All NFL game summaries for 10/01/1973:
Detroit used a couple of razzle dazzle reverse plays for running TDs by receivers Larry Walton (57 yards) and Ron Jessie (9) while shutting off the Falcons' offense with 188 yards and sacking Dick Shiner six times for 54 yards. Mel Farr, filling in for injured Steve Owens, rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries, including a 32-yard TD run with one second left in the first half. Dave Hampton topped the Falcons with 62 yards rushing but their scoring was confined to 2 FGs by Nick Mike-Mayer.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 142.0 (11) | 141.0 (14) | 283.0 (14) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 180.5 (22) | 88.5 (2) | 269.0 (11) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 109.0 (20) | 137.5 (15) | 246.5 (23) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 208.5 (24) | 127.5 (10) | 336.0 (21) | 4 |
Line: Lions by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (1-2-0) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Detroit Lions (1-1-1) | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
( 3- 0) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 48 yard field goal
( 3- 7) DET Larry Walton 57 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
( 3-14) DET Altie Taylor 10 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
( 3-21) DET Mel Farr 32 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
( 6-21) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 27 yard field goal
( 6-24) DET Errol Mann 20 yard field goal
( 6-31) DET Ron Jessie 9 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
ATL DET
First Downs: 15 15
Rushes-yards: 23-118 47-258
Yards/rush: 5.1 5.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-30-124-2 6-12-67-0
Sacked-yards: 6-54 3-28
Net pass yards: 70 39
Net yards/pass: 1.9 2.6
Total net yards: 188 297
Total plays: 59 (38% run) 62 (75% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 2-1
Turnovers: 5 1
Penalties-yards: 4-25 2-15
Attendance: 45,599
Passing:
ATL: Dick Shiner, 15 of 30 for 124 yards (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 6 of 12 for 67 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 14 for 62 yards; Art Malone, 8 for 43 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards DET: Mel Farr, 16 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 16 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Mickey Zofko, 5 for 13 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 25 yards; Leon Crosswhite, 4 for 16 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Ron Jessie, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 6 for 66 yards; Art Malone, 4 for 24 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 23 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for -1 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 12 yards DET: Mel Farr, 4 for 37 yards; Larry Walton, 2 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 82 yards; Duane Benson, 2 for 12 yards; Tony Plummer, 1 for 16 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 3 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 3 for 24 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 4 yards DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 12 yards; Jim Teal, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Mike Weger, 1 for 8 yards; Levi Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 252 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 8 for 337 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2 DET: Errol Mann, 1/1
ATL: Dick Shiner, 15 of 30 for 124 yards (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 6 of 12 for 67 yards
Rushing:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 14 for 62 yards; Art Malone, 8 for 43 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 13 yards DET: Mel Farr, 16 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Altie Taylor, 16 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Mickey Zofko, 5 for 13 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 25 yards; Leon Crosswhite, 4 for 16 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Ron Jessie, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 6 for 66 yards; Art Malone, 4 for 24 yards; Ken Burrow, 2 for 23 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for -1 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 12 yards DET: Mel Farr, 4 for 37 yards; Larry Walton, 2 for 30 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Dave Hampton, 3 for 82 yards; Duane Benson, 2 for 12 yards; Tony Plummer, 1 for 16 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 3 for 84 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Ray Brown, 3 for 24 yards; Al Dodd, 1 for 4 yards DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 12 yards; Jim Teal, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Mike Weger, 1 for 8 yards; Levi Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 252 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 8 for 337 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2 DET: Errol Mann, 1/1