NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
Greg Landry threw a pair of touchdown passes to Charlie Sanders while completing 18 of 24 passes for 250 yards, and cornerback Rudy Redmond returned an interception 88 yards for another score as the Lions finished with an 8-5-1 record. The Rams 6-7-1 record marked their first losing season since 1965.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 143.4 (12) | 147.8 (17) | 291.2 (15) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 160.4 (20) | 137.7 (7) | 298.1 (17) | 25 | |
 | OFFENSE | 160.8 (5) | 148.6 (15) | 309.4 (9) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 123.5 (9) | 148.6 (10) | 272.1 (7) | 26 |
Line: Rams by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (8-5-1) | 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Los Angeles Rams (6-7-1) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
( 3- 0) DET Errol Mann 48 yard field goal
( 3- 3) LA David Ray 30 yard field goal
( 3-10) LA Lance Rentzel 14 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(10-10) DET Altie Taylor 2 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(17-10) DET Rudy Redmond 88 yard interception return (Errol Mann kick)
(17-17) LA Larry Smith 3 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (David Ray kick)
(24-17) DET Charlie Sanders 8 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(31-17) DET Charlie Sanders 3 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(34-17) DET Errol Mann 37 yard field goal
DET LA
First Downs: 24 20
Rushes-yards: 36-157 25-119
Yards/rush: 4.4 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-24-250-1 21-35-221-1
Sacked-yards: 5-37 1-7
Net pass yards: 213 214
Net yards/pass: 7.3 5.9
Total net yards: 370 333
Total plays: 65 (55% run) 61 (40% run)
Yards/play: 5.7 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 2-10 6-44
Attendance: 71,761
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 18 of 24 for 250 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 21 of 35 for 221 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Bill Triplett, 13 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 12 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 6 for 56 yards; Nick Eddy, 5 for 14 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 9 for 25 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 36 yards; Larry Smith, 5 for 37 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 10 yards; Roman Gabriel, 2 for 1 yard; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 10 yards
Receiving:
DET: Ron Jessie, 6 for 84 yards; Charlie Sanders, 6 for 76 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Walton, 3 for 48 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 22 yards; Nick Eddy, 1 for 10 yards; Mel Farr, 1 for 10 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 7 for 79 yards; Les Josephson, 5 for 81 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 2 for 3 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 6 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 31 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 28 yards; Lem Barney, 1 for 17 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 3 for 76 yards; Dick Gordon, 2 for 85 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 6 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 60 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Rudy Redmond, 1 for 88 yards and 1 TD LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 43 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 79 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 2 for 83 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 2/3 LA: David Ray, 1/1
DET: Greg Landry, 18 of 24 for 250 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) LA: Roman Gabriel, 21 of 35 for 221 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Bill Triplett, 13 for 35 yards; Altie Taylor, 12 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 6 for 56 yards; Nick Eddy, 5 for 14 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 9 for 25 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 6 for 36 yards; Larry Smith, 5 for 37 yards; Les Josephson, 2 for 10 yards; Roman Gabriel, 2 for 1 yard; Lance Rentzel, 1 for 10 yards
Receiving:
DET: Ron Jessie, 6 for 84 yards; Charlie Sanders, 6 for 76 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Walton, 3 for 48 yards; Altie Taylor, 1 for 22 yards; Nick Eddy, 1 for 10 yards; Mel Farr, 1 for 10 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 7 for 79 yards; Les Josephson, 5 for 81 yards; Larry Smith, 3 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Lance Rentzel, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 2 for 3 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 6 yards; Bob Thomas, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 2 for 31 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 28 yards; Lem Barney, 1 for 17 yards LA: Bob Thomas, 3 for 76 yards; Dick Gordon, 2 for 85 yards; Pat Curran, 2 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 6 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 1 for 60 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Rudy Redmond, 1 for 88 yards and 1 TD LA: Jim Nettles, 1 for 43 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 79 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 2 for 83 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 2/3 LA: David Ray, 1/1