NFL game summary for 10/24/1971:
Backup quarterback Dick Shiner, playing for injured Bob Berry, connected on touchdown passes to Harmon Wages and Jim Mitchell, and Cannonball Butler ran for 114 yards as the Falcons snapped a three-game losing streak. Atlanta's 284 rushing yards was a team record.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 115.8 (14) | 128.6 (21) | 244.4 (20) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 143.4 (18) | 170.8 (17) | 314.2 (20) | 15 | |
 | OFFENSE | 101.2 (21) | 200.2 (3) | 301.4 (13) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 171.2 (23) | 144.0 (9) | 315.2 (21) | 16 |
Line: Falcons by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (2-3-1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Atlanta Falcons (2-3-1) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
( 0- 7) ATL Dick Shiner 4 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
( 0-14) ATL Harmon Wages 17 yard pass from Dick Shiner (Bill Bell kick)
( 0-21) ATL Jim Mitchell 14 yard pass from Dick Shiner (Bill Bell kick)
( 3-21) NO Charlie Durkee 28 yard field goal
( 6-21) NO Charlie Durkee 24 yard field goal
( 6-28) ATL Willie Belton 13 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
NO ATL
First Downs: 15 25
Rushes-yards: 15-58 53-284
Yards/rush: 3.9 5.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-41-163-2 9-16-94-1
Sacked-yards: 3-19 1-14
Net pass yards: 144 80
Net yards/pass: 3.3 4.7
Total net yards: 202 364
Total plays: 59 (25% run) 70 (75% run)
Yards/play: 3.4 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 4-62 11-102
Attendance: 58,850
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 12 of 30 for 138 yards (2 int); Edd Hargett, 2 of 11 for 25 yards ATL: Dick Shiner, 9 of 15 for 94 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Leo Hart, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: James Ford, 10 for 41 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 9 yards; Tony Baker, 2 for 6 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Cannonball Butler, 20 for 114 yards; Harmon Wages, 12 for 69 yards; Willie Belton, 9 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 6 for 24 yards; Dick Shiner, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Sonny Campbell, 3 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 66 yards; Tony Baker, 3 for 20 yards; Dave Parks, 2 for 34 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 24 yards; Hoyle Granger, 2 for 9 yards; James Ford, 1 for 10 yards ATL: Harmon Wages, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 1 for 14 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 13 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 6 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Reynaud Moore, 4 for 92 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 18 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 48 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 3 for 27 yards; John Mallory, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Delles Howell, 1 for 8 yards ATL: Ken Reaves, 2 for 10 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 182 yards ATL: Billy Lothridge, 3 for 114 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 2/2 ATL: Bill Bell, 0/1
NO: Archie Manning, 12 of 30 for 138 yards (2 int); Edd Hargett, 2 of 11 for 25 yards ATL: Dick Shiner, 9 of 15 for 94 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Leo Hart, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: James Ford, 10 for 41 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 9 yards; Tony Baker, 2 for 6 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Cannonball Butler, 20 for 114 yards; Harmon Wages, 12 for 69 yards; Willie Belton, 9 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 6 for 24 yards; Dick Shiner, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Sonny Campbell, 3 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 66 yards; Tony Baker, 3 for 20 yards; Dave Parks, 2 for 34 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 24 yards; Hoyle Granger, 2 for 9 yards; James Ford, 1 for 10 yards ATL: Harmon Wages, 3 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 1 for 14 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 13 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 6 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Reynaud Moore, 4 for 92 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 18 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 48 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 3 for 27 yards; John Mallory, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Delles Howell, 1 for 8 yards ATL: Ken Reaves, 2 for 10 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 182 yards ATL: Billy Lothridge, 3 for 114 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 2/2 ATL: Bill Bell, 0/1