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

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