NFL game summary for 10/15/1972:
Atlanta's Bob Berry threw three touchdown passes, including a 23-yard score to Ken Burrow in the final period, as the Falcons overcame a 14-0 deficit and five lost fumbles to defeat the Saints. New Orleans' rookie cornerback Ernie Jackson scored on an 85-yard run after picking up one of the Atlanta fumbles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 212.8 (1) | 125.8 (24) | 338.5 (4) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 152.2 (19) | 131.0 (9) | 283.2 (12) | 13 | |
 | OFFENSE | 48.2 (26) | 154.0 (12) | 202.2 (26) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 181.8 (25) | 166.2 (16) | 348.0 (23) | 10 |
Line: Falcons by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (3-2-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| New Orleans Saints (0-5-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
( 0- 7) NO Ernie Jackson 85 yard fumble return (Charlie Durkee kick)
( 0-14) NO Archie Manning 3 yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)
( 7-14) ATL Jim Mitchell 10 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
(14-14) ATL Jim Mitchell 5 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
(21-14) ATL Ken Burrow 23 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
ATL NO
First Downs: 17 8
Rushes-yards: 41-147 30-101
Yards/rush: 3.6 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-26-185-0 6-18-51-0
Sacked-yards: 2-10 3-31
Net pass yards: 175 20
Net yards/pass: 6.2 1.0
Total net yards: 322 121
Total plays: 69 (59% run) 51 (58% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 2.4
Fumbles-lost: 5-5 3-3
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 2-30 8-56
Attendance: 66,294
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 16 of 26 for 185 yards and 3 TDs NO: Archie Manning, 6 of 18 for 51 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Joe Profit, 19 for 72 yards; Art Malone, 18 for 68 yards; Bob Berry, 4 for 7 yards NO: Archie Manning, 9 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Green, 6 for 24 yards; Joe Williams, 5 for 13 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 9 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 17 yards; Dave Parks, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 4 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chesson, 3 for 52 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 22 yards; Joe Profit, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 15 yards and 2 TDs; Ron Lamb, 1 for 10 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for -1 yards NO: Bob Newland, 3 for 30 yards; Arthur Green, 2 for 13 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 23 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 20 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 5 yards NO: Arthur Green, 2 for 37 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 4 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 172 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/1
ATL: Bob Berry, 16 of 26 for 185 yards and 3 TDs NO: Archie Manning, 6 of 18 for 51 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Joe Profit, 19 for 72 yards; Art Malone, 18 for 68 yards; Bob Berry, 4 for 7 yards NO: Archie Manning, 9 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Green, 6 for 24 yards; Joe Williams, 5 for 13 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 9 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 17 yards; Dave Parks, 1 for -7 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 4 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Wes Chesson, 3 for 52 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 22 yards; Joe Profit, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 15 yards and 2 TDs; Ron Lamb, 1 for 10 yards; Willie Belton, 1 for -1 yards NO: Bob Newland, 3 for 30 yards; Arthur Green, 2 for 13 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 23 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 20 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 5 yards NO: Arthur Green, 2 for 37 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 4 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
ATL: John James, 4 for 172 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 6 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 0/1