NFL game summary 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):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 198.0 (1) | 102.5 (25) | 300.5 (11) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 115.0 (11) | 159.5 (14) | 274.5 (10) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 98.0 (20) | 216.5 (1) | 314.5 (7) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 183.0 (24) | 134.5 (9) | 317.5 (19) | 12 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (3-1-1) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Atlanta Falcons (1-3-1) | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
( 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
Passing:
LA: Roman Gabriel, 14 of 24 for 209 yards ATL: Bob Berry, 7 of 12 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dick Shiner, 3 of 7 for 41 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
LA: Willie Ellison, 15 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 13 for 40 yards; Roman Gabriel, 4 for 13 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 3 for 18 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Cannonball Butler, 14 for 46 yards; Harmon Wages, 7 for 32 yards; Willie Belton, 7 for 28 yards; Dick Shiner, 2 for 0 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 5 yards; Sonny Campbell, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Willie Ellison, 4 for 50 yards; Lance Rentzel, 3 for 42 yards; Les Josephson, 3 for 15 yards; Jack Snow, 2 for 74 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 28 yards ATL: Jim Mitchell, 4 for 80 yards; Harmon Wages, 2 for 50 yards; Wes Chesson, 2 for 27 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 15 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Travis Williams, 3 for 58 yards; Alvin Haymond, 1 for 21 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 42 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 32 yards; John Small, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Alvin Haymond, 4 for 27 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 8 yards; John Mallory, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Marlin McKeever, 2 for 26 yards; Gene Howard, 1 for 23 yards; Jim Purnell, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 4 for 181 yards ATL: Bill Bell, 5 for 178 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/1 ATL: Bill Bell, 1/1
LA: Roman Gabriel, 14 of 24 for 209 yards ATL: Bob Berry, 7 of 12 for 132 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Dick Shiner, 3 of 7 for 41 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
LA: Willie Ellison, 15 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 13 for 40 yards; Roman Gabriel, 4 for 13 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 3 for 18 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 4 yards ATL: Cannonball Butler, 14 for 46 yards; Harmon Wages, 7 for 32 yards; Willie Belton, 7 for 28 yards; Dick Shiner, 2 for 0 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 5 yards; Sonny Campbell, 1 for 3 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Willie Ellison, 4 for 50 yards; Lance Rentzel, 3 for 42 yards; Les Josephson, 3 for 15 yards; Jack Snow, 2 for 74 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 28 yards ATL: Jim Mitchell, 4 for 80 yards; Harmon Wages, 2 for 50 yards; Wes Chesson, 2 for 27 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 15 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Travis Williams, 3 for 58 yards; Alvin Haymond, 1 for 21 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 42 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 32 yards; John Small, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Alvin Haymond, 4 for 27 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 8 yards; John Mallory, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Marlin McKeever, 2 for 26 yards; Gene Howard, 1 for 23 yards; Jim Purnell, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 4 for 181 yards ATL: Bill Bell, 5 for 178 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/1 ATL: Bill Bell, 1/1