NFL game summary for 11/25/1971:
Duane Thomas' five-yard touchdown dash around left end was the only score in the final period, breaking the third tie of the game and boosting the Cowboys' winning streak to four. It was Dallas' fifth victory in its six Thanksgiving Day games that also include a tie.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 156.7 (5) | 137.7 (22) | 294.4 (12) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 122.2 (10) | 162.2 (16) | 284.4 (14) | 25 | |
 | OFFENSE | 151.5 (7) | 203.9 (2) | 355.4 (2) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 77.6 (1) | 176.8 (24) | 254.4 (5) | 35 |
Line: Cowboys by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (6-4-1) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Dallas Cowboys (8-3-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
( 0- 7) DAL Ike Thomas 89 yard kickoff return (Mike Clark kick)
( 7- 7) LA Larry Smith 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
(14- 7) LA Bob Klein 33 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(14-14) DAL Bob Hayes 51 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
(14-21) DAL Lance Alworth 21 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)
(21-21) LA Pat Curran 2 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(21-28) DAL Duane Thomas 5 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
LA DAL
First Downs: 21 15
Rushes-yards: 33-86 33-114
Yards/rush: 2.6 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-36-234-1 8-14-176-0
Sacked-yards: 1-7 1-10
Net pass yards: 227 166
Net yards/pass: 6.1 11.1
Total net yards: 313 280
Total plays: 70 (47% run) 48 (68% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 5.8
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 3-35 4-25
Attendance: 66,595
Passing:
LA: Roman Gabriel, 20 of 35 for 234 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Jerry Rhome, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 8 of 14 for 176 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
LA: Willie Ellison, 13 for 30 yards; Larry Smith, 7 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 7 for 16 yards; Roman Gabriel, 4 for 16 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for -1 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 14 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 13 for 30 yards; Roger Staubach, 6 for 35 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jack Snow, 5 for 77 yards; Les Josephson, 5 for 35 yards; Larry Smith, 4 for 32 yards; Bob Klein, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 41 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Willie Ellison, 1 for -3 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 71 yards; Lance Alworth, 2 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 20 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 51 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Travis Williams, 5 for 141 yards DAL: Ike Thomas, 3 for 131 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
LA: Lance Rentzel, 3 for 7 yards; Kermit Alexander, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Chuck Howley, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 4 for 204 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 0/1
LA: Roman Gabriel, 20 of 35 for 234 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Jerry Rhome, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 8 of 14 for 176 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
LA: Willie Ellison, 13 for 30 yards; Larry Smith, 7 for 25 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 7 for 16 yards; Roman Gabriel, 4 for 16 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for -1 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 14 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 13 for 30 yards; Roger Staubach, 6 for 35 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jack Snow, 5 for 77 yards; Les Josephson, 5 for 35 yards; Larry Smith, 4 for 32 yards; Bob Klein, 3 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 41 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Willie Ellison, 1 for -3 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 71 yards; Lance Alworth, 2 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 20 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 51 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
LA: Travis Williams, 5 for 141 yards DAL: Ike Thomas, 3 for 131 yards and 1 TD
Punt returns:
LA: Lance Rentzel, 3 for 7 yards; Kermit Alexander, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Chuck Howley, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
LA: Pat Studstill, 4 for 204 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 0/1