NFL game summary for 09/23/1973:
This was the first shutout win for the Rams at home since they moved from Cleveland 27 years ago. John Hadl threw two TD passes while Los Angeles' defense held the Falcons, 62-7 opening game winners, to two first downs and 17 yards passing.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 218.0 (4) | 278.0 (1) | 496.0 (1) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 152.0 (14) | 35.0 (4) | 187.0 (4) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 278.0 (2) | 80.0 (21) | 358.0 (6) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 40.0 (1) | 230.0 (25) | 270.0 (11) | 2 |
Line: Rams by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (1-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams (2-0-0) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
( 0- 7) LA Harold Jackson 7 yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick) ( 0-14) LA Jim Bertelsen 4 yard rush (David Ray kick) ( 0-17) LA David Ray 34 yard field goal ( 0-24) LA Jack Snow 29 yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick) ( 0-31) LA Larry Smith 2 yard rush (David Ray kick)
ATL LA
First Downs: 2 24
Rushes-yards: 22-66 55-209
Yards/rush: 3.0 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 2-9-17-1 12-15-142-0
Sacked-yards: 2-13 0-0
Net pass yards: 4 142
Net yards/pass: 0.4 9.5
Total net yards: 70 351
Total plays: 33 (66% run) 70 (78% run)
Yards/play: 2.1 5.0
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 0-0
Turnovers: 1 0
Penalties-yards: 2-20 2-30
Attendance: 61,197
Passing:
ATL: Dick Shiner, 2 of 9 for 17 yards (1 int) LA: John Hadl, 12 of 15 for 142 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 12 for 30 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 36 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 19 for 65 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 16 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Larry Smith, 8 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Tony Baker, 6 for 25 yards; Les Josephson, 3 for 7 yards; John Hadl, 2 for -2 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 19 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 1 for 9 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 8 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 5 for 33 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jack Snow, 2 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 1 for 22 yards; Larry Smith, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 68 yards; Tony Plummer, 2 for 37 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 19 yards LA: Dick Gordon, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Al Dodd, 1 for 4 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 2 for 22 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 318 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 107 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/3
ATL: Dick Shiner, 2 of 9 for 17 yards (1 int) LA: John Hadl, 12 of 15 for 142 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 12 for 30 yards; Art Malone, 10 for 36 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 19 for 65 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 16 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Larry Smith, 8 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Tony Baker, 6 for 25 yards; Les Josephson, 3 for 7 yards; John Hadl, 2 for -2 yards; Dick Gordon, 1 for 19 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Ken Burrow, 1 for 9 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 8 yards LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 5 for 33 yards; Harold Jackson, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Jack Snow, 2 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Bob Klein, 1 for 22 yards; Larry Smith, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 68 yards; Tony Plummer, 2 for 37 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 19 yards LA: Dick Gordon, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Al Dodd, 1 for 4 yards LA: Jim Bertelsen, 2 for 22 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 16 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 8 for 318 yards LA: Dave Chapple, 3 for 107 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 1/3