NFL game summary for 09/17/1972:
Bill Bell's first of three field goals broke a 7-7 first period tie, then Atlanta erupted for 21 points in the second period for a commanding 31-7 halftime lead. Bob Berry threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 57-yarder to running back Art Malone, who also rushed for 77 yards.
Line: Falcons by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Atlanta Falcons (1-0-0) | 10 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 37 |
 Chicago Bears (0-1-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
( 7- 0) ATL John Zook 26 yard fumble return (Bill Bell kick) ( 7- 7) CHI Bob Parsons 6 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick) (10- 7) ATL Bill Bell 22 yard field goal (17- 7) ATL Ken Burrow 32 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick) (24- 7) ATL Bob Berry 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick) (31- 7) ATL Art Malone 57 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick) (31-14) CHI Earl Thomas 38 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick) (34-14) ATL Bill Bell 39 yard field goal (34-21) CHI Jim Harrison 1 yard rush (Mac Percival kick) (37-21) ATL Bill Bell 36 yard field goal
ATL CHI
First Downs: 16 15
Rushes-yards: 37-173 43-214
Yards/rush: 4.7 5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-9-151-1 4-12-73-1
Sacked-yards: 1-5 1-4
Net pass yards: 146 69
Net yards/pass: 14.6 5.3
Total net yards: 319 283
Total plays: 47 (78% run) 56 (76% run)
Yards/play: 6.8 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 4-2
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 6-33 5-23
Attendance: 55,701
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 6 of 9 for 151 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) CHI: Bobby Douglass, 4 of 12 for 73 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Art Malone, 19 for 77 yards; Joe Profit, 9 for 25 yards; Dave Hampton, 6 for 49 yards; Bob Berry, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 18 yards CHI: Jim Harrison, 20 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Douglass, 9 for 68 yards; Cyril Pinder, 7 for 23 yards; Roger Lawson, 3 for 11 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 6 yards; Don Shy, 1 for 4 yards; George Farmer, 1 for -11 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Art Malone, 2 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Todd Snyder, 1 for 19 yards CHI: Earl Thomas, 2 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Roger Lawson, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 87 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 29 yards CHI: Cecil Turner, 3 for 60 yards; Craig Clemons, 2 for 53 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 12 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 5 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Tom Hayes, 1 for 8 yards CHI: Garry Lyle, 1 for 35 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 2 for 97 yards CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 4 for 167 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 3/3
ATL: Bob Berry, 6 of 9 for 151 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) CHI: Bobby Douglass, 4 of 12 for 73 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Art Malone, 19 for 77 yards; Joe Profit, 9 for 25 yards; Dave Hampton, 6 for 49 yards; Bob Berry, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 18 yards CHI: Jim Harrison, 20 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Douglass, 9 for 68 yards; Cyril Pinder, 7 for 23 yards; Roger Lawson, 3 for 11 yards; Earl Thomas, 2 for 6 yards; Don Shy, 1 for 4 yards; George Farmer, 1 for -11 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Art Malone, 2 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 28 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Todd Snyder, 1 for 19 yards CHI: Earl Thomas, 2 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Roger Lawson, 1 for 17 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 87 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 29 yards CHI: Cecil Turner, 3 for 60 yards; Craig Clemons, 2 for 53 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 12 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for 5 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 15 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Tom Hayes, 1 for 8 yards CHI: Garry Lyle, 1 for 35 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 2 for 97 yards CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 4 for 167 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 3/3