NFL game summary for 12/10/1972:
Jim Plunkett threw a pair of touchdown passes to Reggie Rucker in the closing minutes of the first half and the Patriots went on to snap a nine-game losing streak. New England's third victory of the season also marked its third win over an NFC opponent, since the Patriots earlier defeated Washington and Atlanta.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 108.2 (22) | 151.0 (14) | 259.2 (19) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 206.8 (26) | 162.4 (18) | 369.2 (26) | 20 | |
 | OFFENSE | 90.5 (25) | 174.1 (5) | 264.6 (18) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 150.2 (19) | 179.7 (25) | 329.8 (21) | 25 |
Line: Saints by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (3-10-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| New Orleans Saints (2-10-1) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 3) NO Happy Feller 30 yard field goal
( 7- 3) NE Reggie Rucker 31 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Mike Walker kick)
(14- 3) NE Reggie Rucker 25 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Mike Walker kick)
(14-10) NO Danny Abramowicz 26 yard pass from Archie Manning (Happy Feller kick)
(17-10) NE Mike Walker 36 yard field goal
NE NO
First Downs: 18 20
Rushes-yards: 36-109 20-94
Yards/rush: 3.0 4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-24-209-1 24-52-254-3
Sacked-yards: 3-29 2-11
Net pass yards: 180 243
Net yards/pass: 6.7 4.5
Total net yards: 289 337
Total plays: 63 (57% run) 74 (27% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-1
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 5-62 3-40
Attendance: 64,889
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 24 for 209 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 52 for 254 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 16 for 30 yards; John Tarver, 10 for 26 yards; Josh Ashton, 9 for 51 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 2 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 14 for 54 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 30 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Carl Garrett, 3 for 41 yards; Josh Ashton, 3 for 21 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 21 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 14 yards NO: Bob Newland, 7 for 67 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Bill Butler, 4 for 40 yards; Bob Gresham, 4 for 14 yards; Dave Parks, 3 for 36 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 45 yards; Henry Matthews, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 27 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Honor Jackson, 1 for 55 yards; Dick Blanchard, 1 for 20 yards; Rickie Harris, 1 for 13 yards NO: Hugo Hollas, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 189 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 181 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Mike Walker, 1/2 NO: Happy Feller, 1/3
NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 24 for 209 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 24 of 52 for 254 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 16 for 30 yards; John Tarver, 10 for 26 yards; Josh Ashton, 9 for 51 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 2 yards NO: Bob Gresham, 14 for 54 yards; Bill Butler, 4 for 30 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for 10 yards
Receiving:
NE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 98 yards and 2 TDs; Carl Garrett, 3 for 41 yards; Josh Ashton, 3 for 21 yards; Randy Vataha, 3 for 21 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 14 yards; Bob Windsor, 1 for 14 yards NO: Bob Newland, 7 for 67 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 4 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Bill Butler, 4 for 40 yards; Bob Gresham, 4 for 14 yards; Dave Parks, 3 for 36 yards; Jim Strong, 1 for 16 yards; Bob Brown, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 2 for 45 yards; Henry Matthews, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 27 yards NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NE: Honor Jackson, 1 for 55 yards; Dick Blanchard, 1 for 20 yards; Rickie Harris, 1 for 13 yards NO: Hugo Hollas, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 189 yards NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 181 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Mike Walker, 1/2 NO: Happy Feller, 1/3