NFL game summary for 10/08/1972:
Returning to the starting lineup for the first time since his 144-yard production on opening day, Bob Thomas rushed for 142 as the Rams ran for 302 (best by L. A. since 1958) in a total offense of 520 yards. Quarterback Roman Gabriel, nursing tendonitis in his right elbow, had his best day, completing 12 of 23 for 225 yards and a pair of touchdown passes of 45 and 57 yards to Jack Snow.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 92.0 (23) | 179.7 (7) | 271.7 (16) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 90.3 (3) | 101.3 (1) | 191.7 (1) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.3 (7) | 113.7 (24) | 271.0 (18) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 170.0 (22) | 101.7 (2) | 271.7 (9) | 9 |
Line: 49ers by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (2-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Los Angeles Rams (2-1-1) | 0 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
( 0- 7) LA Jack Snow 45 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
( 7- 7) SF John Brodie 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7-14) LA Willie Ellison 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 7-17) LA David Ray 15 yard field goal
( 7-24) LA Jack Snow 57 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
( 7-31) LA Larry Smith 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
SF LA
First Downs: 13 22
Rushes-yards: 27-119 43-302
Yards/rush: 4.4 7.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-18-135-2 12-23-225-0
Sacked-yards: 2-4 2-14
Net pass yards: 131 211
Net yards/pass: 6.5 8.4
Total net yards: 250 513
Total plays: 47 (57% run) 68 (63% run)
Yards/play: 5.3 7.5
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 4-27 8-71
Attendance: 77,382
Passing:
SF: John Brodie, 10 of 18 for 135 yards (2 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 12 of 23 for 225 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 8 for 30 yards; Ken Willard, 7 for 30 yards; Larry Schreiber, 5 for 6 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 46 yards; John Brodie, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 1 for -1 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 19 for 142 yards; Willie Ellison, 13 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 32 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Roman Gabriel, 2 for 5 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
SF: Jimmy Thomas, 2 for 40 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 31 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 25 yards; Preston Riley, 2 for 21 yards; Gene Washington, 2 for 18 yards LA: Jack Snow, 4 for 130 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Klein, 3 for 34 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 30 yards; Bob Thomas, 2 for 22 yards; Joe Sweet, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 32 yards; Ed Beard, 2 for -1 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 16 yards LA: Roger Williams, 1 for 25 yards; Al Clark, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for -5 yards; Johnny Fuller, 1 for 9 yards LA: John Love, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
LA: Dave Elmendorf, 2 for 14 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 231 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 119 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 0/2 LA: David Ray, 1/2
SF: John Brodie, 10 of 18 for 135 yards (2 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 12 of 23 for 225 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 8 for 30 yards; Ken Willard, 7 for 30 yards; Larry Schreiber, 5 for 6 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 46 yards; John Brodie, 3 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 1 for -1 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 19 for 142 yards; Willie Ellison, 13 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 32 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Roman Gabriel, 2 for 5 yards; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 9 yards
Receiving:
SF: Jimmy Thomas, 2 for 40 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 31 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 25 yards; Preston Riley, 2 for 21 yards; Gene Washington, 2 for 18 yards LA: Jack Snow, 4 for 130 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Klein, 3 for 34 yards; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 30 yards; Bob Thomas, 2 for 22 yards; Joe Sweet, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 32 yards; Ed Beard, 2 for -1 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 16 yards LA: Roger Williams, 1 for 25 yards; Al Clark, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for -5 yards; Johnny Fuller, 1 for 9 yards LA: John Love, 2 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
LA: Dave Elmendorf, 2 for 14 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 231 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 119 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 0/2 LA: David Ray, 1/2