NFL game summary for 12/05/1971:
Los Angeles running back Willie Ellison set an NFL record for rushing by gaining 247 yards on 26 attempts to erase the former mark of 243 set by Cookie Gilchrist on December 8, 1963. Ellison's total included an 80-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game. The Rams' Travis Williams tied the NFL career record for TDs on kickoff returns, 6, as he dashed 105 yards for a score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 121.0 (17) | 140.6 (19) | 261.6 (19) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 156.2 (22) | 154.2 (14) | 310.4 (21) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 150.3 (8) | 145.8 (18) | 296.1 (10) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 121.5 (10) | 162.5 (18) | 284.0 (12) | 25 |
Line: Rams by 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (4-6-2) | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Los Angeles Rams (7-4-1) | 21 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 45 |
( 0- 7) LA Willie Ellison 80 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 0-14) LA Jack Snow 37 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
( 7-14) NO Danny Abramowicz 25 yard pass from Edd Hargett (Charlie Durkee kick)
( 7-21) LA Travis Williams 105 yard kickoff return (David Ray kick)
( 7-28) LA Larry Smith 5 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 7-35) LA Lance Rentzel 8 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(14-35) NO Bob Gresham 1 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
(21-35) NO Edd Hargett 1 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
(21-42) LA Lance Rentzel 39 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(28-42) NO Bob Gresham 1 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
(28-45) LA David Ray 12 yard field goal
NO LA
First Downs: 20 22
Rushes-yards: 23-56 39-293
Yards/rush: 2.4 7.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-36-213-1 10-18-137-0
Sacked-yards: 1-6 1-9
Net pass yards: 207 128
Net yards/pass: 5.6 6.7
Total net yards: 263 421
Total plays: 60 (38% run) 58 (67% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 7.3
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 4-1
Turnovers: 1 1
Penalties-yards: 6-67 14-119
Attendance: 73,610
Passing:
NO: Edd Hargett, 19 of 36 for 213 yards and 1 TD (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 10 of 18 for 137 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
NO: Bob Gresham, 11 for 9 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Strong, 7 for 33 yards; Virgil Robinson, 4 for 13 yards; Edd Hargett, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD LA: Willie Ellison, 26 for 247 yards and 1 TD; Larry Smith, 8 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Travis Williams, 3 for 4 yards; Roman Gabriel, 1 for 0 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 5 for 46 yards; Bob Gresham, 3 for 33 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 32 yards; Virgil Robinson, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 9 yards LA: Lance Rentzel, 5 for 65 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 3 for 28 yards; Jack Snow, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Virgil Robinson, 4 for 74 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 17 yards; Reynaud Moore, 1 for 11 yards; Dick Absher, 1 for 3 yards LA: Travis Williams, 2 for 120 yards and 1 TD; Roger Williams, 1 for 27 yards; Jack Youngblood, 1 for 14 yards; Rich Saul, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Lance Rentzel, 4 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 201 yards LA: Pat Studstill, 3 for 87 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/2
NO: Edd Hargett, 19 of 36 for 213 yards and 1 TD (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 10 of 18 for 137 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
NO: Bob Gresham, 11 for 9 yards and 2 TDs; Jim Strong, 7 for 33 yards; Virgil Robinson, 4 for 13 yards; Edd Hargett, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD LA: Willie Ellison, 26 for 247 yards and 1 TD; Larry Smith, 8 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Travis Williams, 3 for 4 yards; Roman Gabriel, 1 for 0 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 5 for 46 yards; Bob Gresham, 3 for 33 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 32 yards; Virgil Robinson, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 9 yards LA: Lance Rentzel, 5 for 65 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 3 for 28 yards; Jack Snow, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Virgil Robinson, 4 for 74 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 17 yards; Reynaud Moore, 1 for 11 yards; Dick Absher, 1 for 3 yards LA: Travis Williams, 2 for 120 yards and 1 TD; Roger Williams, 1 for 27 yards; Jack Youngblood, 1 for 14 yards; Rich Saul, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Lance Rentzel, 4 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 201 yards LA: Pat Studstill, 3 for 87 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/2