NFL game summary for 09/29/1974:
The Saints' Jess Phillips ran over from the 8-yard line and Bill McClard added the decisive point on the first play after Elex Price recovered a Falcons' fumble with five minutes remaining. The New Orleans' defense halted an Atlanta threat in the final two minutes when they sacked passer Pat Sullivan for a six-yard loss to the Saints' 38 and on the next play linebacker Wayne Colman intercepted a Falcons' pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 95.5 (22) | 63.0 (25) | 158.5 (26) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 202.5 (25) | 139.0 (13) | 341.5 (22) | 4 | |
 | OFFENSE | 119.0 (18) | 139.5 (13) | 258.5 (15) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 157.5 (20) | 103.0 (7) | 260.5 (11) | 4 |
Line: Falcons by 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons (0-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| New Orleans Saints (1-2-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) NO Joel Parker 13 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick)
( 7- 7) ATL Gerald Tinker 72 yard punt return (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
(10- 7) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 21 yard field goal
(13- 7) ATL Nick Mike-Mayer 27 yard field goal
(13-14) NO Jess Phillips 8 yard rush (Bill McClard kick)
ATL NO
First Downs: 12 15
Rushes-yards: 38-167 47-172
Yards/rush: 4.4 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-20-74-1 6-14-47-1
Sacked-yards: 2-11 3-23
Net pass yards: 63 24
Net yards/pass: 2.9 1.4
Total net yards: 230 196
Total plays: 60 (63% run) 64 (73% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 3.1
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 2-1
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 8-54 2-23
Attendance: 55,025
Passing:
ATL: Pat Sullivan, 7 of 20 for 74 yards (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 6 of 14 for 47 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 18 for 73 yards; Art Malone, 16 for 60 yards; Pat Sullivan, 3 for 19 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 15 yards NO: Jack DeGrenier, 18 for 60 yards; Jess Phillips, 16 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 6 for 20 yards; Bill Butler, 5 for 30 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for -1 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 3 for 15 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 40 yards; Al Dodd, 2 for 19 yards NO: Jack DeGrenier, 2 for -2 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 30 yards; Joel Parker, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 10 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Tom Geredine, 2 for 48 yards; Gerald Tinker, 1 for 28 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 4 for 106 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Gerald Tinker, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Al Dodd, 2 for 35 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 4 for 52 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Clarence Ellis, 1 for 6 yards NO: Wayne Colman, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 244 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 328 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2
ATL: Pat Sullivan, 7 of 20 for 74 yards (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 6 of 14 for 47 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 18 for 73 yards; Art Malone, 16 for 60 yards; Pat Sullivan, 3 for 19 yards; Jim Mitchell, 1 for 15 yards NO: Jack DeGrenier, 18 for 60 yards; Jess Phillips, 16 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Alvin Maxson, 6 for 20 yards; Bill Butler, 5 for 30 yards; Archie Manning, 2 for -1 yards
Receiving:
ATL: Haskel Stanback, 3 for 15 yards; Jim Mitchell, 2 for 40 yards; Al Dodd, 2 for 19 yards NO: Jack DeGrenier, 2 for -2 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 30 yards; Joel Parker, 1 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 10 yards; Bob Newland, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
ATL: Tom Geredine, 2 for 48 yards; Gerald Tinker, 1 for 28 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 4 for 106 yards
Punt returns:
ATL: Gerald Tinker, 2 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Al Dodd, 2 for 35 yards NO: Howard Stevens, 4 for 52 yards
Interceptions:
ATL: Clarence Ellis, 1 for 6 yards NO: Wayne Colman, 1 for 17 yards
Punting:
ATL: John James, 6 for 244 yards NO: Tom Blanchard, 7 for 328 yards
Field Goals:
ATL: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2