NFL game summary for 10/30/1972:
The Cowboys jumped into a 14-0 lead as Craig Morton, who threw three touchdown passes and set up another with his completions, hit Billy Parks and Calvin Hill to climax scoring drives on Dallas' first two possessions. A 27-yard screen pass to Mike Montgomery preceded the running back's one-yard TD plunge, and Montgomery also was on the receiving end of Morton's final TD pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 164.3 (5) | 133.0 (18) | 297.3 (14) | 13 |
| DEFENSE | 150.2 (20) | 120.8 (6) | 271.0 (11) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 143.8 (12) | 187.5 (4) | 331.3 (2) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 107.7 (3) | 157.3 (16) | 265.0 (7) | 12 |
Line: Cowboys by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (4-3-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Dallas Cowboys (5-2-0) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
( 0- 7) DAL Billy Parks 38 yard pass from Craig Morton (Toni Fritsch kick) ( 0-14) DAL Calvin Hill 33 yard pass from Craig Morton (Toni Fritsch kick) ( 7-14) DET Greg Landry 2 yard rush (Errol Mann kick) ( 7-21) DAL Mike Montgomery 1 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick) (14-21) DET Altie Taylor 40 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick) (17-21) DET Errol Mann 17 yard field goal (17-28) DAL Mike Montgomery 15 yard pass from Craig Morton (Toni Fritsch kick) (24-28) DET Larry Walton 21 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
DET DAL
First Downs: 14 19
Rushes-yards: 28-59 43-159
Yards/rush: 2.1 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-21-240-0 11-19-206-1
Sacked-yards: 2-16 0-0
Net pass yards: 224 206
Net yards/pass: 9.7 10.8
Total net yards: 283 365
Total plays: 51 (54% run) 62 (69% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 0 2
Penalties-yards: 1-5 8-60
Attendance: 65,378
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 11 of 20 for 217 yards and 2 TDs; Earl McCullouch, 1 of 1 for 23 yards DAL: Craig Morton, 11 of 19 for 206 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Mel Farr, 11 for 5 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 6 for 1 yard; Steve Owens, 2 for 7 yards DAL: Calvin Hill, 20 for 81 yards; Mike Montgomery, 10 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 9 for 37 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 3 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DET: Charlie Sanders, 3 for 82 yards; Mel Farr, 3 for 59 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Larry Walton, 2 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 5 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 42 yards; Billy Parks, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 2 for 30 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Mike Ditka, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 62 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 56 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 2 for 59 yards; Cliff Harris, 2 for 55 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Larry Walton, 1 for -4 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 3 for 30 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Rudy Redmond, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 5 for 205 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 3 for 119 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 1/2 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 0/1
DET: Greg Landry, 11 of 20 for 217 yards and 2 TDs; Earl McCullouch, 1 of 1 for 23 yards DAL: Craig Morton, 11 of 19 for 206 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Mel Farr, 11 for 5 yards; Greg Landry, 9 for 46 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 6 for 1 yard; Steve Owens, 2 for 7 yards DAL: Calvin Hill, 20 for 81 yards; Mike Montgomery, 10 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 9 for 37 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 3 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DET: Charlie Sanders, 3 for 82 yards; Mel Farr, 3 for 59 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Larry Walton, 2 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 5 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 42 yards; Billy Parks, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 2 for 30 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Mike Ditka, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 62 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 56 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 2 for 59 yards; Cliff Harris, 2 for 55 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Larry Walton, 1 for -4 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 3 for 30 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Rudy Redmond, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 5 for 205 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 3 for 119 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 1/2 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 0/1