NFL game summary for 10/22/1972:
Bruce Gossett's 36-yard field goal with one second remaining permitted San Francisco to tie New Orleans after the Saints had taken a 20-17 lead on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Archie Manning to Dave Parks with 1:54 left to play. Steve Spurrier, at quarterback for injured John Brodie, then completed three passes to move the 49ers into FG range.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 58.8 (26) | 127.2 (22) | 186.0 (26) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 174.8 (24) | 168.0 (18) | 342.8 (23) | 15 | |
 | OFFENSE | 96.0 (21) | 185.4 (6) | 281.4 (16) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 142.6 (18) | 128.8 (8) | 271.4 (13) | 16 |
Line: 49ers by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (0-5-1) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
| San Francisco 49ers (2-3-1) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
( 0- 7) SF Ted Kwalick 81 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7- 7) NO Dave Parks 46 yard pass from Archie Manning (Toni Linhart kick)
( 7-10) SF Bruce Gossett 41 yard field goal
( 7-17) SF John Isenbarger 21 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick)
(10-17) NO Toni Linhart 11 yard field goal
(13-17) NO Toni Linhart 20 yard field goal
(20-17) NO Dave Parks 30 yard pass from Archie Manning (Toni Linhart kick)
(20-20) SF Bruce Gossett 37 yard field goal
NO SF
First Downs: 19 14
Rushes-yards: 34-94 21-66
Yards/rush: 2.8 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-27-287-1 19-35-286-3
Sacked-yards: 2-14 2-12
Net pass yards: 273 274
Net yards/pass: 9.4 7.4
Total net yards: 367 340
Total plays: 63 (53% run) 58 (36% run)
Yards/play: 5.8 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 5-30 5-35
Attendance: 59,167
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 17 of 27 for 287 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SF: Steve Spurrier, 19 of 35 for 286 yards and 2 TDs (3 int)
Rushing:
NO: Archie Manning, 11 for 48 yards; Jim Strong, 9 for 25 yards; Joe Williams, 7 for 9 yards; Arthur Green, 4 for 13 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for 6 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for -7 yards SF: Vic Washington, 7 for 26 yards; Ken Willard, 6 for 12 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 5 for 10 yards; Steve Spurrier, 2 for 15 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NO: Dave Parks, 5 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Newland, 5 for 83 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 84 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for 3 yards; Arthur Green, 1 for 7 yards SF: Larry Schreiber, 4 for 33 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for -5 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 41 yards; Vic Washington, 3 for 32 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; John Isenbarger, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 3 for 86 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 10 yards; Remi Prudhomme, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 3 for 73 yards; Ralph McGill, 2 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Ernie Jackson, 1 for 31 yards; Tom Roussel, 1 for 4 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards SF: Windlan Hall, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 170 yards SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 201 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Toni Linhart, 2/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/3
NO: Archie Manning, 17 of 27 for 287 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) SF: Steve Spurrier, 19 of 35 for 286 yards and 2 TDs (3 int)
Rushing:
NO: Archie Manning, 11 for 48 yards; Jim Strong, 9 for 25 yards; Joe Williams, 7 for 9 yards; Arthur Green, 4 for 13 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for 6 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for -7 yards SF: Vic Washington, 7 for 26 yards; Ken Willard, 6 for 12 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 5 for 10 yards; Steve Spurrier, 2 for 15 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
NO: Dave Parks, 5 for 110 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Newland, 5 for 83 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 84 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for 3 yards; Arthur Green, 1 for 7 yards SF: Larry Schreiber, 4 for 33 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for -5 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 41 yards; Vic Washington, 3 for 32 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; John Isenbarger, 2 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 29 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 3 for 86 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 10 yards; Remi Prudhomme, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 3 for 73 yards; Ralph McGill, 2 for 49 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Ernie Jackson, 1 for 31 yards; Tom Roussel, 1 for 4 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards SF: Windlan Hall, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 170 yards SF: Jim McCann, 5 for 201 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Toni Linhart, 2/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/3