All NFL game summaries for 12/02/1973:

Atlanta was eliminated from the NFC West race but remained alive in the wild card competition when Buffalo snapped the Falcons' seven-game winning streak on the rushing of O. J. Simpson and Jim Braxton. Simpson gained 137 yards in 24 carries, increasing his season total to 1,584 yards while Braxton scored both touchdowns and gained 80 yards. The Bills sacked Bob Lee four times.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Falcons by 14

( 7- 0) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)
( 7- 3) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 26 yard field goal
( 7- 6) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 16 yard field goal
(10- 6) BUF John Leypoldt 20 yard field goal
(17- 6) BUF Jim Braxton 1 yard rush (John Leypoldt kick)

                     BUF             ATL
First Downs:         17              12
Rushes-yards:        54-239          32-125
Yards/rush:          4.4             3.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     7-12-95-1       9-22-195-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             4-48
Net pass yards:      95              147
Net yards/pass:      7.9             5.7
Total net yards:     334             272
Total plays:         66 (81% run)    58 (55% run)  
Yards/play:          5.1             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             3-3
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     3-41            4-20

Attendance: 54,607

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Los Angeles clinched the NFC West title by blanking the Bears and holding them to 100 yards total offense. Lawrence McCutcheon's power running (152 yards on 24 carries) sparked the Rams who also had four field goals by David Ray. Although Atlanta still might tie Los Angeles at 10-4, the Rams' 5-1 division mark would be decisive for the NFC West title.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 12

( 3- 0) LA  David Ray 30 yard field goal
(10- 0) LA  Jim Bertelsen 3 yard rush (David Ray kick)
(13- 0) LA  David Ray 16 yard field goal
(16- 0) LA  David Ray 39 yard field goal
(19- 0) LA  David Ray 26 yard field goal
(26- 0) LA  Les Josephson 9 yard rush (David Ray kick)

                     LA              CHI
First Downs:         24              6
Rushes-yards:        53-296          24-53
Yards/rush:          5.6             2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-21-90-1       9-19-79-0
Sacked-yards:        0-0             4-32
Net pass yards:      90              47
Net yards/pass:      4.3             2.0
Total net yards:     386             100
Total plays:         74 (71% run)    47 (51% run)  
Yards/play:          5.2             2.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             2-2
Turnovers:           2               2
Penalties-yards:     6-68            5-25

Attendance: 47,620

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Cincinnati won its fourth straight, moved into a three-way tie for the lead in the AFC Central, and handed Minnesota its first shutout defeat in 161 games since 1962. Ken Anderson completed 12 of 17 passes while the Bengals turned an interception and a fumble recovery into scores. The shutout also ended Fred Cox's scoring streak of 151 games as his 49-yard field goal attempt fell short in the fourth quarter.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Vikings by 6

( 0- 3) CIN Horst Muhlmann 22 yard field goal
( 0-10) CIN Lemar Parrish 23 yard fumble return (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-17) CIN Essex Johnson 40 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-20) CIN Horst Muhlmann 38 yard field goal
( 0-27) CIN Bob Trumpy 7 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)

                     MIN             CIN
First Downs:         13              17
Rushes-yards:        26-81           39-227
Yards/rush:          3.1             5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     16-29-127-1     12-17-105-0
Sacked-yards:        1-7             0-0
Net pass yards:      120             105
Net yards/pass:      4.0             6.2
Total net yards:     201             332
Total plays:         56 (46% run)    56 (69% run)  
Yards/play:          3.6             5.9
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             1-0
Turnovers:           3               0
Penalties-yards:     4-20            3-35

Attendance: 57,859

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Roger Staubach kept his cool despite six sacks and threw two touchdown passes to tight end Jean Fugett, knocking Denver out of first place in the AFC West. Staubach connected on 14 of 18 passes for 240 yards and moved into first place among NFC passers. The Cowboys held the Broncos without a touchdown until the final 91 seconds. Bill Van Heusen's 78-yard punt proved to be the longest in the AFC in 1973. Denver had gone unbeaten in the last seven weeks with five wins and two ties.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Cowboys by 4

( 7- 0) DAL Jean Fugett 6 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Toni Fritsch kick)
(10- 0) DAL Toni Fritsch 21 yard field goal
(13- 0) DAL Toni Fritsch 18 yard field goal
(13- 3) DEN Jim Turner 29 yard field goal
(20- 3) DAL Jean Fugett 27 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Toni Fritsch kick)
(22- 3) DAL Safety, Billy Van Heusen tackled in end zone by Benny Barnes
(22-10) DEN Riley Odoms 16 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick)

                     DAL             DEN
First Downs:         14              12
Rushes-yards:        39-74           24-82
Yards/rush:          1.9             3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-19-240-0     13-30-190-1
Sacked-yards:        6-51            5-43
Net pass yards:      189             147
Net yards/pass:      7.6             4.2
Total net yards:     263             229
Total plays:         64 (60% run)    59 (40% run)  
Yards/play:          4.1             3.9
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             2-2
Turnovers:           0               3
Penalties-yards:     5-52            7-66

Attendance: 51,508

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Jim Carter and Al Matthews ran for touchdowns after intercepting Archie Manning passes and Packers' QB Jerry Tagge broke loose for a 41-yard scoring run. Chester Marcol added three field goals as Green Bay handed New Orleans its fourth straight defeat. The Saints scored on a Manning pass to Jubilee Dunbar and a field goal by Bill McClard.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Packers by 7

( 0- 3) GB  Chester Marcol 14 yard field goal
( 0-10) GB  Al Matthews 58 yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick)
( 0-13) GB  Chester Marcol 39 yard field goal
( 3-13) NO  Bill McClard 22 yard field goal
(10-13) NO  Jubilee Dunbar 29 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick)
(10-20) GB  Jerry Tagge 41 yard rush (Chester Marcol kick)
(10-27) GB  Jim Carter 42 yard interception return (Chester Marcol kick)
(10-30) GB  Chester Marcol 33 yard field goal

                     NO              GB
First Downs:         16              13
Rushes-yards:        29-100          42-154
Yards/rush:          3.4             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     18-36-180-4     9-13-109-0
Sacked-yards:        3-24            1-4
Net pass yards:      156             105
Net yards/pass:      4.0             7.5
Total net yards:     256             259
Total plays:         68 (42% run)    56 (75% run)  
Yards/play:          3.8             4.6
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             2-2
Turnovers:           5               2
Penalties-yards:     1-5             4-39

Attendance: 46,092

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Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Oakland came back to win on a George Blanda field goal, a touchdown pass by Kenny Stabler and a two-yard plunge by Marv Hubbard. Hubbard gained 121 yards on 11 carries, including a 50-yard romp on the first play of the second half. Houston intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble but had to settle for two field goals by Skip Butler.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Raiders by 20

( 0- 3) HOU Skip Butler 44 yard field goal
( 3- 3) OAK George Blanda 9 yard field goal
(10- 3) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 21 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)
(10- 6) HOU Skip Butler 16 yard field goal
(17- 6) OAK Marv Hubbard 2 yard rush (George Blanda kick)

                     OAK             HOU
First Downs:         19              15
Rushes-yards:        34-235          30-94
Yards/rush:          6.9             3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     15-26-177-3     22-36-243-0
Sacked-yards:        3-37            5-52
Net pass yards:      140             191
Net yards/pass:      4.8             4.7
Total net yards:     375             285
Total plays:         63 (53% run)    71 (42% run)  
Yards/play:          6.0             4.0
Fumbles-lost:        4-1             5-2
Turnovers:           4               2
Penalties-yards:     3-25            7-76

Attendance: 25,801

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Cleveland overcame a two-touchdown deficit and rallied to tie Kansas City in a game that left both teams in contention for divisional honors and/or the wild card playoff berth. Greg Pruitt's 65-yard run and Mike Phipps' 51-yard pass to Milt Morin brought the Browns back after Ed Podolak's one-yard TD gave the Chiefs a 20-6 edge in the last quarter. Pruitt led all rushers with 110 yards while Willie Ellison topped K. C. runners with 108 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Chiefs by 2

( 0- 7) KC  Elmo Wright 11 yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick)
( 3- 7) CLE Don Cockroft 44 yard field goal
( 3-10) KC  Jan Stenerud 15 yard field goal
( 6-10) CLE Don Cockroft 28 yard field goal
( 6-13) KC  Jan Stenerud 13 yard field goal
( 6-20) KC  Ed Podolak 2 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)
(13-20) CLE Greg Pruitt 65 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
(20-20) CLE Milt Morin 51 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick)

                     CLE             KC
First Downs:         14              17
Rushes-yards:        31-144          52-208
Yards/rush:          4.6             4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-28-171-1     11-22-137-0
Sacked-yards:        7-50            0-0
Net pass yards:      121             137
Net yards/pass:      3.5             6.2
Total net yards:     265             345
Total plays:         66 (46% run)    74 (70% run)  
Yards/play:          4.0             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        4-3             6-3
Turnovers:           4               3
Penalties-yards:     4-35            5-55

Attendance: 70,296

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The Patriots won their third straight game when Jim Plunkett dove for two touchdowns, passed to Randy Vataha for one and Mack Herron returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score. Floyd Rice sacked Plunkett, picked up the fumble, and ran 51 yards for San Diego's first score and Robert Holmes plunged over from the one for an early Chargers lead.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Patriots by 7

( 0- 3) NE  Jeff White 11 yard field goal
( 7- 3) SD  Floyd Rice 51 yard fumble return (Dennis Partee kick)
(14- 3) SD  Robert Holmes 1 yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)
(14- 9) NE  Mack Herron 92 yard kickoff return (kick failed)
(14-16) NE  Randy Vataha 14 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Jeff White kick)
(14-23) NE  Jim Plunkett 1 yard rush (Jeff White kick)
(14-30) NE  Jim Plunkett 3 yard rush (Jeff White kick)

                     SD              NE
First Downs:         11              22
Rushes-yards:        31-187          40-184
Yards/rush:          6.0             4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-15-76-2      13-27-186-2
Sacked-yards:        3-32            1-11
Net pass yards:      44              175
Net yards/pass:      2.4             6.2
Total net yards:     231             359
Total plays:         49 (63% run)    68 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          4.7             5.3
Fumbles-lost:        2-1             4-3
Turnovers:           3               5
Penalties-yards:     8-72            2-10

Attendance: 58,150

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Phil Wise's 80-yard fumble recovery return, Joe Namath's touchdown pass to Emerson Boozer and a Bobby Howfield field goal gave the Jets a 17-0 halftime lead. The Colts came back with the help of a flea-flicker pass from Marty Domres to Cotton Speyrer to Glenn Doughty and a one-yard TD run by Lydell Mitchell after Ted Hendricks had intercepted a Namath pass. Baltimore's George Hunt, who already had kicked a 17-yard field goal, missed from the 46 with two minutes to go. Boozer rushed 24 times for 105 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Jets by 11

( 0- 3) NYJ Bobby Howfield 30 yard field goal
( 0-10) NYJ Phil Wise 80 yard fumble return (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 0-17) NYJ Emerson Boozer 15 yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick)
( 3-17) BAL George Hunt 17 yard field goal
( 3-20) NYJ Bobby Howfield 18 yard field goal
(10-20) BAL Glenn Doughty 54 yard pass from Cotton Speyrer (George Hunt kick)
(17-20) BAL Lydell Mitchell 1 yard rush (George Hunt kick)

                     BAL             NYJ
First Downs:         19              18
Rushes-yards:        39-168          36-134
Yards/rush:          4.3             3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     11-21-178-0     15-21-231-1
Sacked-yards:        4-27            1-12
Net pass yards:      151             219
Net yards/pass:      6.0             10.0
Total net yards:     319             353
Total plays:         64 (60% run)    58 (62% run)  
Yards/play:          5.0             6.1
Fumbles-lost:        2-2             2-2
Turnovers:           2               3
Penalties-yards:     4-50            4-40

Attendance: 51,167

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Steve Spurrier, in his first start since Oct. 28, ran for two touchdowns and passed for one as San Francisco ran up a 28-0 lead and hung on to win 38-28. Roman Gabriel rallied the Eagles, completing 28 of 55 passes for 322 yards, including TD passes to Charle Young and Harold Carmichael. The 49ers' Ken Willard carried 15 times for 117 yards.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: 49ers by 4

( 0- 7) SF  Windlan Hall 61 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 0-14) SF  Steve Spurrier 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 0-21) SF  Doug Cunningham 3 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 0-28) SF  Gene Washington 28 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick)
( 7-28) PHI Harold Carmichael 14 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 7-31) SF  Bruce Gossett 25 yard field goal
(14-31) PHI Charle Young 18 yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Tom Dempsey kick)
(21-31) PHI Tom Sullivan 1 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)
(21-38) SF  Steve Spurrier 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
(28-38) PHI Norm Bulaich 1 yard rush (Tom Dempsey kick)

                     PHI             SF
First Downs:         22              22
Rushes-yards:        23-92           38-178
Yards/rush:          4.0             4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     28-55-322-1     15-24-233-1
Sacked-yards:        1-5             3-22
Net pass yards:      317             211
Net yards/pass:      5.7             7.8
Total net yards:     409             389
Total plays:         79 (29% run)    65 (58% run)  
Yards/play:          5.2             6.0
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             3-3
Turnovers:           3               4
Penalties-yards:     11-95           11-95

Attendance: 51,155

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Bill Munson's touchdown pass to Charlie Sanders broke a 13-13 tie in the final quarter for a Lions' victory. Jim Hart, Cardinals' quarterback, suffered a shoulder injury on the last play of the first half and did not return. Gary Keithley, his replacement, moved the Cardinals to the Detroit 25 in the last minute before Mike Lucci's interception ended the threat.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Lions by 3

( 3- 0) DET Errol Mann 52 yard field goal
( 3- 7) STL Terry Metcalf 2 yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)
(10- 7) DET Steve Owens 1 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
(10-10) STL Jim Bakken 43 yard field goal
(13-10) DET Errol Mann 36 yard field goal
(13-13) STL Jim Bakken 43 yard field goal
(20-13) DET Charlie Sanders 5 yard pass from Bill Munson (Errol Mann kick)
(20-16) STL Jim Bakken 34 yard field goal

                     DET             STL
First Downs:         17              19
Rushes-yards:        30-92           34-169
Yards/rush:          3.1             5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-24-211-0     12-25-135-1
Sacked-yards:        1-0             1-3
Net pass yards:      211             132
Net yards/pass:      8.4             5.1
Total net yards:     303             301
Total plays:         55 (54% run)    60 (56% run)  
Yards/play:          5.5             5.0
Fumbles-lost:        2-0             2-0
Turnovers:           0               1
Penalties-yards:     5-55            7-65

Attendance: 44,982

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Sonny Jurgensen, taking over after Billy Kilmer aggravated a sprained ankle, completed 11 straight passes in two crucial touchdown drives in the last eight minutes. The Giants opened up a 21-3 lead in the second period on the running of Ron Johnson (90 yards in 26 carries) and the passing of Randy Johnson. Larry Brown ripped through the Giants' defense for three touchdowns, two on the ground and the last on a 16-yard pass from Jurgensen. The victory kept the Redskins one game in front of Dallas in the NFC East.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Redskins by 14

( 0- 3) WAS Curt Knight 12 yard field goal
( 7- 3) NYG Ron Johnson 3 yard rush (Pete Gogolak kick)
(14- 3) NYG Bob Tucker 12 yard pass from Randy Johnson (Pete Gogolak kick)
(21- 3) NYG Ron Johnson 25 yard pass from Randy Johnson (Pete Gogolak kick)
(21-10) WAS Larry Brown 3 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(21-13) WAS Curt Knight 17 yard field goal
(24-13) NYG Pete Gogolak 22 yard field goal
(24-20) WAS Larry Brown 6 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(24-27) WAS Larry Brown 16 yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Curt Knight kick)

                     NYG             WAS
First Downs:         13              18
Rushes-yards:        37-120          31-99
Yards/rush:          3.2             3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-23-159-0     18-30-273-1
Sacked-yards:        2-13            2-13
Net pass yards:      146             260
Net yards/pass:      5.8             8.1
Total net yards:     266             359
Total plays:         62 (59% run)    63 (49% run)  
Yards/play:          4.3             5.7
Fumbles-lost:        1-1             3-2
Turnovers:           1               3
Penalties-yards:     8-50            3-30

Attendance: 52,036

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