NFL game summary for 10/01/1972:
San Francisco's defense permitted New Orleans 84 yards, including only seven rushing for the fewest ever allowed by the 49ers in an NFL game, and intercepted four passes. John Brodie completed 19 of 26 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 75.0 (22) | 173.5 (11) | 248.5 (17) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 132.0 (17) | 113.5 (6) | 245.5 (7) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 64.0 (24) | 155.5 (14) | 219.5 (23) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 196.5 (24) | 162.0 (14) | 358.5 (24) | 5 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (2-1-0) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
| New Orleans Saints (0-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
( 7- 0) SF Vic Washington 4 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
(10- 0) SF Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal
(10- 2) NO Safety, Joe Owens blocked punt through end zone
(13- 2) SF Bruce Gossett 36 yard field goal
(20- 2) SF Gene Washington 6 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
(27- 2) SF Ted Kwalick 5 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
(30- 2) SF Bruce Gossett 27 yard field goal
(37- 2) SF Mike Simpson 32 yard interception return (Bruce Gossett kick)
SF NO
First Downs: 14 8
Rushes-yards: 36-126 16-7
Yards/rush: 3.5 0.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-28-208-1 13-35-128-4
Sacked-yards: 2-16 5-51
Net pass yards: 192 77
Net yards/pass: 6.4 1.9
Total net yards: 318 84
Total plays: 66 (54% run) 56 (28% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 1.5
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 5-3
Turnovers: 3 7
Penalties-yards: 7-75 10-69
Attendance: 69,840
Passing:
SF: John Brodie, 19 of 26 for 179 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 2 for 29 yards NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 35 for 128 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 18 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 8 for 29 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 7 for 28 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 1 yard; Ken Willard, 1 for -1 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for -6 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 10 for 2 yards; Virgil Robinson, 4 for -4 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 11 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
SF: Larry Schreiber, 6 for 40 yards; Gene Washington, 4 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 3 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 3 for 26 yards; Preston Riley, 2 for 34 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 3 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 0 yards NO: Joe Williams, 5 for 44 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 45 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 21 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 11 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 1 for 14 yards NO: Margene Adkins, 4 for 90 yards; Arthur Green, 2 for 78 yards; Jim Strong, 2 for 31 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Jimmy Johnson, 2 for 8 yards; Mike Simpson, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Tommy Hart, 1 for 0 yards NO: Delles Howell, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 188 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 7 for 309 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 3/4 NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/2
SF: John Brodie, 19 of 26 for 179 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 2 for 29 yards NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 35 for 128 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 18 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 8 for 29 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 7 for 28 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 1 yard; Ken Willard, 1 for -1 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for -6 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 10 for 2 yards; Virgil Robinson, 4 for -4 yards; Archie Manning, 1 for 11 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
SF: Larry Schreiber, 6 for 40 yards; Gene Washington, 4 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 3 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 3 for 26 yards; Preston Riley, 2 for 34 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 3 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 0 yards NO: Joe Williams, 5 for 44 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 45 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 21 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 11 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 1 for 14 yards NO: Margene Adkins, 4 for 90 yards; Arthur Green, 2 for 78 yards; Jim Strong, 2 for 31 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 4 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Jimmy Johnson, 2 for 8 yards; Mike Simpson, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Tommy Hart, 1 for 0 yards NO: Delles Howell, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 188 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 7 for 309 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 3/4 NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/2