NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
Pete Gogolak had three field goals and Norm Snead passed for a pair of touchdowns while the Giants defense completely dominated the Cowboys, enabling New York to finish with an 8-6 record. Dallas, which went on to the NFC Divisional Playoffs as the "wild card" team, suffered its worst defeat of the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 142.2 (13) | 175.8 (6) | 318.0 (6) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 139.1 (14) | 173.4 (23) | 312.5 (20) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 159.8 (6) | 173.6 (7) | 333.4 (4) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 103.2 (1) | 158.8 (17) | 262.0 (5) | 32 |
Line: Cowboys by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants (8-6-0) | 6 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Dallas Cowboys (10-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
( 3- 0) NYG Pete Gogolak 49 yard field goal
( 6- 0) NYG Pete Gogolak 22 yard field goal
( 6- 3) DAL Toni Fritsch 43 yard field goal
(13- 3) NYG Ron Johnson 9 yard pass from Norm Snead (Pete Gogolak kick)
(20- 3) NYG Rich Houston 12 yard pass from Norm Snead (Pete Gogolak kick)
(23- 3) NYG Pete Gogolak 26 yard field goal
NYG DAL
First Downs: 25 10
Rushes-yards: 52-174 20-47
Yards/rush: 3.3 2.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-28-175-1 12-21-110-3
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-25
Net pass yards: 175 85
Net yards/pass: 6.2 3.4
Total net yards: 349 132
Total plays: 80 (65% run) 45 (44% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 2.9
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 3-1
Turnovers: 1 4
Penalties-yards: 5-52 7-73
Attendance: 64,602
Passing:
NYG: Norm Snead, 16 of 28 for 175 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) DAL: Craig Morton, 6 of 11 for 61 yards (2 int); Roger Staubach, 6 of 9 for 49 yards (1 int); Mike Montgomery, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYG: Vince Clements, 23 for 105 yards; Ron Johnson, 22 for 53 yards; Rocky Thompson, 3 for 13 yards; Joe Morrison, 2 for 0 yards; Joe Orduna, 1 for 3 yards; Norm Snead, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Calvin Hill, 8 for 26 yards; Walt Garrison, 6 for 16 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 4 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for -3 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Ron Johnson, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Bob Tucker, 3 for 39 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 39 yards; Rich Houston, 3 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Vince Clements, 2 for 20 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 3 for 23 yards; Walt Garrison, 2 for 21 yards; Calvin Hill, 2 for 9 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 26 yards; Ron Sellers, 1 for 19 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Rocky Thompson, 2 for 71 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 5 for 114 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 30 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Pete Athas, 2 for 19 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Willie Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Pat Hughes, 1 for 1 yard; Spider Lockhart, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 56 yards
Punting:
NYG: Tom Blanchard, 3 for 114 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 5 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Pete Gogolak, 3/4 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
NYG: Norm Snead, 16 of 28 for 175 yards and 2 TDs (1 int) DAL: Craig Morton, 6 of 11 for 61 yards (2 int); Roger Staubach, 6 of 9 for 49 yards (1 int); Mike Montgomery, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
NYG: Vince Clements, 23 for 105 yards; Ron Johnson, 22 for 53 yards; Rocky Thompson, 3 for 13 yards; Joe Morrison, 2 for 0 yards; Joe Orduna, 1 for 3 yards; Norm Snead, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Calvin Hill, 8 for 26 yards; Walt Garrison, 6 for 16 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 4 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for -3 yards
Receiving:
NYG: Ron Johnson, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Bob Tucker, 3 for 39 yards; Don Herrmann, 3 for 39 yards; Rich Houston, 3 for 27 yards and 1 TD; Vince Clements, 2 for 20 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 3 for 23 yards; Walt Garrison, 2 for 21 yards; Calvin Hill, 2 for 9 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 4 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 26 yards; Ron Sellers, 1 for 19 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
NYG: Rocky Thompson, 2 for 71 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 5 for 114 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 30 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Pete Athas, 2 for 19 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
NYG: Willie Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Pat Hughes, 1 for 1 yard; Spider Lockhart, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 56 yards
Punting:
NYG: Tom Blanchard, 3 for 114 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 5 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
NYG: Pete Gogolak, 3/4 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1