All NFL game summaries for 11/08/1971:
A fumble recovery by linebacker Ted Hendricks for a TD in the final period turned the game around and gave the Colts a victory over the Rams. Tom Matte scored twice for the Colts and carried 19 times for 97 yards, his best effort of the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 170.6 (3) | 143.4 (17) | 314.0 (7) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 113.4 (7) | 157.4 (15) | 270.9 (10) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 168.7 (5) | 156.7 (9) | 325.4 (6) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 62.0 (1) | 105.1 (1) | 167.1 (1) | 19 |
Line: Colts by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (4-3-1) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Baltimore Colts (6-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
( 3- 0) LA David Ray 20 yard field goal ( 3- 7) BAL Tom Matte 4 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick) (10- 7) LA Les Josephson 12 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick) (10-10) BAL Jim O'Brien 32 yard field goal (10-17) BAL Ted Hendricks 31 yard fumble return (Jim O'Brien kick) (10-24) BAL Tom Matte 23 yard rush (Jim O'Brien kick) (17-24) LA Matt Maslowski 36 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
LA BAL
First Downs: 12 17
Rushes-yards: 23-108 36-155
Yards/rush: 4.7 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-27-170-1 10-30-104-2
Sacked-yards: 2-16 1-10
Net pass yards: 154 94
Net yards/pass: 5.3 3.0
Total net yards: 262 249
Total plays: 52 (44% run) 67 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 6-40 1-5
Attendance: 57,722
Passing:
LA: Roman Gabriel, 12 of 27 for 170 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) BAL: Earl Morrall, 10 of 30 for 104 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
LA: Larry Smith, 11 for 46 yards; Willie Ellison, 8 for 39 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 7 yards; Roman Gabriel, 1 for 9 yards; Travis Williams, 1 for 7 yards BAL: Tom Matte, 19 for 97 yards and 2 TDs; Norm Bulaich, 7 for 28 yards; Don Nottingham, 4 for 13 yards; Earl Morrall, 2 for 4 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 4 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 7 yards; Ray Perkins, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
LA: Larry Smith, 3 for 25 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 43 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Willie Ellison, 2 for 17 yards; Matt Maslowski, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Travis Williams, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 12 yards BAL: Ray Perkins, 3 for 31 yards; Willie Richardson, 2 for 35 yards; Tom Mitchell, 2 for 28 yards; Tom Matte, 2 for 0 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Gene Howard, 1 for 29 yards; Jack Youngblood, 1 for 22 yards; Travis Williams, 1 for 16 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 15 yards; Alvin Haymond, 1 for 11 yards BAL: Don McCauley, 2 for 50 yards; Charlie Pittman, 1 for 18 yards; Tom Curtis, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Alvin Haymond, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Gene Howard, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Purnell, 1 for 15 yards BAL: Rick Volk, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 6 for 188 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/2 BAL: Jim O'Brien, 1/3
LA: Roman Gabriel, 12 of 27 for 170 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) BAL: Earl Morrall, 10 of 30 for 104 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
LA: Larry Smith, 11 for 46 yards; Willie Ellison, 8 for 39 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 7 yards; Roman Gabriel, 1 for 9 yards; Travis Williams, 1 for 7 yards BAL: Tom Matte, 19 for 97 yards and 2 TDs; Norm Bulaich, 7 for 28 yards; Don Nottingham, 4 for 13 yards; Earl Morrall, 2 for 4 yards; Don McCauley, 2 for 4 yards; Eddie Hinton, 1 for 7 yards; Ray Perkins, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
LA: Larry Smith, 3 for 25 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 43 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Willie Ellison, 2 for 17 yards; Matt Maslowski, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Travis Williams, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 12 yards BAL: Ray Perkins, 3 for 31 yards; Willie Richardson, 2 for 35 yards; Tom Mitchell, 2 for 28 yards; Tom Matte, 2 for 0 yards; Norm Bulaich, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Gene Howard, 1 for 29 yards; Jack Youngblood, 1 for 22 yards; Travis Williams, 1 for 16 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 15 yards; Alvin Haymond, 1 for 11 yards BAL: Don McCauley, 2 for 50 yards; Charlie Pittman, 1 for 18 yards; Tom Curtis, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Alvin Haymond, 1 for 13 yards BAL: Rick Volk, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Gene Howard, 1 for 20 yards; Jim Purnell, 1 for 15 yards BAL: Rick Volk, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 6 for 188 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 129 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/2 BAL: Jim O'Brien, 1/3