NFL game summary for 12/10/1972:
The Falcons, knowing that a victory would assure them of their first title and a place in the NFC Divisional Playoffs as Western champion, were stifled by the 49ers defense, which had an interception and three fumble recoveries. San Francisco's runners, meanwhile, rushed for 210 yards, including a pair of one-yard touchdown bursts by Ken Willard. The victory enabled the 49ers to regain first place in the West, a half-game ahead of Atlanta and one game up on Los Angeles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 154.8 (7) | 136.4 (19) | 291.2 (16) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 139.2 (17) | 135.8 (6) | 275.1 (9) | 32 | |
 | OFFENSE | 104.3 (23) | 203.3 (1) | 307.7 (11) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 126.8 (8) | 163.9 (19) | 290.7 (15) | 30 |
Line: 49ers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (7-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers (7-5-1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
( 0- 3) SF Bruce Gossett 41 yard field goal
( 0- 6) SF Bruce Gossett 19 yard field goal
( 0-13) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 0-20) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
ATL SF
First Downs: 14 19
Rushes-yards: 22-149 47-210
Yards/rush: 6.8 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-25-145-1 9-18-79-0
Sacked-yards: 4-29 2-13
Net pass yards: 116 66
Net yards/pass: 4.0 3.3
Total net yards: 265 276
Total plays: 51 (43% run) 67 (70% run)
Yards/play: 5.2 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 1-0
Turnovers: 4 0
Penalties-yards: 1-20 5-54
Attendance: 61,214
Passing:
ATL: Bob Berry, 12 of 25 for 145 yards (1 int) SF: Steve Spurrier, 9 of 18 for 79 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 11 for 59 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 91 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ken Willard, 14 for 51 yards and 2 TDs; Vic Washington, 14 for 51 yards; Larry Schreiber, 13 for 59 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 5 for 43 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 6 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 5 for 44 yards; Jim Mitchell, 4 for 39 yards; Art Malone, 2 for 16 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 46 yards SF: Ken Willard, 4 for 27 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 40 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 9 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 22 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
SF: Dave Wilcox, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 2 for 91 yards SF: Jim McCann, 3 for 79 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 0/2 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/4
ATL: Bob Berry, 12 of 25 for 145 yards (1 int) SF: Steve Spurrier, 9 of 18 for 79 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 11 for 59 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 91 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ken Willard, 14 for 51 yards and 2 TDs; Vic Washington, 14 for 51 yards; Larry Schreiber, 13 for 59 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 5 for 43 yards; Steve Spurrier, 1 for 6 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 5 for 44 yards; Jim Mitchell, 4 for 39 yards; Art Malone, 2 for 16 yards; Wes Chesson, 1 for 46 yards SF: Ken Willard, 4 for 27 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 40 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 9 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Willie Belton, 1 for 22 yards; Dave Hampton, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
Interceptions:
SF: Dave Wilcox, 1 for 9 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 2 for 91 yards SF: Jim McCann, 3 for 79 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Bill Bell, 0/2 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/4