NFL game summary for 11/12/1972:
The Falcons moved into a 33-3 lead in the third period and went on to their seventh straight victory over the Saints. Bob Berry passed for one touchdown and scored one, while RBs Dave Hampton and Art Malone each tallied once while combining for 137 rushing yards. The victory moved Atlanta within a half-game of NFC West leader Los Angeles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 82.4 (26) | 167.5 (11) | 249.9 (24) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 155.0 (23) | 175.5 (21) | 330.5 (22) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 159.6 (5) | 129.0 (20) | 288.6 (17) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 151.6 (21) | 112.4 (2) | 264.0 (5) | 21 |
Line: Falcons by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (1-7-1) | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 20 |
| Atlanta Falcons (5-4-0) | 7 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 36 |
( 0- 7) ATL Art Malone 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
( 3- 7) NO Happy Feller 19 yard field goal
( 3-14) ATL Dave Hampton 16 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
( 3-16) ATL Safety, Archie Manning tackled in end zone by Mike Lewis
( 3-23) ATL Bob Berry 2 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
( 3-26) ATL Bill Bell 37 yard field goal
( 3-33) ATL Ken Burrow 15 yard pass from Bob Berry (Bill Bell kick)
( 6-33) NO Happy Feller 25 yard field goal
(13-33) NO Bob Gresham 1 yard rush (Happy Feller kick)
(13-36) ATL Bill Bell 32 yard field goal
(20-36) NO Bob Gresham 2 yard pass from Archie Manning (Happy Feller kick)
NO ATL
First Downs: 19 21
Rushes-yards: 22-109 41-189
Yards/rush: 5.0 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-31-173-0 12-21-174-1
Sacked-yards: 3-18 1-11
Net pass yards: 155 163
Net yards/pass: 4.6 7.4
Total net yards: 264 352
Total plays: 56 (39% run) 63 (65% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 5.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 4-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 6-53 9-87
Attendance: 58,850
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 31 for 173 yards and 1 TD ATL: Bob Berry, 10 of 13 for 142 yards and 1 TD; Pat Sullivan, 2 of 8 for 32 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Bill Butler, 10 for 59 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 4 for 34 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 5 yards; James Ford, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 14 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 10 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Willie Belton, 8 for 13 yards; Eddie Ray, 6 for 29 yards; Pat Sullivan, 2 for 8 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 85 yards; Bob Newland, 4 for 69 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 11 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 8 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 1 for -2 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 46 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 23 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 18 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 18 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 6 for 114 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 4 for 89 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 0 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 2 for -4 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 9 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 3 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Bivian Lee, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 154 yards ATL: John James, 3 for 122 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Happy Feller, 2/2 ATL: Bill Bell, 2/3
NO: Archie Manning, 13 of 31 for 173 yards and 1 TD ATL: Bob Berry, 10 of 13 for 142 yards and 1 TD; Pat Sullivan, 2 of 8 for 32 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
NO: Bill Butler, 10 for 59 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 4 for 34 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 5 yards; James Ford, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 14 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Art Malone, 10 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Willie Belton, 8 for 13 yards; Eddie Ray, 6 for 29 yards; Pat Sullivan, 2 for 8 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 85 yards; Bob Newland, 4 for 69 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 11 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 8 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD; Dave Parks, 1 for -2 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 46 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 23 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 18 yards; Ray Jarvis, 1 for 18 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 6 for 114 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 4 for 89 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 0 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 2 for -4 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 9 yards ATL: Willie Belton, 3 for 32 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Bivian Lee, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 154 yards ATL: John James, 3 for 122 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Happy Feller, 2/2 ATL: Bill Bell, 2/3