NFL game summary for 11/05/1972:
The Rams combined a solid ground game and a strong pass rush to gain a season split with the Falcons. Willie Ellison rushed for 114 yards and rookie Jim Bertelsen added 71 more to pace the attack, while Merlin Olsen led the defense which sacked Atlanta passers six times. The victory increased the Rams' NFC West lead to 1½ games over the Falcons.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 165.7 (4) | 130.3 (19) | 296.0 (15) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 144.4 (17) | 115.1 (4) | 259.6 (4) | 21 | |
 | OFFENSE | 164.1 (5) | 136.6 (18) | 300.7 (12) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 151.7 (21) | 112.1 (3) | 263.9 (6) | 18 |
Line: Rams by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (4-4-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Los Angeles Rams (5-2-1) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
( 0- 7) LA Willie Ellison 1 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 0-10) LA David Ray 36 yard field goal
( 7-10) ATL Dave Hampton 4 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
( 7-17) LA Jim Bertelsen 7 yard rush (David Ray kick)
( 7-20) LA David Ray 15 yard field goal
ATL LA
First Downs: 19 17
Rushes-yards: 30-117 49-202
Yards/rush: 3.9 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-20-164-2 8-11-93-0
Sacked-yards: 6-44 0-0
Net pass yards: 120 93
Net yards/pass: 4.6 8.5
Total net yards: 237 295
Total plays: 56 (53% run) 60 (81% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 4.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 5-29 4-40
Attendance: 75,108
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 11 of 20 for 164 yards and 1 TD (2 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 8 of 11 for 93 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 18 for 78 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 25 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 8 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 6 yards LA: Willie Ellison, 27 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 11 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Roman Gabriel, 6 for 5 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Thomas, 2 for 3 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Wes Chesson, 7 for 120 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 27 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 13 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD LA: Lance Rentzel, 3 for 46 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 23 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 18 yards; Jack Snow, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 52 yards LA: Willie Ellison, 2 for 41 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 52 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Purnell, 1 for 2 yards; Marlin McKeever, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 5 for 224 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 139 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 0/1 LA: David Ray, 2/2
ATL: Bob Berry, 11 of 20 for 164 yards and 1 TD (2 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 8 of 11 for 93 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 18 for 78 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 25 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 8 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 6 yards LA: Willie Ellison, 27 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Jim Bertelsen, 11 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Roman Gabriel, 6 for 5 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Thomas, 2 for 3 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Wes Chesson, 7 for 120 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 27 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 13 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD LA: Lance Rentzel, 3 for 46 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 23 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 18 yards; Jack Snow, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 52 yards LA: Willie Ellison, 2 for 41 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 52 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Purnell, 1 for 2 yards; Marlin McKeever, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 5 for 224 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 139 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 0/1 LA: David Ray, 2/2