NYG Rocky Thompson 93 yard kickoff return (Pete Gogolak kick)
(14- 3) NYG Bob Tucker 10 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Pete Gogolak kick)
(21- 3) NYG Fran Tarkenton 2 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
(21-10) STL Mel Gray 64 yard pass from Pete Beathard (Jim Bakken kick)
(21-17) STL Mel Gray 60 yard pass from Pete Beathard (Jim Bakken kick)
(21-20) STL Jim Bakken 22 yard field goal
NYG STL
First Downs: 16 14
Rushes-yards: 32-81 30-129
Yards/rush: 2.5 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-32-239-2 10-22-186-1
Sacked-yards: 2-19 1-10
Net pass yards: 220 176
Net yards/pass: 6.5 7.7
Total net yards: 301 305
Total plays: 66 (48% run) 53 (56% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 5.8
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 6-3
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 5-65 3-45
Attendance: 49,571
Passing:
NYG: Fran Tarkenton, 20 of 32 for 239 yards and 1 TD (2 int) STL: Pete Beathard, 10 of 22 for 186 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
NYG: Bobby Duhon, 13 for 45 yards; Tucker Frederickson, 7 for 28 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Thompson, 4 for -1 yards; Rich Houston, 1 for 2 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 1 yard; Junior Coffey, 1 for 0 yards STL: MacArthur Lane, 17 for 69 yards; Roy Shivers, 9 for 37 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 10 yards; Cid Edwards, 1 for 8 yards; Pete Beathard, 1 for 5 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Bob Tucker, 5 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Rich Houston, 4 for 68 yards; Clifton McNeil, 4 for 52 yards; Tucker Frederickson, 3 for 21 yards; Bobby Duhon, 2 for 24 yards; Rocky Thompson, 2 for 12 yards STL: MacArthur Lane, 4 for 32 yards; Dave Williams, 3 for 30 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 124 yards and 2 TDs; Roy Shivers, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Rocky Thompson, 3 for 141 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Duhon, 1 for 19 yards STL: Mel Gray, 1 for 21 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 17 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 7 yards; Dan Dierdorf, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Bobby Duhon, 2 for 5 yards; Spider Lockhart, 1 for 15 yards STL: Norm Thompson, 3 for 17 yards; Larry Willingham, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Willie Williams, 1 for 14 yards STL: Mike McGill, 1 for 19 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
NYG: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 209 yards STL: Chuck Latourette, 6 for 246 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Pete Gogolak, 0/2 STL: Jim Bakken, 2/2
NYG: Fran Tarkenton, 20 of 32 for 239 yards and 1 TD (2 int) STL: Pete Beathard, 10 of 22 for 186 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
NYG: Bobby Duhon, 13 for 45 yards; Tucker Frederickson, 7 for 28 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Thompson, 4 for -1 yards; Rich Houston, 1 for 2 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 1 yard; Junior Coffey, 1 for 0 yards STL: MacArthur Lane, 17 for 69 yards; Roy Shivers, 9 for 37 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 10 yards; Cid Edwards, 1 for 8 yards; Pete Beathard, 1 for 5 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Bob Tucker, 5 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Rich Houston, 4 for 68 yards; Clifton McNeil, 4 for 52 yards; Tucker Frederickson, 3 for 21 yards; Bobby Duhon, 2 for 24 yards; Rocky Thompson, 2 for 12 yards STL: MacArthur Lane, 4 for 32 yards; Dave Williams, 3 for 30 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 124 yards and 2 TDs; Roy Shivers, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Rocky Thompson, 3 for 141 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Duhon, 1 for 19 yards STL: Mel Gray, 1 for 21 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 17 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 7 yards; Dan Dierdorf, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Bobby Duhon, 2 for 5 yards; Spider Lockhart, 1 for 15 yards STL: Norm Thompson, 3 for 17 yards; Larry Willingham, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Willie Williams, 1 for 14 yards STL: Mike McGill, 1 for 19 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
NYG: Tom Blanchard, 5 for 209 yards STL: Chuck Latourette, 6 for 246 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Pete Gogolak, 0/2 STL: Jim Bakken, 2/2