NFL game summary for 09/24/1972:

The defensive units of both teams set up or scored all of the points in this game. Rams' cornerback Gene Howard opened the scoring with a 24-yard touchdown return of an interception. Dave Elmendorf and Mike LaHood recovered fumbles that preceded a pair of David Ray field goals. Chicago's Earl Thomas took a 30-yard TD pass from Bobby Douglass after Garry Lyle's interception, and Mac Percival's two FGs followed a fumble recovery by Ross Brupbacher and an interception by Charlie Ford. Roman Gabriel's streak of starting 89 straight games for Los Angeles was broken due to tendonitis in his right elbow.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Team		Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
Los Angeles Rams	OFFENSE	254.0  (1)	139.0  (16)	393.0  (2)	1
	DEFENSE	69.0  (5)	218.0  (21)	287.0  (10)	2
Chicago Bears	OFFENSE	214.0  (4)	69.0  (25)	283.0  (18)	3
	DEFENSE	173.0  (18)	146.0  (14)	319.0  (17)	2

Line: Rams by 11

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Los Angeles Rams (1-0-1)	7	3	3	0	13
Chicago Bears (0-1-1)	0	0	3	10	13

( 7- 0) LA  Gene Howard 24 yard interception return (David Ray kick)
(10- 0) LA  David Ray 20 yard field goal
(10- 3) CHI Mac Percival 19 yard field goal
(13- 3) LA  David Ray 45 yard field goal
(13-10) CHI Earl Thomas 30 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick)
(13-13) CHI Mac Percival 45 yard field goal

                     LA              CHI
First Downs:         8               11
Rushes-yards:        34-106          33-144
Yards/rush:          3.1             4.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     7-17-65-2       3-15-52-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             4-26
Net pass yards:      65              26
Net yards/pass:      3.8             1.4
Total net yards:     171             170
Total plays:         51 (66% run)    52 (63% run)  
Yards/play:          3.4             3.3
Fumbles-lost:        3-1             2-2
Turnovers:           3               4
Penalties-yards:     10-91           7-61

Attendance: 55,701

Passing:
LA: Pete Beathard, 6 of 12 for 46 yards (1 int); Roman Gabriel, 1 of 5 for 19 yards (1 int)
CHI: Bobby Douglass, 3 of 15 for 52 yards and 1 TD (2 int)

Rushing:
LA: Larry Smith, 16 for 31 yards; Willie Ellison, 12 for 45 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 30 yards
CHI: Jim Harrison, 16 for 46 yards; Bobby Douglass, 7 for 82 yards; Roger Lawson, 5 for 5 yards; Cyril Pinder, 4 for 6 yards; Don Shy, 1 for 5 yards

Receiving:
LA: Larry Smith, 3 for 28 yards; Willie Ellison, 3 for 15 yards; Jack Snow, 1 for 22 yards
CHI: Earl Thomas, 2 for 45 yards and 1 TD; George Farmer, 1 for 7 yards

Kick returns:
LA: John Love, 3 for 65 yards; Al Clark, 1 for 21 yards
CHI: Ron Smith, 4 for 110 yards

Punt returns:
LA: John Love, 4 for 22 yards
CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 7 yards; Craig Clemons, 1 for 5 yards

Interceptions:
LA: Gene Howard, 1 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 15 yards
CHI: Charlie Ford, 1 for 33 yards; Garry Lyle, 1 for 17 yards

Punting:
LA: Dave Chapple, 5 for 248 yards
CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 6 for 273 yards

Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 2/4
CHI: Mac Percival, 2/3

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