NFL game summary for 12/10/1972:
Quarterback Jim Hart returned to the Cardinals starting lineup and passed for 201 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Walker Gillette and a 98-yard non-scoring completion to Bobby Moore which set up another TD. The St. Louis defense stopped Los Angeles' drives at the 1, 2 and 3-yard lines. Despite its loss, Los Angeles remained in the three-way battle for the NFC West title.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 161.6 (5) | 141.0 (18) | 302.6 (14) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 127.3 (9) | 145.0 (8) | 272.3 (8) | 25 | |
 | OFFENSE | 90.0 (26) | 126.8 (21) | 216.8 (26) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 161.2 (21) | 178.2 (24) | 339.4 (23) | 23 |
Line: Rams by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (6-6-1) | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (3-9-1) | 3 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
( 0- 3) STL Jim Bakken 41 yard field goal
( 0-10) STL Donny Anderson 1 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
( 0-17) STL Norm Thompson 58 yard fumble return (Jim Bakken kick)
( 7-17) LA Les Josephson 11 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(14-17) LA Jim Bertelsen 12 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(14-24) STL Walker Gillette 30 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)
LA STL
First Downs: 29 11
Rushes-yards: 40-151 23-77
Yards/rush: 3.8 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-39-260-1 7-18-201-0
Sacked-yards: 2-20 1-9
Net pass yards: 240 192
Net yards/pass: 5.9 10.1
Total net yards: 391 269
Total plays: 81 (49% run) 42 (54% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 6.4
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 3-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 2-20 5-35
Attendance: 36,873
Passing:
LA: Roman Gabriel, 24 of 39 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 7 of 18 for 201 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 23 for 82 yards; Willie Ellison, 8 for 23 yards; Les Josephson, 6 for 27 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 19 yards STL: Donny Anderson, 9 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Craig Baynham, 7 for 18 yards; Johnny Roland, 6 for 6 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 9 for 107 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 8 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 3 for 23 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 31 yards; Willie Ellison, 2 for 24 yards STL: Walker Gillette, 3 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 113 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 24 yards; Donny Anderson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Bob Thomas, 2 for 49 yards; Willie Ellison, 2 for 46 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 21 yards STL: Mel Gray, 2 for 40 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Miller Farr, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
LA: Dave Chapple, 1 for 35 yards STL: Donny Anderson, 4 for 135 yards; Jim Bakken, 1 for 26 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 0/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1
LA: Roman Gabriel, 24 of 39 for 260 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 7 of 18 for 201 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 23 for 82 yards; Willie Ellison, 8 for 23 yards; Les Josephson, 6 for 27 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 19 yards STL: Donny Anderson, 9 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Craig Baynham, 7 for 18 yards; Johnny Roland, 6 for 6 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 9 for 107 yards and 1 TD; Les Josephson, 8 for 75 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 3 for 23 yards; Bob Klein, 2 for 31 yards; Willie Ellison, 2 for 24 yards STL: Walker Gillette, 3 for 60 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 113 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 24 yards; Donny Anderson, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Bob Thomas, 2 for 49 yards; Willie Ellison, 2 for 46 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 21 yards STL: Mel Gray, 2 for 40 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 3 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Miller Farr, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
LA: Dave Chapple, 1 for 35 yards STL: Donny Anderson, 4 for 135 yards; Jim Bakken, 1 for 26 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 0/1 STL: Jim Bakken, 1/1