All NFL game summaries for 10/17/1971:

Roman Gabriel and Jack Snow combined on a 68-yard pass that set up a one-yard scoring sneak by Gabriel that lifted Los Angeles into a 17-16 lead and enabled the Rams to continue their mastery over the Falcons. Los Angeles has won nine and tied two in the 11-game series.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Even

( 0- 6) ATL Cannonball Butler 1 yard pass from Bob Berry (kick failed)
( 7- 6) LA  Roman Gabriel 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
(10- 6) LA  David Ray 24 yard field goal
(10- 9) ATL Bill Bell 35 yard field goal
(10-16) ATL John Mallory 54 yard fumble return (Bill Bell kick)
(17-16) LA  Roman Gabriel 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
(24-16) LA  Willie Ellison 5 yard rush (David Ray kick)

                     LA              ATL
First Downs:         18              14
Rushes-yards:        36-124          33-114
Yards/rush:          3.4             3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-24-209-0     10-19-173-4
Sacked-yards:        4-27            4-38
Net pass yards:      182             135
Net yards/pass:      6.5             5.9
Total net yards:     306             249
Total plays:         64 (56% run)    56 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             4.4
Fumbles-lost:        4-4             5-0
Turnovers:           4               4
Penalties-yards:     4-25            6-83

Attendance: 58,850

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Bo Scott registered the last of his three TDs in the final half-minute to give the Browns a victory and a two-game lead in the Central AFC. Cleveland had trailed 24-13 with nine minutes to play. Essex Johnson scored two TDs for Cincinnati in the second half in which he carried 15 times for 98 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Browns by 7

( 0- 7) CIN Paul Robinson 10 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 3- 7) CLE Don Cockroft 35 yard field goal
( 3-10) CIN Horst Muhlmann 12 yard field goal
( 6-10) CLE Don Cockroft 22 yard field goal
( 6-17) CIN Essex Johnson 3 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(13-17) CLE Bo Scott 3 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(13-24) CIN Essex Johnson 49 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(20-24) CLE Bo Scott 7 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
(27-24) CLE Bo Scott 4 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)

                     CLE             CIN
First Downs:         17              15
Rushes-yards:        26-64           40-232
Yards/rush:          2.5             5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-35-213-2     10-22-122-1
Sacked-yards:        1-8             2-15
Net pass yards:      205             107
Net yards/pass:      5.7             4.5
Total net yards:     269             339
Total plays:         62 (41% run)    64 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             5.3
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             3-1
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     4-42            6-51

Attendance: 60,284

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Denver won its first game of the season, holding off a second-half Charger rally. The Bronco running attack, unable to score in the first four games, tallied twice in the first half on TDs by Bobby Anderson and Floyd Little.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Chargers by 7

( 0- 7) DEN Bobby Anderson 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
( 3- 7) SD  Dennis Partee 41 yard field goal
( 3-10) DEN Jim Turner 49 yard field goal
( 6-10) SD  Dennis Partee 20 yard field goal
( 6-17) DEN Floyd Little 2 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
( 6-20) DEN Jim Turner 10 yard field goal
(13-20) SD  Gary Garrison 21 yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)
(16-20) SD  Dennis Partee 35 yard field goal

                     SD              DEN
First Downs:         15              17
Rushes-yards:        16-76           55-225
Yards/rush:          4.8             4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-44-236-1     7-18-71-1
Sacked-yards:        2-24            0-0
Net pass yards:      212             71
Net yards/pass:      4.6             3.9
Total net yards:     288             296
Total plays:         62 (25% run)    73 (75% run)  
Yards/play:          4.6             4.1
Fumbles-lost:        5-3             4-1
Turnovers:           4               2
Penalties-yards:     5-50            7-77

Attendance: 51,200

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Gary Cuozzo threw three touchdown passes following two fumble recoveries and one interception by the alert Minnesota defense. Trailing 14-13, Viking Alan Page fell on a Packer fumble at the Green Bay eight and Cuozzo hit Stu Voigt for a touchdown on the next play. Bobby Bryant's interception of a Packer pass preceded by five plays Cuozzo's 24-yard TD toss to Bob Grim.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Vikings by 10

( 7- 0) MIN Dave Osborn 6 yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Fred Cox kick)
( 7- 7) GB  Scott Hunter 1 yard rush (Lou Michaels kick)
( 7-13) GB  Carroll Dale 56 yard pass from Scott Hunter (kick failed)
(14-13) MIN Stu Voigt 8 yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Fred Cox kick)
(21-13) MIN Bob Grim 24 yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Fred Cox kick)
(24-13) MIN Fred Cox 22 yard field goal

                     MIN             GB
First Downs:         17              19
Rushes-yards:        28-98           37-121
Yards/rush:          3.5             3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     17-33-182-1     12-25-230-3
Sacked-yards:        1-10            1-9
Net pass yards:      172             221
Net yards/pass:      5.1             8.5
Total net yards:     270             342
Total plays:         62 (45% run)    63 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          4.4             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             3-2
Turnovers:           1               5
Penalties-yards:     2-20            2-20

Attendance: 56,263

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The Lions rushed for 230 yards and a pair of TDs by Steve Owens for a victory over the Oilers. Altie Taylor, who accounted for 122 yards receiving and 63 rushing, tallied on a pass from Greg Landry and Lem Barney went 28 yards for a TD on his 33rd lifetime interception. Rookie Dan Pastorini made his first start for Houston at QB and connected with Charlie Joiner on a 58-yard TD.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Lions by 9

( 7- 0) DET Lem Barney 28 yard interception return (Errol Mann kick)
(14- 0) DET Steve Owens 10 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(14- 7) HOU Charlie Joiner 58 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Mark Moseley kick)
(17- 7) DET Errol Mann 13 yard field goal
(24- 7) DET Altie Taylor 35 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(31- 7) DET Steve Owens 1 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)

                     DET             HOU
First Downs:         20              13
Rushes-yards:        43-230          24-86
Yards/rush:          5.3             3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     9-16-197-1      15-40-209-4
Sacked-yards:        4-42            0-0
Net pass yards:      155             209
Net yards/pass:      7.8             5.2
Total net yards:     385             295
Total plays:         63 (68% run)    64 (37% run)  
Yards/play:          6.1             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        4-2             3-1
Turnovers:           3               5
Penalties-yards:     6-98            14-144

Attendance: 45,885

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Bob Griese's first three passes were for TDs in a game in which the Dolphins equaled their record point margin. Griese had four TD passes, two to Paul Warfield and two to Howard Twilley, all in the first half.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Dolphins by 10

( 0- 7) MIA Howard Twilley 22 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-14) MIA Paul Warfield 32 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-21) MIA Howard Twilley 14 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-21) NE  Charlie Gogolak 51 yard field goal
( 3-24) MIA Garo Yepremian 34 yard field goal
( 3-31) MIA Paul Warfield 14 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-38) MIA Jim Kiick 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 3-41) MIA Garo Yepremian 42 yard field goal

                     NE              MIA
First Downs:         11              19
Rushes-yards:        18-35           34-215
Yards/rush:          1.9             6.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-35-134-2     11-22-244-0
Sacked-yards:        7-52            2-28
Net pass yards:      82              216
Net yards/pass:      2.0             9.0
Total net yards:     117             431
Total plays:         60 (30% run)    58 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          1.9             7.4
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             1-0
Turnovers:           3               0
Penalties-yards:     3-15            5-30

Attendance: 58,822

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The Saints jumped into a 17-0 lead but were not assured of the victory until Dave Kopay recovered a fumbled punt on the Cowboys' three-yard line with less than two minutes remaining and Archie Manning scored three plays later. Delles Howell intercepted two of the three Dallas passes stolen by the Saints, who also recovered three Dallas fumbles.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 13

( 0- 7) NO  Tony Baker 29 yard pass from Archie Manning (Charlie Durkee kick)
( 0-10) NO  Charlie Durkee 36 yard field goal
( 0-17) NO  Archie Manning 13 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
( 7-17) DAL Gloster Richardson 41 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
(14-17) DAL Bob Hayes 16 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
(14-24) NO  Archie Manning 2 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)

                     DAL             NO
First Downs:         20              10
Rushes-yards:        31-96           31-108
Yards/rush:          3.1             3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     17-34-230-3     6-15-83-1
Sacked-yards:        5-26            4-34
Net pass yards:      204             49
Net yards/pass:      5.2             2.6
Total net yards:     300             157
Total plays:         70 (44% run)    50 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             3.1
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             1-1
Turnovers:           6               2
Penalties-yards:     5-58            7-63

Attendance: 83,088

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Fran Tarkenton's seven-yard rollout touchdown capped a New York drive that produced a 7-0 lead, but Baltimore erupted for three TDs in the second period, two set up by interceptions by linebacker Ted Hendricks. Norm Bulaich scored two of those touchdowns on a run of 34 and a 27-yard pass reception; he gained 108 yards rushing.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Colts by 10

( 0- 7) NYG Fran Tarkenton 7 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
( 3- 7) BAL Jim O'Brien 27 yard field goal
(10- 7) BAL Norm Bulaich 34 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick)
(17- 7) BAL Norm Bulaich 27 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Jim O'Brien kick)
(24- 7) BAL Ray Perkins 10 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Jim O'Brien kick)
(31- 7) BAL Ray Perkins 9 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Jim O'Brien kick)

                     BAL             NYG
First Downs:         19              15
Rushes-yards:        37-241          23-87
Yards/rush:          6.5             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-22-135-0     18-33-188-3
Sacked-yards:        2-13            3-24
Net pass yards:      122             164
Net yards/pass:      5.1             4.6
Total net yards:     363             251
Total plays:         61 (60% run)    59 (38% run)  
Yards/play:          6.0             4.3
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             2-2
Turnovers:           0               5
Penalties-yards:     4-52            2-23

Attendance: 62,860

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Making his first start at QB, Bob Davis led the Jets to a victory in which they scored more points than in four previous games combined. Emerson Boozer carried 31 times for 116 yards and Rich Caster and John Riggins caught TD passes. Haven Moses, Buffalo wide receiver, caught 6 passes for 151 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Jets by 7

( 0- 7) NYJ Emerson Boozer 2 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 0-14) NYJ Rich Caster 11 yard pass from Bob Davis (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 7-14) BUF Marlin Briscoe 12 yard pass from Dennis Shaw (Grant Guthrie kick)
(10-14) BUF Grant Guthrie 51 yard field goal
(10-21) NYJ Cliff McClain 1 yard rush (Bobby Howfield kick)
(17-21) BUF O.J. Simpson 3 yard rush (Grant Guthrie kick)
(17-28) NYJ John Riggins 32 yard pass from Bob Davis (Bobby Howfield kick)

                     BUF             NYJ
First Downs:         14              20
Rushes-yards:        23-83           52-191
Yards/rush:          3.6             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-33-198-2     7-12-140-0
Sacked-yards:        1-10            1-0
Net pass yards:      188             140
Net yards/pass:      5.5             10.8
Total net yards:     271             331
Total plays:         57 (40% run)    65 (80% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             5.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             1-0
Turnovers:           2               0
Penalties-yards:     7-43            5-35

Attendance: 61,948

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Oakland came from a 10-0 halftime deficit to crush Philadelphia in the final two quarters dominated by Daryle Lamonica's quarterbacking. He passed for TDs to Fred Biletnikoff and Eldridge Dickey and Biletnikoff's eight receptions made him the Raiders' all-time leading receiver. George Blanda had an extra-point kick attempt blocked, ending his streak at 201, a mark second only to the 245 set by San Francisco's Tommy Davis.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Raiders by 14

( 7- 0) PHI Tom Woodeshick 7 yard pass from Rick Arrington (Happy Feller kick)
(10- 0) PHI Happy Feller 31 yard field goal
(10- 6) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 35 yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (kick failed)
(10-13) OAK Pete Banaszak 2 yard rush (George Blanda kick)
(10-20) OAK Eldridge Dickey 27 yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)
(10-27) OAK George Atkinson 26 yard fumble return (George Blanda kick)
(10-34) OAK Don Highsmith 14 yard rush (George Blanda kick)

                     PHI             OAK
First Downs:         11              20
Rushes-yards:        23-62           35-176
Yards/rush:          2.7             5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-27-175-1     18-30-243-1
Sacked-yards:        2-11            1-7
Net pass yards:      164             236
Net yards/pass:      5.7             7.6
Total net yards:     226             412
Total plays:         52 (44% run)    66 (53% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             6.2
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             1-1
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     5-49            8-67

Attendance: 54,615

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The 49ers had four interceptions, recovered two Bears fumbles and did not permit Chicago inside their 20-yard line until the final minutes in recording San Francisco's first shutout victory in 10 years. The 49ers clinched the victory when John Brodie passed 12 yards to Gene Washington for a fourth period touchdown.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: 49ers by 10

( 0- 3) SF  Bruce Gossett 9 yard field goal
( 0- 6) SF  Bruce Gossett 15 yard field goal
( 0-13) SF  Gene Washington 12 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)

                     CHI             SF
First Downs:         13              20
Rushes-yards:        18-62           42-161
Yards/rush:          3.4             3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-41-179-4     20-35-213-2
Sacked-yards:        2-21            2-20
Net pass yards:      158             193
Net yards/pass:      3.7             5.2
Total net yards:     220             354
Total plays:         61 (29% run)    79 (53% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             4.5
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             3-3
Turnovers:           6               5
Penalties-yards:     8-92            8-69

Attendance: 44,133

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The Redskins' fifth straight victory was very much like their opening game win over the same Cardinals, as Washington intercepted four passes and fell on three St. Louis fumbles. Jack Pardee had three of the interceptions and returned them 25 yards -- the same total of yards the Cardinals rushers were permitted.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Redskins by 9

( 0- 3) WAS Curt Knight 16 yard field goal
( 0-10) WAS Charlie Harraway 1 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
( 0-13) WAS Curt Knight 11 yard field goal
( 0-20) WAS Billy Kilmer 3 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)

                     STL             WAS
First Downs:         11              21
Rushes-yards:        14-25           47-229
Yards/rush:          1.8             4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-30-180-4     9-17-126-1
Sacked-yards:        0-0             1-6
Net pass yards:      180             120
Net yards/pass:      6.0             6.7
Total net yards:     205             349
Total plays:         44 (31% run)    65 (72% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             5.4
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             2-1
Turnovers:           7               2
Penalties-yards:     4-30            7-60

Attendance: 53,041

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