NFL game summary for 10/29/1972:
Steve Spurrier, subbing for injured John Brodie, threw three touchdown passes as the 49ers registered their highest point total since the opening game of the 1965 season. San Francisco rushed for 189 yards, including 56 by Vic Washington, who scored a touchdown on a 98-yard return of the opening kickoff.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 91.0 (24) | 200.2 (3) | 291.2 (15) | 19 |
| DEFENSE | 134.5 (15) | 152.8 (11) | 287.3 (16) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 184.2 (3) | 135.8 (17) | 320.0 (7) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 137.0 (17) | 107.8 (2) | 244.8 (3) | 18 |
Line: Falcons by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (3-3-1) | 14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Atlanta Falcons (4-3-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
( 7- 0) SF Vic Washington 98 yard kickoff return (Bruce Gossett kick) ( 7- 7) ATL Art Malone 2 yard rush (Bill Bell kick) (14- 7) SF Ted Kwalick 10 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick) (21- 7) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) (21-14) ATL Jim Mitchell 40 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick) (28-14) SF Gene Washington 43 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick) (35-14) SF Preston Riley 28 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick) (42-14) SF Skip Vanderbundt 37 yard interception return (Bruce Gossett kick) (49-14) SF Vic Washington 2 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
SF ATL
First Downs: 19 13
Rushes-yards: 46-189 20-55
Yards/rush: 4.1 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-18-159-1 12-35-159-4
Sacked-yards: 0-0 6-62
Net pass yards: 159 97
Net yards/pass: 8.8 2.4
Total net yards: 348 152
Total plays: 64 (71% run) 61 (32% run)
Yards/play: 5.4 2.5
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 4-0
Turnovers: 3 4
Penalties-yards: 6-70 3-29
Attendance: 58,850
Passing:
SF: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 18 for 159 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) ATL: Bob Berry, 11 of 24 for 147 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Pat Sullivan, 1 of 11 for 12 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 10 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 10 for 31 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 7 for 43 yards; Steve Spurrier, 2 for 14 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 3 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 12 for 30 yards; Art Malone, 7 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 2 for 11 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Preston Riley, 1 for 28 yards and 1 TD ATL: Art Malone, 6 for 70 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Dave Hampton, 2 for 14 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Ralph McGill, 1 for 12 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 4 for 92 yards; Tony Plummer, 1 for 21 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Ralph McGill, 9 for 109 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 2 yards; Ray Brown, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Jimmy Johnson, 1 for 15 yards; Frank Nunley, 1 for 12 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Clarence Ellis, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 4 for 155 yards ATL: John James, 10 for 461 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 0/2
SF: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 18 for 159 yards and 3 TDs (1 int) ATL: Bob Berry, 11 of 24 for 147 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Pat Sullivan, 1 of 11 for 12 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 10 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Larry Schreiber, 10 for 31 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 7 for 43 yards; Steve Spurrier, 2 for 14 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 3 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 12 for 30 yards; Art Malone, 7 for 24 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 2 for 11 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Preston Riley, 1 for 28 yards and 1 TD ATL: Art Malone, 6 for 70 yards; Jim Mitchell, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Dave Hampton, 2 for 14 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 121 yards and 1 TD; Ralph McGill, 1 for 12 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 4 for 92 yards; Tony Plummer, 1 for 21 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Ralph McGill, 9 for 109 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 2 yards; Ray Brown, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Jimmy Johnson, 1 for 15 yards; Frank Nunley, 1 for 12 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 2 yards ATL: Clarence Ellis, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 4 for 155 yards ATL: John James, 10 for 461 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 0/2