NFL game summary for 12/16/1973:
Atlanta downed stubborn New Orleans in its last game but lost its slim chance at the NFC wild card berth when Washington won. After Eddie Ray scored twice, New Orleans came back behind Bobby Scott, a reserve quarterback. The Saints had a chance to tie in the third quarter but two incomplete passes forced them to go for a field goal. The Falcons' Dave Hampton gained 84 yards and finished the season with 997 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 133.6 (17) | 120.7 (20) | 254.3 (20) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 173.4 (24) | 156.2 (20) | 329.5 (23) | 28 | |
 | OFFENSE | 145.3 (10) | 142.5 (13) | 287.8 (14) | 31 |
| DEFENSE | 155.7 (19) | 103.1 (3) | 258.8 (7) | 35 |
Line: Falcons by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (5-9-0) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Atlanta Falcons (9-5-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
( 0- 7) ATL Eddie Ray 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
( 0-14) ATL Eddie Ray 1 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
( 7-14) NO Bob Newland 6 yard pass from Bobby Scott (Bill McClard kick)
(10-14) NO Bill McClard 11 yard field goal
NO ATL
First Downs: 11 17
Rushes-yards: 39-105 47-148
Yards/rush: 2.7 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-21-90-2 10-19-168-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-20
Net pass yards: 90 148
Net yards/pass: 4.3 6.7
Total net yards: 195 296
Total plays: 60 (65% run) 69 (68% run)
Yards/play: 3.2 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 4-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 4-37 5-55
Attendance: 34,147
Passing:
NO: Bobby Scott, 6 of 21 for 90 yards and 1 TD (2 int) ATL: Bob Lee, 10 of 19 for 168 yards
Rushing:
NO: Jess Phillips, 18 for 49 yards; Joe Profit, 13 for 47 yards; Bobby Scott, 3 for 7 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for -1 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 8 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 2 yards; Steve O'Neal, 1 for -7 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 27 for 84 yards; Eddie Ray, 12 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Lee, 5 for 12 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NO: Bob Newland, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Jubilee Dunbar, 1 for 27 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Al Dodd, 2 for 44 yards; Tom Geredine, 2 for 41 yards; Dave Hampton, 2 for 26 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 31 yards; Larry Mialik, 1 for 13 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 7 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 13 yards; Mike Fink, 1 for 3 yards ATL: Joe Washington, 2 for 43 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Doug Winslow, 1 for 10 yards ATL: Ray Brown, 4 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 19 yards; Ken Reaves, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
NO: Steve O'Neal, 7 for 278 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 180 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Bill McClard, 1/1 ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/2
NO: Bobby Scott, 6 of 21 for 90 yards and 1 TD (2 int) ATL: Bob Lee, 10 of 19 for 168 yards
Rushing:
NO: Jess Phillips, 18 for 49 yards; Joe Profit, 13 for 47 yards; Bobby Scott, 3 for 7 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for -1 yards; Tom Myers, 1 for 8 yards; Howard Stevens, 1 for 2 yards; Steve O'Neal, 1 for -7 yards ATL: Dave Hampton, 27 for 84 yards; Eddie Ray, 12 for 45 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Lee, 5 for 12 yards; Art Malone, 3 for 7 yards
Receiving:
NO: Bob Newland, 3 for 61 yards and 1 TD; Jubilee Dunbar, 1 for 27 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 2 yards; Joe Profit, 1 for 0 yards ATL: Al Dodd, 2 for 44 yards; Tom Geredine, 2 for 41 yards; Dave Hampton, 2 for 26 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 31 yards; Larry Mialik, 1 for 13 yards; Eddie Ray, 1 for 7 yards; Art Malone, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
NO: Howard Stevens, 1 for 13 yards; Mike Fink, 1 for 3 yards ATL: Joe Washington, 2 for 43 yards; Rolland Lawrence, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Doug Winslow, 1 for 10 yards ATL: Ray Brown, 4 for 27 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Ray Brown, 1 for 19 yards; Ken Reaves, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
NO: Steve O'Neal, 7 for 278 yards ATL: John James, 5 for 180 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Bill McClard, 1/1 ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 0/2