NFL game summary for 09/17/1972:
With running backs Willie Ellison and Les Josephson injured, second-year man Bob Thomas moved into the Rams starting lineup and rushed for 144 yards on 18 carries, including touchdowns from the 1 and 38-yard lines. It marked the first time Thomas ever had carried the ball from scrimmage in the NFL. Los Angeles' first two scores were field goals by David Ray and the Rams went on to a 34-7 halftime lead.
Line: Rams by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New Orleans Saints (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
 Los Angeles Rams (1-0-0) | 13 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
( 0- 3) LA David Ray 36 yard field goal
( 0- 6) LA David Ray 28 yard field goal
( 0-13) LA Bob Thomas 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 0-20) LA Jack Snow 31 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
( 0-27) LA Larry Smith 4 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 0-34) LA Bob Thomas 38 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 7-34) NO Bob Newland 42 yard pass from Archie Manning (Charlie Durkee kick)
(14-34) NO Danny Abramowicz 4 yard pass from Archie Manning (Charlie Durkee kick)
NO LA
First Downs: 20 20
Rushes-yards: 18-69 36-254
Yards/rush: 3.8 7.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-46-249-1 11-22-139-1
Sacked-yards: 3-31 0-0
Net pass yards: 218 139
Net yards/pass: 4.4 6.3
Total net yards: 287 393
Total plays: 67 (26% run) 58 (62% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 6.8
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 4-41 6-47
Attendance: 66,303
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 21 of 46 for 249 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 11 of 21 for 139 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Pete Beathard, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Joe Williams, 8 for 26 yards; Bob Gresham, 4 for 8 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 8 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for 22 yards; Virgil Robinson, 1 for 5 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 18 for 144 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 11 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 50 yards; Pete Beathard, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NO: Jim Strong, 7 for 53 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 3 for 50 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gresham, 2 for 19 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 14 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for -3 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 4 for 35 yards; Jack Snow, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 21 yards; Larry Smith, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 13 yards; Willie Ellison, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Arthur Green, 3 for 53 yards; Margene Adkins, 3 for 48 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 20 yards; John Love, 1 for 15 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
LA: John Love, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Bivian Lee, 1 for 21 yards LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 31 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 225 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 2 for 85 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/1 LA: David Ray, 2/3
NO: Archie Manning, 21 of 46 for 249 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 11 of 21 for 139 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Pete Beathard, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NO: Joe Williams, 8 for 26 yards; Bob Gresham, 4 for 8 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 8 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for 22 yards; Virgil Robinson, 1 for 5 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 18 for 144 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Smith, 11 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 50 yards; Pete Beathard, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
NO: Jim Strong, 7 for 53 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 3 for 50 yards; Bob Newland, 2 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Bob Gresham, 2 for 19 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 14 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for -3 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 4 for 35 yards; Jack Snow, 2 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 21 yards; Larry Smith, 1 for 15 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 13 yards; Willie Ellison, 1 for -1 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Arthur Green, 3 for 53 yards; Margene Adkins, 3 for 48 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 20 yards; John Love, 1 for 15 yards; Pat Curran, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
LA: John Love, 1 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Bivian Lee, 1 for 21 yards LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 31 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 225 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 2 for 85 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/1 LA: David Ray, 2/3