NFL game summary for 09/24/1972:
The Patriots, rallying successfully from a 20-7 deficit, blocked one field goal and held for three downs on the 2-yard line, forcing another. The final effort by the Falcons' Bill Bell from 10 yards was wide. Jim Plunkett led a pair of final-period scoring drives, connecting with Randy Vataha for one score, and positioning the ball for a 12-yard TD run by Carl Garrett following a 40-yard toss to Reggie Rucker.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 173.0 (9) | 146.0 (13) | 319.0 (10) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 214.0 (23) | 69.0 (2) | 283.0 (9) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 54.0 (24) | 83.0 (24) | 137.0 (25) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 246.0 (25) | 111.0 (8) | 357.0 (19) | 0 |
Line: Falcons by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (1-1-0) | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| New England Patriots (1-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
( 3- 0) ATL Bill Bell 38 yard field goal ( 6- 0) ATL Bill Bell 21 yard field goal ( 6- 7) NE Josh Ashton 4 yard rush (Mike Walker kick) (13- 7) ATL Art Malone 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick) (20- 7) ATL Dave Hampton 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick) (20-14) NE Randy Vataha 37 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Mike Walker kick) (20-21) NE Carl Garrett 12 yard rush (Mike Walker kick)
ATL NE
First Downs: 20 19
Rushes-yards: 40-182 26-103
Yards/rush: 4.5 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-23-223-0 12-29-195-0
Sacked-yards: 1-6 1-11
Net pass yards: 217 184
Net yards/pass: 9.0 6.1
Total net yards: 399 287
Total plays: 64 (62% run) 56 (46% run)
Yards/play: 6.2 5.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 0 0
Penalties-yards: 7-44 3-35
Attendance: 60,999
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 14 of 23 for 223 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 29 for 195 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 17 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 15 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Joe Profit, 5 for 5 yards; Bob Berry, 2 for 19 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for -9 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 12 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 6 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 6 for 23 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 8 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 6 for 87 yards; Art Malone, 6 for 77 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 43 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 16 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Bob Windsor, 3 for 39 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 27 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 40 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 51 yards; Dave Hampton, 2 for 44 yards NE: Josh Ashton, 2 for 40 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 3 for 17 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 3 for 127 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 237 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 2/4
ATL: Bob Berry, 14 of 23 for 223 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 29 for 195 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 17 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 15 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Joe Profit, 5 for 5 yards; Bob Berry, 2 for 19 yards; Ken Burrow, 1 for -9 yards NE: Carl Garrett, 12 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 6 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Jim Plunkett, 6 for 23 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 8 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 6 for 87 yards; Art Malone, 6 for 77 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 43 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 16 yards NE: Randy Vataha, 4 for 72 yards and 1 TD; Bob Windsor, 3 for 39 yards; Carl Garrett, 3 for 27 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 40 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 17 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 2 for 51 yards; Dave Hampton, 2 for 44 yards NE: Josh Ashton, 2 for 40 yards; Carl Garrett, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 3 for 17 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 3 for 127 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 237 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 2/4