NFL game summary for 12/23/1973:
Dallas moved into the NFC title game for the fourth straight year as Roger Staubach hit Drew Pearson with two scoring passes to assure the Cowboys of a 27-16 victory over Los Angeles. Dallas opened up a 17-0 lead with the help of Lee Roy Jordan's interception on the first play of the game and Mel Renfro's recovery of a fumble. Los Angeles narrowed the gap to 17-16 with 3 field goals by David Ray and a touchdown by Tony Baker. Staubach's 83-yard touchdown pass to Pearson put Dallas back in command in the fourth quarter and Toni Fritsch added his second field goal. Calvin Hill carried 25 times for 97 yards before he suffered a dislocated elbow in the fourth quarter.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 208.9 (2) | 141.5 (13) | 350.4 (1) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 90.7 (1) | 120.1 (7) | 210.8 (1) | 38 | |
 | OFFENSE | 172.7 (5) | 166.6 (7) | 339.4 (4) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 105.1 (3) | 142.5 (16) | 247.6 (5) | 41 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams (12-3-0) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
| Dallas Cowboys (11-4-0) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
( 0- 7) DAL Calvin Hill 3 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-14) DAL Drew Pearson 4 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 0-17) DAL Toni Fritsch 39 yard field goal
( 3-17) LA David Ray 33 yard field goal
( 6-17) LA David Ray 37 yard field goal
( 9-17) LA David Ray 40 yard field goal
(16-17) LA Tony Baker 5 yard rush (David Ray kick)
(16-24) DAL Drew Pearson 83 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Toni Fritsch kick)
(16-27) DAL Toni Fritsch 12 yard field goal
LA DAL
First Downs: 11 15
Rushes-yards: 30-93 45-162
Yards/rush: 3.1 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-24-133-1 8-16-180-2
Sacked-yards: 5-34 7-44
Net pass yards: 99 136
Net yards/pass: 3.4 5.9
Total net yards: 192 298
Total plays: 59 (50% run) 68 (66% run)
Yards/play: 3.3 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 2-2
Turnovers: 3 4
Penalties-yards: 2-20 5-44
Attendance: 62,081
Passing:
LA: John Hadl, 7 of 23 for 133 yards (1 int); Lawrence McCutcheon, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 8 of 16 for 180 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 13 for 48 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 12 for 37 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 10 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for -7 yards; Tony Baker, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD DAL: Calvin Hill, 25 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 10 for 30 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 5 yards; Roger Staubach, 4 for 30 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jack Snow, 3 for 77 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for 13 yards; Harold Jackson, 1 for 40 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Drew Pearson, 2 for 87 yards and 2 TDs; Calvin Hill, 2 for 21 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 38 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 29 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for 3 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Rob Scribner, 4 for 106 yards; Al Clark, 2 for 49 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 23 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 4 for 52 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Golden Richards, 2 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jack Reynolds, 1 for 4 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
LA: Dave Chapple, 5 for 218 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 7 for 327 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 3/6 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 2/2
LA: John Hadl, 7 of 23 for 133 yards (1 int); Lawrence McCutcheon, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 8 of 16 for 180 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
LA: Lawrence McCutcheon, 13 for 48 yards; Jim Bertelsen, 12 for 37 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 10 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for -7 yards; Tony Baker, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD DAL: Calvin Hill, 25 for 97 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 10 for 30 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 5 yards; Roger Staubach, 4 for 30 yards
Receiving:
LA: Jack Snow, 3 for 77 yards; Larry Smith, 2 for 13 yards; Harold Jackson, 1 for 40 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 3 yards DAL: Drew Pearson, 2 for 87 yards and 2 TDs; Calvin Hill, 2 for 21 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 38 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 29 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for 3 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Rob Scribner, 4 for 106 yards; Al Clark, 2 for 49 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 23 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Jim Bertelsen, 4 for 52 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Golden Richards, 2 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jack Reynolds, 1 for 4 yards; Dave Elmendorf, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
LA: Dave Chapple, 5 for 218 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 7 for 327 yards
Field Goals:
LA: David Ray, 3/6 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 2/2